Show your Bird Portraits

[ISv]

York Harbor View attachment 227545View attachment 227546View attachment 227547View attachment 227548View attachment 227549View attachment 227550

Nice photos, especially of the American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus), 4th winter bird (still not a full adult) according to my book.
The Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) - your first photo, made a landing on Maui last winter I believe, causing a splash in the Hawaiian birding community ( ). The Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) - second photo, should be common in that area? For the ducks I'm almost sure they appeared at CR for first time (well, at least in the time I'm around - from April 2017).

 

[ISv]

Today for me it was "the day of the Yellow-faced Canary".

 

[Noreaster]

Nice photos, especially of the American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus), 4th winter bird (still not a full adult) according to my book.
The Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) - your first photo, made a landing on Maui last winter I believe, causing a splash in the Hawaiian birding community ( ). The Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) - second photo, should be common in that area? For the ducks I'm almost sure they appeared at CR for first time (well, at least in the time I'm around - from April 2017).

There were several hundred scoters there. Mostly black and surf. Once in awhile I see white winged. The Harlequin Ducks though rare are here every winter.

 

[Noreaster]

 

[Click]

Today for me it was "the day of the Yellow-faced Canary".

Beautiful shots, ISv.

 

[7DmkI]

It was a cold morning (-10C) for walking outside but seeing three long-eared owls made it well worth.

 

[Click]

Beautiful warm light in the second photo.

 

[foda]

The Toucan Barbet is a spectacularly-plumaged bird endemic to the cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador and western Colombia. I photographed this individual while birding at Avistamiento de Aves Doña Dora, Colombia, November, 2025.

R5MkII RF200-800mm

 

[ISv]

Beautiful shots, ISv.

Thanks Click!

 

[Click]

The Toucan Barbet is a spectacularly-plumaged bird endemic to the cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador and western Colombia. I photographed this individual while birding at Avistamiento de Aves Doña Dora, Colombia, November, 2025.

R5MkII RF200-800mm

Beautiful colourful bird. Well done, Norman.

 

[danfaz]

So, this is my first Peregrine Falcon capture. I've never seen them before in my area, and didn't even know what I was looking at initially!
I'm not too happy with the low angle, but this was a rare moment for me, so I had to get what I could.

 

[Click]

Very nice series. I especially like the second one with the eye contact.

 

[danfaz]

Very nice series. I especially like the second one with the visual contact.

Thanks, Click!

 

[ISv]

So, this is my first Peregrine Falcon capture. I've never seen them before in my area, and didn't even know what I was looking at initially!
I'm not too happy with the low angle, but this was a rare moment for me, so I had to get what I could.

View attachment 227589View attachment 227590View attachment 227591View attachment 227592View attachment 227593

Beautiful series but if you want an eye-level photos you should climb on the nearby tree!

 

[danfaz]

Beautiful series but if you want an eye-level photos you should climb on the nearby tree!

I'll try that next time! LOL

 

[foda]

I'll try that next time! LOL

It may sound counter-intuitive, but moving away from the subject will give you more of an "eye-level" perspective as you decrease the angle of your shot.

 

[AlanF]

It may sound counter-intuitive, but moving away from the subject will give you more of an "eye-level" perspective as you decrease the angle of your shot.

Absolutely right, and not counter-intuitive.

 

[danfaz]

It may sound counter-intuitive, but moving away from the subject will give you more of an "eye-level" perspective as you decrease the angle of your shot.

Oh yes, I understand that. I just literally stumbled onto this guy and froze in my tracks. I didn't want to move and risk losing a shot.

 

[ISv]

It may sound counter-intuitive, but moving away from the subject will give you more of an "eye-level" perspective as you decrease the angle of your shot.

Yep, we all learned "triangle" in our very young age but how far you should go away to get +/- no triangle (aka "eye-level")? And what happens with the quality of the photo?! I'm not talking just lens resolution or the obstacles you may get between the object and your lens: most importantly(?) - that layer of air that you are getting when going away, even in best circumstances!
I still think the best way is to climb on the nearby tree: what! - even monkey can do this! (this is not serious off course!) or wait for the bird to go down or just look for better opportunity (not acceptable when you have something rare or "your first time").
Now seriously: take your photos when you can (just to have that "rare" or "first time") and at an opportunity you may get it better!

 

[ISv]

I'll try that next time! LOL

Climbing the tree is on your own risk - I'm just giving an idea for the "eye-level" photos in that situation, not how to climb trees (I mean if you fall when climbing it's not my fall !).
BTW I never tried this method by myself...