My Birds, Part II

Happy New Year everyone. As such, I am continuing my "My Bird" thread - Part II. If you are interested in my other bird photos, you can go back here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1114286/

The first set of images are from my outing at one of my favorite spots (Huntley Meadows Park). These are photos of a young Hooded Merganser family I had the pleasure of photographing this past summer. As you can see they were very cooperative.

This shot shows one of the little ones exercising her wings...cute.


Enjoy

This photos shows 2 of the young'ns swimming leisurely.

Swimming by oneself, but not to far from mommy though

Here's the family hunkering down for the evening.

Here's a shot of the female. I don't know if this is the same mother because I took this shot before I saw any babies.

Here she is flexing her wings a bit

Here's the last one. She's just taking a swim

Gave your thread a minute to develop...lol Beautiful!! You truly know what your doing when your out there! That last shot is superb!!

Gorgeous shots Burd!! The chicks are adorable and the others are beautiful!

LOL, Oops Sorry. I always get your names mixed up.

Great pics Met!!

Excellent shots, Met. I have yet to visit Huntley Meadows. Did you get to Bombay Hook over the weekend ?

Thanks all. Charlie, no I did not make it to Bombay Hook. I have to set aside a good time to visit; things just keeps coming up where I have to change plans.

I don't know how I missed this thread, Al. Wonderful photos.

Thanks Margaret. I will be posting more so keep a peep'n (smiles).

Tufted Titmouse on the screen porch roof eyeing the feeders

Another one perched nicely on a piece of wood I found and set up near the feeders

I've been using my 5D MkII camera lately taking shots of the birdies. Here's the Chicadee perched in a tree in my backyard.

Another Chicadee in the tree

Here's the Junco. They have been hanging in the backyard the last 2 years and it's easier to get shots of them here than in the field.

Male Junco

Here's a couple Gold Finch shots using the 5d Mk II

Another Gold Finch shot

You sure know how to take beautiful photos. Each one is just beautiful!!

Wonderful shots Met! I would occasionally love to here some of your settings.

This message was edited Jan 17, 2011 4:18 PM

Great shots Met! I love the Merganser series! Such cute babies!

I assume Huntley Meadows is pretty quiet this time of year?

The detail is amazing and they are so clear...great set Met!!

Thanks everyone. Yes Rose, Huntley Meadows is pretty quiet these days, especially since the marsh has frozen over, however, I did get some good duck shots just before the freeze (Northern Pintail, More Hooded Mergansers, the Northern Shovelers and some Killdeers). I also got some nice shots of the chicadees and downy woodpecker on the cattails last week.

Yesterday I'd planned to go in the morning, but woke up late (about 10am). I debated - go out, nah just chill because I did not want to put the gear together. Well, I decided to go to the local wildlife park (had not gone it over 1 yr.) and glad I did because I got couple species that I'd targeted, but this one was a bit of a surprise. I stood in the woods looking around and spotted this beauty hopping along the ground. I crept up near it but I thought the crunching sound from the leaves would make it fly away. So as I crept around the tree, it popped up on this stump and with some good light, my 500 and 2x tc, these are the results. Sometimes, no most times, luck is good.

I present to you the Hermit Thrush

Here it's looking down for something.

Left profile shot

Here it started flickering it's tail and wings and I knew it was about leave me.

Amazing shots Met!!!

aww, what a cutie. love the rich background too.

Wonderful, Al.

Excellent shots of the Hermit Thrush, Al.

Beautiful shots Al...I really love the ducks and the Thrush!

Very nice set of the Hermit Thrush!!

Those are wonderful!

Awesome Al. the pictures are so good quality.

Thanks everyone for taking time to view my photos.

Here are some more from my day at the local wildlife park

The White-Breasted Nuthatch

2nd shot. They are some pretty quick little birds, but this one sat on the tree as if to be taking a break for a moment. So I had ample time to fire off and get some good shots