My Birds, Part II

Here's my favorite little buddy...the Chicadee. This one will be printed. I love the background colors and how it contrast the bird.

Here he is on a wire at the center

Now these Downy WPs shots were not from the local wildlife area. This shot of the male Juvenile was from my backyard. The males seem a bit more skittish than the females (wonder why), but this young'n took a break so I was able to get a few good images of him. I really love the red and greenish background colors. This will be printed, too.



This message was edited Jan 18, 2011 1:27 AM

This one is from Huntley Meadows Park. I saw him jumping from cattail to cattail, so I just waited patiently for him to come closer. They seem to not notice you when they are looking for food. This one is full frame...no cropping to the photo at all. Patients pays off.



This message was edited Jan 18, 2011 1:24 AM

Beautiful shots Meth. Chickadees are one of my faves too. They are so neat and orderly. They take a seed, and fly off, allowing others access to the feeder. Definite team birdies.

Wonderful shots Met! I agree with you about the Chickadee pic. I absolutely love the Nuthatch. I guess because I don't see them as often and their wonderful unique look makes for a soft spot in my heart for them.

All absolutely crisp shots - love them. For me to anything like that the bird must sit in front of the lens!!LOL

Thanks everyone. Take care

When I was in South Carolina, I was able to capture this cute little Juvenile Heron. It's funny how their legs to body ratio make them look. It reminds me of little kids, when their heads look so much bigger than their body.

Juvenile Great Blue Heron

2nd image. These are full frame, too. That's how close I was able to get to them.

One day I'd gone to one of my favorite spots (Huntley Meadows Park), but it was very slow there, so I went to a local wetland area (Cheltenham Wetlands) near my home and it too was slow. I debated and debated about going to Lake Artemesia, but I went anyone because I had not gone out to photograph birds in awhile, but it too was slow. So I left thinking of hitting another spot (Jugs Bay), but as I was leaving the lake, I spotted a blue colored bird sitting on the power line, but immediately knew it was not a Blue Bird or Blue Jay. So I stopped the truck, jumped to the back seat to grab my camera (had it strapped in the back seat), rolled down the window (used the window as my tripod) and when I pointed the camera towards the bird, boy was I surprised and very happy; it was the Peregrine Falcon - a bird I had only seen once in Tucson Az. I got a few shots, but this was one of the better ones. Hope you like it.

Correction: American Kestrel

This message was edited Jan 26, 2011 3:03 PM

Oops, I almost forgot this shot from South Carolina, too.



This message was edited Jan 23, 2011 2:58 PM

Your falcon is actually a male American Kestrel...but a superb shot no doubt!

Yep... it's an American Kestrel male, but it is a beauty! Gorgeous colors! Where did you take that shot again?

Met, I love that American Kestrel!

Haha that tells you little I know about them.

Thanks for the look and correction

Love that young heron-great captures. That kestrel is just beautiful too!!

That kestrel is just spectacular.

Thank you all

I had the 1D4 on loan (CPS loan program) for 1 week to take it for a test spin. I went to Bombay Hook last Saturday. So I will post some of the shots I created that day. I just wish the weather was better, but...

Here is series of Snow Geese images from the shoot. I took all these shots hand held, which is the way I like to shot BIF shots.

Shot #2

Shot #3

Snow Geese #4

Snow Geese #5

Snow Geese #6

Snow Geese #7

Snow Geese #8

Snow Geese #9

Snow Geese #10...last one for now

Beautiful set Met!! However pictures 1-6 are of Tundra Swan's the rest are indeed Snow Geese though. Great Photography!!

Haha Bird you are correct. I overlooked the black on the wings

This message was edited Feb 5, 2011 2:59 PM

Nice shots, Al. I haven't been to Bombay Hook for awhile. I have been to Blackwater but it has been slow other than the Snow Geese. Was there a lot of other activity at Bombay Hook ? How did you like the Canon 1-D Mark IV ?

Great photos!! Great camera too!! I'm jealous!!

Ditto. Wonderful shots.

I have camera envy, Al. The 1D-IV is on my wish list, but I doubt I could hand hold it.

These are wonderful Al...I am jealous all the way around!!

Wonderful pics of Swan and Geese, Al.

Wow am I late responding. Thanks everyone for visiting and commenting.

Charley there was more activity there than back here at home, but probably not as much as normal though. Besides the ones posted here, I got some shots of the Red-tailed Hawk, Horned Lark, Red Fox, Common Merganser, Buffleheads and I saw the Sharp-shinned or Coopers Hawk - both hawk species were out looking for food. I will post the images here soon.

DucBucln, Margaret and Pelletory, I really like what the 1D4 produces, but unfortunately I had to send it back to Canon since it was on loan from Canon. However, I am keeping an eye out just in case a good deal pops up that I can't refuse, but for now the 1D3 is the workhorse. Btw, I sold the 50D and the 70-200 f4 lens since I was not using them to help fund the 70-200 2.8 lens since I am getting more into sports photography.

Thanks Resin and Burd for the correction. I sometimes be thinking one thing and typing something totally different.

Talk to you'll later

Here are 2 shots of the Horned Lark from my visit to Bombay Hook. To bad it's horns were up for the shot.





This message was edited Feb 24, 2011 3:37 AM

2nd image