Daily Bird Pics - Vol. #360

Welcome to the new thread. To revisit the old one, click on http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1143014/

My first one is a Tufted Titmouse. Even though the light wasn't real good, it came out okay.

Hack

Got me a Blue Jay. Noisy rascal.

Hack

Of course, I have tons of Cards. Here's a female.

Hack

And here's a male Cardinal.

Hack

I been seeing quite a few Carolina Wrens around here.

Hack

I know it is a bully, but Istill think a male House Sparrow is a nice looking bird.

Hack

This message was edited Dec 2, 2010 11:34 PM

My last one is a Carolina Chickadee, it a typical pose.

Hack

Hack, Very nice pics! I love the Titmouse!
Thanks for starting the new thread!

I have not seen cardinals lately which is strange as they nest in the conifers next door. Perhaps they are finding food elsewhere.

Nice shots Hack! and very nice start to the new thread! Love the Titmouse shot!

I am getting very disgusted, tried to take a picture of a Blue Jay and it came out fuzzy, I am thinking of quitting trying to take pictures of birds. I love watching and seeing the different kinds. But I am not a photographer at all, I don't have the patience, I see a bird and before I can get focused on it, it is gone. Don't know if I am going to try anymore or not. Not sure

Good start, Hack. You have a good variety of yard birds. My numbers have been down for a few months. I think the continued development of my neighborhood has decreased habitat. I planted 100 trees favorable to songbirds last Earth Day, and I'll buy 100 the coming Earth Day-- but someone else is going to have to plant them.

I went to the upper pond yesterday and tried to get a shot of the 60+ Ring-necks, but they took flight immediately and even though I was using 1/1000 shutter speed, all I got was a couple of blurred shots. I'll try again today with 1/2000 speed.

A few landed on another pond. I took this shot from across the pond, they just won't let you approach. Some Canadas, Ring-necks and a Mallard.

I can get closer to these guys. Killdeer.

My house finch was back again today, also had a Blue Jay that has been taunting me all morning, just as I think I can get the camera in time it is gone. Tried to get one of the Blue Jay but was very fuzzy. But have gotten all winter to try to get them. Just have to have patience. Good close up of a Killdeer, they are hard to get close to, if you get close to their nest, they will dive bomb you, I had that experience and don't want it again!

Great start Hack! Those shot are great! I think your Titmouse is wonderful... so fluffy! That female cardinal shot is really nice too!

Reddirtretiree... That's a fantastic shot of the Kildeer!

I hope you can see this, it is rather blurry. First shot of Blue Jay this year, if you have any advice to help with any tips I would appreciate it, I am just learning. My camera is not fancy so I can't do a lot of fancy shooting. But any ideas and tips would help.

Thanks for the new thread Hack.....your titmouse is so sweet!

Teddy, if you hang in there and just practice everyday it will get better. Learn what time your feeders are the busiest with birds eating and then be watching out the window with camera ready at that time. That is pretty much what we all do.

I had to head into town today and saw 2 red-tailed hawks, a kestrel & some Horned Larks. Wish I would have had the camera with me! lol

House Finch at the new feeder I bought to keep seed dry last week.

We need to know what type of camera you have before we can offer any tips.

Crow ...an odd angle. :)

I have a Canon Powershot s300 and my hubby has a Kodak Easyshare, his zoom is a whole lot better than mine. The next picture I will tell you here, there was a squirrel who tried to get into the feeder, as you can tell, I got his tail and back feet, if you look closer you can see his back feet on the wire. Any advice or tips would be helpful.

I'm so glad a couple of you are seeing the female Purple Finches. I'm still looking hard, but haven't found one yet.

Burn great photos of the dove and goldfinch in the snow. Great one of the pigeon.

Teddy, don't feel bad about the House Finch, I always make the same mistake.

Hack, thanks for the great new start. I still love your more colorful (than ours) titmouse! I, too, love the colors of the HOSP. Too bad they're so mean.

Teddy, please don't give up trying to get photos of your birds. Probably most of us went through that phase, but the great people on this board are all so helpful and willing to give you suggestions and help. Remember, this is a "bird watching" board and none of us are judging how the photos are displayed, we're just happy to learn who's seeing what bird.

Red, great shot of the Killdeer. Good luck with the duck photos, I bet you'll get them.

Nanny, great angle with the crow. That looks like a perfect feeder you've got there.

This House Finch was watching me through the window.

Here's another House Finch.

My Scrub Jays are keeping busy looking for seeds below the feeders.

First time this year, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet! Unfortunately, it has a bad foot. That always hurts me to see, but at least it got around easily.

A Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Nope, duc. The Ring-necks weren't there today. Cold front coming down, so the night could bring some more visitors.

The weather is nice so I was out about dark listening for one of the GH owls that lives on the creek. I was able to find one. It was sitting in the abandoned RT hawk nest that the owls used this past spring. I was able to get a shot of the owl this morning before sunrise. Surprised the shots turned out as well as they did. Then this afternoon one of the RT's was in the nest screaming. Got one shot of him before he left. This pair of RT's are really light on the bottom, don't have the characteristic belly band.

GH owl. We'll see out this turns out.

RT hawk on the nest. This nest is really high up in a mature pecan tree.

Red, that's a gorgeous photo of your owl. How lucky you were to see that beauty.
I'm surprised the hawk was on a nest-was it keeping guard? Sure is a beauty.

Awesome capture both, and a wonderful opportunity for you! Way to go!

Teddy, Don't give up. It took me a while, too.

Hack

This message was edited Dec 3, 2010 7:32 PM

I took another look at your Blue Jay and just noticed something. The Blue Jay is not in the center of your field of view, probably since it was flying. The house in the background is in focus, because it is in the center. Try it again, but make sure the bird is in the very center of the field of view.

Hack

This message was edited Dec 4, 2010 4:37 PM

Hi Teddy, It looks like in the feeder pic of the squirrel that the camera is focusing on the first large piece of wood. If there is a larger object next to the subject your trying to shoot then it may not focus on the subject (depending on the camera).

Hack is correct in his second post about the house being in focus instead of the Blue Jay. You'll need to play with this more to find out where your focal point is on your camera. I wish I could help you more but I'm not familiar with your camera. If I get some time I'll try to do some reading on it.

Duc, Love that Red-breasted Nuthatch and the Finch surrounded by berries!

Nanny, I would love to have a Crow!

Red, Lucky you with the Great-horned Owl! Love the hawk too.

Keep at it Teddy!

Nice start to the thread, Hack. Excellent variety.

Red, excellent catch with the GHO. As soon as I finish with my Bald Eagle "season", I'll be starting on waterfowl. They are starting to arrive. Also, nice shot of the Killdeer.

Duc, real clarity in your photos. They're all fantastic but I like the Scrub Jay best. You really have a variety of bird life throughout the year.

Teddy, when I look at your Blue Jay photo one thing comes to mind and that is the rule of thirds. You have accomplished that but unfortunately the camera focused on the house rather than the Blue Jay. Focusing can be complicated. If one had time it would probably be best to use manual focus. But you don't always have that luxury. That's one of my biggest problems in that the camera focuses on the background rather than a moving bird in the foreground. It "ain't" easy ! But when presenting your photos never lose sight of the "rule of thirds". I have attached a link that discusses it in more detail. Keep practicing. If necessary put up a fake bird to photograph.

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds

Thanks guys, I didn't know how much you get used to the friends you make on this page, I might put up a fake bird and try to shoot it from different angles. Our front door is a glass door, so I try to take pictures through it. Sometimes it is kind of fuzzy, but with my hubby's camera, it is a little better than mine, the one I have don't focus as well as his. Like I said, I have all winter to practice and try to shoot better pictures. I am DETERMINED to get a picture of that elusive Cardinal! I appriciate all the help and tips you have given me.

teddy, one additional note. You may be aware of this and are doing it .... but when possible, if shooting through a glass window or door, place the lens tightly against the glass. And, keep the glass CLEAN.

Thanks linthicum, I did clean the door and I am trying the idea of pressing the lens against the glass. I found out that if you don't get it close enough to the glass, you get a very fuzzy picture. I have found out that all the sparrows are not the same, some have stripes on their faces and some have not. I think I have a chipping sparrows, and song sparrows and of course house finches. I didn't know the difference between the house finch or purple finch. That is why I thought it was the other way round.

Wonderful start Hack, love the Cardinals, and Titmouse. I don't see them around here, and it's nice to view them here.
Red , glad you have a lake nearby with lovely waterfowl. The Wood duck on the previous thread was gorgeous.
Teddy, i agree with the others. In photography, it's a lot of patient and practice. So don't give up.. We are all getting some bad shots at times. Check out this thread http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1136113/
You will see that you are not alone. We laugh at our good bad shots. ;))
Nice feeder Nanny.
Duc thanks for the nice thing you said about the Dove and Goldfinch in the snow. You have some great shots of your birds, very sharp.

I've only seen the Redpolls twice since they arrived.

The Pine Sisken showed up with a group of Goldfinch and a Redpoll one morning last week.

This is the group together.

A little Downy WP came along too.

Nice pics burn! Can't believe all the Goldfinch your getting.

Nice feeder nanny!