Show your Bird Portraits

[AlanF]

jamie i like your goose.


Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopectus) by alabang, on Flickr

The Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopectus) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is a generally uncommon but locally common resident of the northern and central islands. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro, Sibuyan and Ticao, and A. c. nigriostris, which is found in Panay, Negros and Cebu. It forms a superspecies with the Silvery Kingfisher of the southern Philippines.[1]
The Indigo-banded Kingfisher feeds on fish and aquatic insects. It perches on rocks and overhanging branches and foliage and dives steeply into the water to catch its prey. Once caught, it returns the prey to the perch where it is beaten and swallowed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, although it is known to nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams and rivers.[1]
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo-banded_Kingfisher

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Ecopark

You have also posted it in the 800mm f/5.6 thread. I'll ask the same question here: Is that a 100% crop or is it a larger size that has been reduced? If reduced, what is the size of the original crop?

I'd like to get a feel for the quality of the 800mm and you need the file size info for that. Thanks.

 

[Eldar]

Every once in a while one needs to change perspective. I've been concentrating on raptors all fall. Today, one of my favorite raptor hunting grounds was a total bust. So, I wound up waiting by the bank of a stream for nearly an hour until the local songbird population decided to ignore me. I was rewarded with this shot of a Song Sparrow.

5Diii, 400 DO, ISO 800, f6.3 @ 1/320, hand held.

This is a beautiful picture. Very well composed. We are spoiled and often we need an exotic bird or animal to really look, but sometimes a sparrow deserves our attention. Well done!

 

[Jack Douglas]

The quality of shots never ceases to amaze me, and the diversity of birds! As previously stated even the "lowly" sparrow is a wonder and I also love that shot - I'd be proud to show it to anyone.

JDW

 

[dolina]

jamie i like your goose.


Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopectus) by alabang, on Flickr

The Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopectus) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is a generally uncommon but locally common resident of the northern and central islands. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro, Sibuyan and Ticao, and A. c. nigriostris, which is found in Panay, Negros and Cebu. It forms a superspecies with the Silvery Kingfisher of the southern Philippines.[1]
The Indigo-banded Kingfisher feeds on fish and aquatic insects. It perches on rocks and overhanging branches and foliage and dives steeply into the water to catch its prey. Once caught, it returns the prey to the perch where it is beaten and swallowed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, although it is known to nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams and rivers.[1]
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo-banded_Kingfisher

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Ecopark

You have also posted it in the 800mm f/5.6 thread. I'll ask the same question here: Is that a 100% crop or is it a larger size that has been reduced? If reduced, what is the size of the original crop?

I'd like to get a feel for the quality of the 800mm and you need the file size info for that. Thanks.

I will provide excuses.

Above settings: 1/30 ƒ/6.3 ISO1600 800mm


The 9.5MP crop is from the original 16MP that was shrunk to 1024px on the longest side.

I have been shooting infrequently once every other month. For many of the shots I was shooting in a prone positing in the dirt inside a very unkempt horses' stable. I was shooting without turning off the mirror lock and without a remote trigger.

Below is a slightly better image once I got my "birding legs" back. 5.0MP crop is from the original 16MP that was also shrunk to 1024px. These were taken 14 mins apart.

Settings: 1/30 ƒ/6.3 ISO640 800mm


Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopectus) by alabang, on Flickr

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As to 800 vs 600 II, my opinion based on experience is if it is a 800 at a generous secondary market price then go for it but for brand new go with a 600 II with a 1.4x III extender.

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Synkka I like you finch and ERHP's woodpecker.

 

[AlanF]

The second shot of the female kingfisher is very sharp. Congrats.

 

[Click]

Great shot Paolo. Nicely done.

 

[dolina]

THanks ALan and Click.


Spotted Wood Kingfisher (Actenoides lindsayi) by alabang, on Flickr

The Spotted Wood Kingfisher (Actenoides lindsayi) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_Wood_Kingfisher

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Ecopark

 

[dolina]

Red-bellied Pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster) by alabang, on Flickr

The Red-bellied Pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster) is a species of bird in the Pittidae family. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_Pitta

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Ecopark

 

[steven kessel]

One of many raptors that I saw and photographed this past Sunday. Dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, shot with 5Diii, 400DO, ISO 400, M setting.

 

[Click]

Paolo and Steven, great pictures guys, keep posting.

 

[Krob78]

One of many raptors that I saw and photographed this past Sunday. Dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, shot with 5Diii, 400DO, ISO 400, M setting.

Excellent Steven, Thanks for sharing!

 

[Krob78]

Red-bellied Pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster) by alabang, on Flickr

The Red-bellied Pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster) is a species of bird in the Pittidae family. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_Pitta

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Ecopark

Absolutely lovely my friend! Very nice Portrait indeed!

 

[Krob78]

Every once in a while one needs to change perspective. I've been concentrating on raptors all fall. Today, one of my favorite raptor hunting grounds was a total bust. So, I wound up waiting by the bank of a stream for nearly an hour until the local songbird population decided to ignore me. I was rewarded with this shot of a Song Sparrow.

5Diii, 400 DO, ISO 800, f6.3 @ 1/320, hand held.

Very nice Steven, especially with that challenging lighting!

 

[Krob78]

Nice reflection Steven! The hawks were pretty cool too.

Not a lot of 'new' happening this last weekend but after my 60 hour week I finally got around to going through Sunday's shots and the posing Western Scrub Jay.

Now if only I could have gotten this close to the fairly rare(for SoCal) Lewis's Woodpecker I found.

What a beautifully sharp image ERHP and very nice contrast... Definitely a "feel good" image!

 

[Krob78]

THanks ALan and Click.


Spotted Wood Kingfisher (Actenoides lindsayi) by alabang, on Flickr

The Spotted Wood Kingfisher (Actenoides lindsayi) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_Wood_Kingfisher

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Ecopark

Mmm, Mmm, that's a beautiful image Dolina!

 

[Krob78]

8

taken with a 100-400 + 1.4x TC earlier this morning. Image cropped from the center of the frame.

8)

 

[dolina]

Lovely raptor steven.

Thanks Click krob

 

[Don Haines]

Yet another heron picture

 

[Krob78]

Yet another heron picture

Nice Silhouette Don!

 

[steven kessel]

Wow, I love that heron photo. I know that sometimes I get so obsessed with closeups and trying to capture every last little bit of plumage that I forget that taking a few steps back might make for a stronger image. This is a classic example. Beautiful, just beautiful.