Show your Bird Portraits

[Jack Douglas]

jrista, now you got that off your chest, you'll feel better.

I looked for that chair and found one at Canadian Tire that looks the same, around $100. What's your opinion of that particular chair and is there anything else that might be preferable? That's better than the open lawn chair that I parked at "my" pond during the summer (actually my acreage backs onto county reserve so technically it's not "my" pond (another confession). ;D

Jack

 

[jrista]

jrista, now you got that off your chest, you'll feel better.

I looked for that chair and found one at Canadian Tire that looks the same, around $100. What's your opinion of that particular chair and is there anything else that might be preferable? That's better than the open lawn chair that I parked at "my" pond during the summer (actually my acreage backs onto county reserve so technically it's not "my" pond (another confession). ;D

Jack

Your lucky to have land. I live in the suburbs, so I don't have nearly as much space for a really good bird setup, let alone a pond!

As for the chair, it's excellent. There are little huts that fit multiple people, tall huts for standing in, etc. But this chair is really the best option. It can be a bit of a pain to get the telescope with a big white lens to fit into initially, but once it's done and you have the lens pointing out the front window, you can sit in it for hours and the birds really don't know your there. You can even make sounds, talk on the phone, whatever...so long as your inside that "odd looking big bush", they just don't care. The moment you poke your head out, though, they all scatter.

I spent $80 on mine on a sale at NatureScapes.net. I think the regular price was $99. Definitely worth it, though.

 

[Don Haines]

jrista, now you got that off your chest, you'll feel better.

I looked for that chair and found one at Canadian Tire that looks the same, around $100. What's your opinion of that particular chair and is there anything else that might be preferable? That's better than the open lawn chair that I parked at "my" pond during the summer (actually my acreage backs onto county reserve so technically it's not "my" pond (another confession). ;D

Jack

I picked up one at Canadian Tire that is about 4 feet square on the base and sits about 5 feet high.... It is sitting out in the yard with a comfortable folding chair in it... and I must also confess that there is a long extension cord and a small space heater.... takes the edge off of things when you are shooting below -10.... and it is also within WiFi range of the house... (Roughing it is for amateurs)... I was sitting in it on the weekend trying to catch chickadees in flight (DARN THAT'S HARD!!!) and this lovely lady ran through the yard..

 

[Jack Douglas]

I suppose there are people who think we are crazy. Heater, now that's a great idea but what if it catches fire?

Don, I'm sure the turkey provided at least a bit of a thrill, it's very nice.

Now I have to see if they have that chair in stock right now. I'm thinking heater, tripod, tracker and night sky, in comfort!

Jack

 

[ERHP]

Some great ideas for the yard, or anywhere for that matter, Jack and jrista. I actually laughed reading your post Don(roughing it). I've gotten most of mine by backing into a bush but a full blind would probably be better. Some of you might have seen this video by Cornell.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Hatch

Nice Mandarin closeup Harv! Supposedly we have one or two here but they were imports

Loving the snowies, ftico and IslanderMV. Still a tough call, 80F clear weather or snow, freezing temps and snowies.

 

[jrista]

jrista, now you got that off your chest, you'll feel better.

I looked for that chair and found one at Canadian Tire that looks the same, around $100. What's your opinion of that particular chair and is there anything else that might be preferable? That's better than the open lawn chair that I parked at "my" pond during the summer (actually my acreage backs onto county reserve so technically it's not "my" pond (another confession). ;D

Jack

I picked up one at Canadian Tire that is about 4 feet square on the base and sits about 5 feet high.... It is sitting out in the yard with a comfortable folding chair in it... and I must also confess that there is a long extension cord and a small space heater.... takes the edge off of things when you are shooting below -10.... and it is also within WiFi range of the house... (Roughing it is for amateurs)... I was sitting in it on the weekend trying to catch chickadees in flight (DARN THAT'S HARD!!!) and this lovely lady ran through the yard..

Haha! Indeed! I do pretty much the same thing...I have a little space heater in mine on the cold days, too. Actually, if you put small stones on the bottom edge of the tent, and zip up tight around the lens, it actually holds heat in pretty darn well, even when the temperature is -10.

As for the Chickadees in flight, you should get Alan Murphy's eBooks. He has some good setup tricks in there that helps a LOT. All the best songbird/passerine BIF shots are setups...it's pretty much the only way to do it. The trick is getting them to land a short way away from "the treat"...seed, berries, suet, whatever...so that they will make that short little "flight" between the initial perch and their goal in a known spot. Then, you basically just point your lens towards one spot, leave it there, and fire away the moment the bird looks like it's going to take off from that initial perch.

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get any shots. I have yet to create a setup where birds will land first on my special perch, then fly to the treat bar... They always seem to find a more amenable perch from which they launch their attack on the food, so I don't have any passerine flight shots I consider keepers yet. I think part of my problem is space...I only have a quarter acre of land, and everything is pretty tight and close. I want to give some setups out at the nearby state parks a try, see of I can lure some ground fowl and some passerines into a handy little setup and get some better shots.

 

[jrista]

Some great ideas for the yard, or anywhere for that matter, Jack and jrista. I actually laughed reading your post Don(roughing it). I've gotten most of mine by backing into a bush but a full blind would probably be better. Some of you might have seen this video by Cornell.

...

Nice Mandarin closeup Harv! Supposedly we have one or two here but they were imports

Loving the snowies, ftico and IslanderMV. Still a tough call, 80F clear weather or snow, freezing temps and snowies.

Awesome video! Hadn't seen that before, guy did a great job. I know some Spotted Sandpipers nested and hatched chicks around the Cottonwood Creek Wetland near me last year. I should set up my blind out there this year, and see if I can capture some good shots. I never brought my blind last year, and man, daddy piper did his job well. I figure if I could get set up before sunrise, I could probably get some good shots and maybe video of the pipers around Cottonwood Creek this year.

 

[ERHP]

This last Saturday I decided to head to a local slough even though it was hazy(marine layer) and a bit of smoke was coming from somewhere. There were a few ducks that drifted within minimal focus range while they were dabbling but the real treat was as the light started to go. In the forested section a flock of House Sparrows started a ruckus and then a whoosh of wings, a shape flew away from them into a tree next to me. I spent the next 15 minutes watching a juvenile Cooper's Hawk have a meal and preen less than 20' away. Here's a shot of it taking a break between the appetizer and main course. 5D MK III, 600 f/4 v2 w/ 1.4TC III(Wish I had removed it but didn't want to disturb the hawk) 1/160 : f/5.6 : ISO 2000

 

[Jack Douglas]

ERHP, what good fortune and what a great sharp shot. I enjoy the details when they are provided. I assume you were too close to get the full bird?

Jack

 

[ERHP]

Jack, Thanks! If I had stopped shooting to take the 1.4X off, I might have gotten everything in the frame. Was really concerned that the required movements would cause the hawk to fly off but after it was over, I believe it might have been possible.

 

[Menace]

Zebra Finch

Very nice shot Menace. Well done.

Thank you Click.

 

[jrista]

Jack, Thanks! If I had stopped shooting to take the 1.4X off, I might have gotten everything in the frame. Was really concerned that the required movements would cause the hawk to fly off but after it was over, I believe it might have been possible.

I say stick with your instincts in the field. Hindsight doesn't tell you as much as having that in-person presence does. I've often been in the same situation, thinking I could have taken off the TC...but usually, the birds I photograph just don't sit still for long, and taking the time to switch the TC in the middle of photographing an interesting sequence usually results in losing the moment.

 

[Northstar]

This last Saturday I decided to head to a local slough even though it was hazy(marine layer) and a bit of smoke was coming from somewhere. There were a few ducks that drifted within minimal focus range while they were dabbling but the real treat was as the light started to go. In the forested section a flock of House Sparrows started a ruckus and then a whoosh of wings, a shape flew away from them into a tree next to me. I spent the next 15 minutes watching a juvenile Cooper's Hawk have a meal and preen less than 20' away. Here's a shot of it taking a break between the appetizer and main course. 5D MK III, 600 f/4 v2 w/ 1.4TC III(Wish I had removed it but didn't want to disturb the hawk) 1/160 : f/5.6 : ISO 2000

What a good story ERHP! And a great capture...love the detail that can be seen in the Hawk's head.

 

[Mr Bean]

Gang Gang, male. Not his best pose as we were all putting up with a 46c day. He, and his mate were sitting in a wattle in my front garden for most of the day. I had positioned a large water bowl under the bush, which they would use on occasion. Note that both hold their wings open, in an attempt to cool down, as much as you can in this heat

Gang Gang, female.

 

[Mr Bean]

This last Saturday I decided to head to a local slough even though it was hazy(marine layer) and a bit of smoke was coming from somewhere. There were a few ducks that drifted within minimal focus range while they were dabbling but the real treat was as the light started to go. In the forested section a flock of House Sparrows started a ruckus and then a whoosh of wings, a shape flew away from them into a tree next to me. I spent the next 15 minutes watching a juvenile Cooper's Hawk have a meal and preen less than 20' away. Here's a shot of it taking a break between the appetizer and main course. 5D MK III, 600 f/4 v2 w/ 1.4TC III(Wish I had removed it but didn't want to disturb the hawk) 1/160 : f/5.6 : ISO 2000

Very nice capture ERHP

 

[Northstar]

Gang Gang, male. Not his best pose as we were all putting up with a 46c day. He, and his mate were sitting in a wattle in my front garden for most of the day. I had positioned a large water bowl under the bush, which they would use on occasion. Note that both hold their wings open, in an attempt to cool down, as much as you can in this heat

Gang Gang, female.

What an interesting looking bird...I'd never seen one before., thanks for posting. 46c is hot..wow.

By the way, it's funny to read about the unbearable heat there when it's unbearably cold here. (Wind chill is -20 degrees Fahrenheit)

 

[Mr Bean]

Thanks Northstar. They're part of the cockatoo family of birds. Not too afraid of people. In fact, the only reason I saw these two was I went to top up the water bowl, and the male was sitting in the bush, 2m from me.

Regarding the weather, Melbourne (Australia) has had a run of 4 days 40+c. Tomorrow is expected to be 42c, then a cool change and milder weather after that. I hope so. I can handle it, but these guys and other critters are really suffering.

This is the female, on a better day....

 

[Click]

The snowy invasion has everybody out shooting here on Martha's Vineyard.

100-400mm ISO 250, 1000th, f5.6

Lovely shots. I especially like the second one.

 

[Click]

This last Saturday I decided to head to a local slough even though it was hazy(marine layer) and a bit of smoke was coming from somewhere. There were a few ducks that drifted within minimal focus range while they were dabbling but the real treat was as the light started to go. In the forested section a flock of House Sparrows started a ruckus and then a whoosh of wings, a shape flew away from them into a tree next to me. I spent the next 15 minutes watching a juvenile Cooper's Hawk have a meal and preen less than 20' away. Here's a shot of it taking a break between the appetizer and main course. 5D MK III, 600 f/4 v2 w/ 1.4TC III(Wish I had removed it but didn't want to disturb the hawk) 1/160 : f/5.6 : ISO 2000

Very nice shot ERHP. Well done.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

This last Saturday I decided to head to a local slough even though it was hazy(marine layer) and a bit of smoke was coming from somewhere. There were a few ducks that drifted within minimal focus range while they were dabbling but the real treat was as the light started to go. In the forested section a flock of House Sparrows started a ruckus and then a whoosh of wings, a shape flew away from them into a tree next to me. I spent the next 15 minutes watching a juvenile Cooper's Hawk have a meal and preen less than 20' away. Here's a shot of it taking a break between the appetizer and main course. 5D MK III, 600 f/4 v2 w/ 1.4TC III(Wish I had removed it but didn't want to disturb the hawk) 1/160 : f/5.6 : ISO 2000

FANTABULOUS! Good you did not remove the 1.4 TC, coz this makes a more compelling image.