Show your Bird Portraits

[IslanderMV]

All our summer birds have started to arrive. One of my favorites species is the American Oystercatcher.

I was doing my bit for science and photographed the bird tags for the local wildlife folks.

These two females were very cooperative. Another pair started to mate ( much to my surprise) as I closed in to photograph the tags. Some folks get somewhat uncomfortable with photographing bird reproduction as it gives them a vague unsettled feeling. For me it was super cool as I now have the complete life cycle photographed !
http://www.bernierland.com/photo-portfolio/oystercatcher_mate.html#3

60D and 100-400mm - handheld

 

[Jack Douglas]

Such crummy weather here, you guys are getting all these beautiful shots and I'm getting nothing - not fair!

BTW thanks for the hints re fly fishing!

Not a good shot and not a bird but maybe good for a laugh. A typical feeloading macho male! Honest, there is nothing to shoot here.

Jack

 

[mitchel]

Superb Starling perched on a Masai speartip in Tanzania...

 

[Eldar]

Such crummy weather here, you guys are getting all these beautiful shots and I'm getting nothing - not fair!

BTW thanks for the hints re fly fishing!

Not a good shot and not a bird but maybe good for a laugh. A typical feeloading macho male! Honest, there is nothing to shoot here.

Jack

It's a tough life Jack. Maybe you need to get something colorful and livly from the local pet store

 

[TheJock]

There are also small, personal-sized floats for flyfishing. They're a bit like an inflatable chair, but have holes in the "floor" for your wading boots. I've never used one, but it appears you can lightly walk the bottom, or keep a small paddle on-board.

These are called float tubes (heres a link http://www.fishingmegastore.com/float-tubes--accessories_2188.html ) and they are awesome, you can wear chest waders are a pair of fins to manouvere around Lochs/Lakes/ponds (stangnant waters) without getting wet at all, I never thought about putting one to photography use!!!!!!!

 

[AlanF]

Black-tailed Godwit. 5DIII 300mm f/2.8 II + 2XTC III at f/5.6. This is at the limits of resolution for a decently sharp image for me. It is 100% crop, and the image spans only 800x300 pixels.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Float tubes - thanks guys - was thinking an inflatable boat but they are much larger and heavier so this may be a very handy alternative. Here's a good article: http://flyfish-edmonton.webs.com/floattubing.htm

Jack

 

[jrista]

Float tubes - thanks guys - was thinking an inflatable boat but they are much larger and heavier so this may be a very handy alternative. Here's a good article: http://flyfish-edmonton.webs.com/floattubing.htm

Jack

I'd still be pretty worried about losing my gear. If I had some kind of floating stand to put the camera on...something very stable that couldn't be swamped, then I might feel safer...but even with a float tube, if I'm just holding my gear.... *shudder*

 

[Eldar]

Tufted duck
This is an example for everyone who believe the 600 f4L IS II combined with the 2xIII extender is not sharp enough. This image is cropped to about 50% of the full image size. Photographed in light rain.
1DX, 1/500s, f8.0, ISO4000

 

[Eldar]

Ruddy shellduck, female
This is a very rare visitor. It is actually the first time I have seen one. I suspect it is a runaway from a duck farm from somewhere south of here though. But a very beautiful duck it is.
1DX, 600mm f4L IS II + 1.4xIII
1/800s, f8.0, ISO800

 

[mackguyver]

Ruddy shellduck, female
This is a very rare visitor. It is actually the first time I have seen one. I suspect it is a runaway from a duck farm from somewhere south of here though. But a very beautiful duck it is.
1DX, 600mm f4L IS II + 1.4xIII
1/800s, f8.0, ISO800

Very impressive shot and a lovely bird. I've never seen one of these before and you've captured it's beauty perfectly.

 

[Dylan777]

Ruddy shellduck, female
This is a very rare visitor. It is actually the first time I have seen one. I suspect it is a runaway from a duck farm from somewhere south of here though. But a very beautiful duck it is.
1DX, 600mm f4L IS II + 1.4xIII
1/800s, f8.0, ISO800

+1...interesting color

 

[Dylan777]

Feeding Cardinal

Nice one Scott. It looks like you putting your 300mm to work

 

[Dylan777]

Superb Starling perched on a Masai speartip in Tanzania...

Nice shot mitchel.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Dylan777]

"P... off!"
Great Crested Grebe on her eggs, not to happy with the company.
1DX, 600mm f4L IS II + 1.4xIII
1/500s, f6.3, ISO320

Ummm...this photo reminded me of my ex from HS ;D ;D ;D

Good timing Eldar

 

[Click]

Ruddy shellduck, female
This is a very rare visitor. It is actually the first time I have seen one. I suspect it is a runaway from a duck farm from somewhere south of here though. But a very beautiful duck it is.
1DX, 600mm f4L IS II + 1.4xIII
1/800s, f8.0, ISO800

Lovely shot. Well done.

 

[mackguyver]

Float tubes - thanks guys - was thinking an inflatable boat but they are much larger and heavier so this may be a very handy alternative. Here's a good article: http://flyfish-edmonton.webs.com/floattubing.htm

Jack

I'd still be pretty worried about losing my gear. If I had some kind of floating stand to put the camera on...something very stable that couldn't be swamped, then I might feel safer...but even with a float tube, if I'm just holding my gear.... *shudder*

It's funny you guys are talking about waders and float tubes and your concern is losing your gear. I worry about losing my legs to the friendly sharks and alligators where I shoot ;D:

And to return the thread to it's normal subject again, here's a Common Grackle:

 

[jrista]

Ruddy shellduck, female
This is a very rare visitor. It is actually the first time I have seen one. I suspect it is a runaway from a duck farm from somewhere south of here though. But a very beautiful duck it is.
1DX, 600mm f4L IS II + 1.4xIII
1/800s, f8.0, ISO800

What a beauty! Your a lucky guy!

 

[dpc]

Male American white pelican lighting on the South Saskatchewan River.

 

[bjd]

A somewhat messy Great Tit!