Post your best bird shots!

Thanks Jonathan, I've just recently tried some "dodge & burn" techniques and used it here to make the eyes look a bit better.

Dave

It must be autumn, the geese have arrived!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/9...17f9c39c_b.jpg
Pink-footed Geese by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/9...4f23570a_b.jpg
Pink-footed Geese by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

This was the first trip with my new EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM. For both of these shots, I also used the EF 2x III extender. Hopefully I'll be posting more soon.

One more from this afternoon. I had to go to ISO 8000 for this one.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/9...9e0cc5e4_b.jpg
Grey Heron by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

Saw this young bald eagle fishing today. He caught a small fish and just decided to eat it in flight.

http://bimmermail.com/GPBFC/oct6/eagle10-md.jpg

Hairy Woodpecker, my back yard set up

1D MKIV
500mm f/4L + 1.4 TC
ISO 1000
f/5.6
1/320

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....58707703-5.jpg

Another backyard frequent flyer: Male Northern Cardinal

1D MKIV
500mm f/4L
ISO 1000
f/4
1/160

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....07508409-5.jpg

Siberian Jay from my trip to Lapland a few weeks ago:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...o/NT1D5901.jpg
5D3 + 70-300L @ 300mm, 1/400th, f/5.6, ISO100

They are quite curious and fearless if you have treats in your hand and stay reasonably still:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...o/NT1D5880.jpg

I have been to visit my brother-in-law in South Carolina and he was kind enough to provide a pontoon boat ride around Lake Wateree this morning just so I could get some bird images....what a nice guy! This is a Great Egret in flight taken from the boat this morning.

1DX
700mm
ISO 3200
f/5.6
1/3200

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....42105025-5.jpg

Wading Great Egret, Lake Wateree, SC

1DX
700mm
ISO 4000
f/5.6
1/5000

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....76029949-5.jpg

I was trying to stay ready for flight shots at all times....thus the high ISO and shutter speed;)

Great shots Joel. the flight one is great. FYI, that is a Great egret though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nvitalephotography

Great shots Joel. the flight one is great. FYI, that is a Great egret though.

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Thanks... I will edit the posts!

Great Blue Heron in flight at Wateree Lake in South Carolina

1DX
ISO 3200
f/5.6
1/640

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....96928640-5.jpg

I really like the great egret in flight.

Dave

http://bimmermail.com/birds/starling04-md.jpg

Good timing on this one!

I had the opportunity to try some falconry recently.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3742/1...ee740b08_c.jpg
Falconry with Golden Eagle by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/1...f1d04664_c.jpg
Falconry with Tawny Eagle by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/1...2da91be0_c.jpg
Falconry with Peregrine by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/1...520e6f85_c.jpg
Falconry with Harris Hawk by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

Really nice raptors....the first one is my fav...Golden Eagle's are so impressive.

A GBH from my recent South Carolina visit

1DX
500mm + 1.4 TCII Hand held
Manual mode, no flash
ISO 3200
f/5.6
1/800

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....21065364-5.jpg

Great Egret, Lake Wateree, SC

1DX
500mm + 1.4 TC II
Manual, no flash
ISO 3200
f/5.6
1/800

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....59669236-5.jpg

Great shots, Joel. That camera/lens/TC combo looks awesome. I'd love to have that reach coupled with that AF system.

I ran across a couple of eagles, but I kind of screwed up the exposure. I used a 100-400mm L with a 1.4X II on a FF - so I set the aperture to f/8, but I must have bumped the dial and ended up at f/11. Which caused my shutter speed to be 1/2 of what I wanted.:(
Cropped heavily, this is what I ended up with:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/1...d7d37c42_c.jpg
Bald Eagle -2967 by westmichigan, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3729/1...a05942ce_c.jpg
Bald Eagle -3162 by westmichigan, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/1...3e1f6158_c.jpg
Bald Eagle -3143 by westmichigan, on Flickr

I'd say it still worked out well :-)

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Second pic is money. Very nice.

Great shots Pat!

Mark, Mark & Joel - Thanks.

There were lots of ducks here also (thousands), but they were very skittish with the eagles, hawks, and falcons around (they eat a lot of ducks). As a result, I was not able to get any decent close shots of ducks (which is why I went here). So I was very happy to be able to get the eagles (I'll take an eagle over a duck any day). I would not have been able to get these with my 7D - even with the crop sensor. I had the ISO at 1250 and the focus is so good on the 1D X, that it can handle the cropping. Plus the extra FPS rate really helps.

Again... thanks.

Pat

...cause every little thing gonna be alright...

http://bimmermail.com/birds/sparrows01-md.jpg

Mark, three's company right???

Pat, those Eagles are great! Agree the second is superb!

Joel, lovely Egret and Heron.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jayson

Mark, three's company right???

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Bob Marley

American Goldfinch and Dark Eyed Junco

http://bimmermail.com/birds/gf01-md.jpg

http://bimmermail.com/birds/dej01-md.jpg

I always seem to be on the wrong side of things.

http://bimmermail.com/birds/eagle20-md.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M_Six

I always seem to be on the wrong side of things.

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I know exactly what you mean:rolleyes:

I took a trip to the island of South Georgia recently to see the wildlife. It's an amazing place, with vast colonies of king penguins and elephant seals amongst the highlights.

It has been a while since I posted any pictures of penguins (apart from my avatar) so here are a few of the kings:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3782/1...667f2650_b.jpg
King Penguins Returning from the Sea by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/1...c39a1e62_b.jpg
King Penguin Head Detail by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/1...361c157a_b.jpg
King Penguins Swimming by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

Awesome. That top pic looks like a vaudeville act. :cool:

Beautiful....I like the close up, looks like a wonderful trip!

Great Egret
Wateree Reservoir, SC

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....54434795-5.jpg

Great stuff Andy, and how many trips is this down south?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raid

Great stuff Andy, and how many trips is this down south?

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I've lost count. Since I live so far north, almost every trip I make is "down south". It's my third trip beyond 50° south of the equator.

This picture is part of one of the smaller colonies of about 4000 birds, at Fortuna Bay. The birds stayed still long enough for this one-second exposure of the running water.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3696/1...2b52611b_b.jpg
King Penguin Colony by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

Andy, having only had 4 days in the freezer, I would love to go back. Would like to meet the Adélie Penguins. I understand they have attitude and expect you to get out of their way.

Also the Emperor Penguins but they are hard to find.

Once you visit the freezer you always want to go back.

Sent from my XT905 using Tapatalk

Joel - love that egret! Very creative, and perfectly exposed.
Andy - fabulous shots. I am hoping to get there next year.... would be so fantastic. Your Flickr stream is amazing --- the BIF shots especially!

Andy your penguins pictures are wonderful. Keep them coming.
And Joel, I agree with Jonathan. It's really a special picture.