Post your best bird shots!

[ahab1372]

European starlings recently returned to our bird feeder and here are a couple poses. Both are at 250mm and f/8.

First, looking to the side.


2012_12_30_2053_upd by dthrog00, on Flickr

Second, looking right at me.


2012_12_30_2052_upd by dthrog00, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing.

Dave

I like the shots Dave. Did you shoot with the "good old" 55-250?

[Dave Throgmartin]

I like the shots Dave. Did you shoot with the "good old" 55-250?

Yes, I did! I've given some thought to upgrading to the 70-200 f/4 non-IS for general use telephoto zoom and improved backyard setup, and may do so before the B&H sale ends on 1/5, but the 55-250 is capable of some really good shots sometimes.

I already have 1.4X II extender.

Dave

[thekingb]

Now if these birds could just choose their background a bit better sometimes ...

No kidding! I tried waiting for a new background and even gently suggested to the bird that he/she find a more suitable place to be photographed....didn't work.

[Dave Throgmartin]

Backgrounds are hard to get this time of year in the midwest. The best I seem to be able to do is a dingy brown.

Dave

[M_Six]

Blue Jays 8 -Cardinals 5

I love winter baseball.

[Andy Stringer]

On my recent trip to Chile, I spent half a day at a breeding site for Magellanic penguins. There are 60,000 pairs on Magdalena Island in the Magellan Strait. Here are just a few of them...


Magellanic Penguins by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr


Magellanic Penguin by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr


Magellanic Penguins by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr


Magellanic Penguins by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr


Magellanic Penguins by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr


Magellanic Penguin and Chick by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

One of the chicks left its burrow before it was big enough and promptly became dinner for one of the scavenging kelp gulls, or possibly the skua - I didn't see how this chase ended.

Brown Skua Chasing a Kelp Gull by Andrew Stringer, on Flickr

[DavidEccleston]

Nothing exotic I'm afraid, but I've never see a Chickadee look up before.


Things are looking up by namethatnobodyelsetook, on Flickr

[Dave Throgmartin]

I've been interested in a high quality telephoto zoom lens for a while and when I saw the 70-200 f/4 L USM for $559 I decided to act.

Here are some of my favorites from today.

#1 Sparrow in good light, bare lens 200mm @ f/4


2013_01_05_2356_upd by dthrog00, on Flickr

#2 We're watching you too, with 1.4x II @ f/5.6


2013_01_05_2383_upd by dthrog00, on Flickr

#3 A pair of sparrows in the falling snow with 1.4x II @ f/5.6


2013_01_05_2396_upd by dthrog00, on Flickr

I wouldn't read too much into the extender shots. Conditions were far from optimal with the snow falling and resulting light quality. It caused me to use ISO 1250 and the technical quality to be less than what's possible, but still like them. So far I really like the setup. I think the 135L is a great lens and I plan to keep it, but being able to team it with a zoom as good as the 70-200 is great!

Thanks for viewing.

Dave

[Dave Throgmartin]

I like the pose too. We often have chickadees visit, but I don't recall them making that pose either.

Dave

[ahab1372]

Congrats on the new lens Dave! Great results in tough conditions.
Andy, the Skua chasing the gull is spectacular.
I too like the chickadee in the snow.