Show your Bird Portraits

[kodakrome]

Having never got close to or taken a decent shot of a bittern until the last week, I can't believe my luck. Used the 5DIV + 400mm DO at 800mm. The large bird was fishing and caught a tiny fish and a baby pike.

Those are very nice.

 

[Mikehit]

Having never got close to or taken a decent shot of a bittern until the last week, I can't believe my luck. Used the 5DIV + 400mm DO at 800mm. The large bird was fishing and caught a tiny fish and a baby pike.

Excellent shots, Alan especially with the reeds that could confuse the AF.
Was this taken in UK or Africa? I was just wondering about the blue round the eye...

 

[AlanF]

Thanks CR friends for your comments, click, lion rock, Don and kodakrome for these and earlier comments.

 

[AlanF]

Having never got close to or taken a decent shot of a bittern until the last week, I can't believe my luck. Used the 5DIV + 400mm DO at 800mm. The large bird was fishing and caught a tiny fish and a baby pike.

Excellent shots, Alan especially with the reeds that could confuse the AF.
Was this taken in UK or Africa? I was just wondering about the blue round the eye...

Mike, they were taken 45 minutes away in Suffolk. The colour around his eye is very blue, a real handsome bird.

 

[AlanF]

The blue is in an area called the lores. It's part of the breeding plumage that attracts females. The great egret can have blue lores also in the breeding season. Here is one I took last summer in Malaysia.

 

[ISv]

Great shots Alan!

 

[AlanF]

Great shots Alan!

Thanks!

 

[Nat_WA]

Having never got close to or taken a decent shot of a bittern until the last week, I can't believe my luck. Used the 5DIV + 400mm DO at 800mm. The large bird was fishing and caught a tiny fish and a baby pike.

V.nice shots Alan, especially considering the difficulty to focus in those conditions (at least, I would have had some trouble there )

Wiebe.

 

[Mikehit]

Having never got close to or taken a decent shot of a bittern until the last week, I can't believe my luck. Used the 5DIV + 400mm DO at 800mm. The large bird was fishing and caught a tiny fish and a baby pike.

Excellent shots, Alan especially with the reeds that could confuse the AF.
Was this taken in UK or Africa? I was just wondering about the blue round the eye...

Mike, they were taken 45 minutes away in Suffolk. The colour around his eye is very blue, a real handsome bird.

Thanks Alan. The reason I asked was that checking websites it was the African variety that had the blue - I did not realise the UK bitterns had them as well.

 

[Click]

Very nice shot, Alan.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Alan V nice. "The blue is in an area called the lores. It's part of the breeding plumage that attracts females." Now if I'd only known 50 years ago I'd would have tried blue eye shadow!

Jack

 

[ISv]

Alan V nice. "The blue is in an area called the lores. It's part of the breeding plumage that attracts females." Now if I'd only known 50 years ago I'd would have tried blue eye shadow!

Jack

;D ;D ;D"Now if I'd only known 50 years ago I'd would have tried blue eye shadow!" - Jack, you have to catch the Bittern first! And animal cruelty, and... and... (you never know what else will pop up!)!

 

[ISv]

The blue is in an area called the lores. It's part of the breeding plumage that attracts females. The great egret can have blue lores also in the breeding season. Here is one I took last summer in Malaysia.

Excellent comment Alan!

 

[dpc]

The blue is in an area called the lores. It's part of the breeding plumage that attracts females. The great egret can have blue lores also in the breeding season. Here is one I took last summer in Malaysia.

Beautiful picture of a beautiful bird, Alan!

 

[dpc]

I was sitting in my den working on my computer two days ago when this thrush flew full tilt into the picture window. I looked out and saw he had fallen onto the patio and become jammed under the gas line to my barbecue. I went out, thinking he was probably dead. He wasn't. I gently moved the gas line away from his body and waited nearby for an hour or so to see if he would revive. We don't have many dogs and cats in the neighbourhood but a cat will occasionally wander through the yard, so I wanted to ensure the bird was safe from any feline or canine visitors. He eventually hopped up on his two feet and rested 15-20 minutes and then flew off. He must have a massive headache. I took the opportunity to shoot this rather undistinguished picture with my Fujifilm X-T10.

 

[NancyP]

That's kind of you to guard the recovering bird, dpc. If bird crashes are a common occurrence, read this for options:

https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/featured-stories/15-products-prevent-birds-hitting-windows/

 

[Don Haines]

Alan V nice. "The blue is in an area called the lores. It's part of the breeding plumage that attracts females." Now if I'd only known 50 years ago I'd would have tried blue eye shadow!

Jack

And may I suggest you bring chocolate instead of raw fish as part of your courting ritual.....

 

[dpc]

That's kind of you to guard the recovering bird, dpc. If bird crashes are a common occurrence, read this for options:

https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/featured-stories/15-products-prevent-birds-hitting-windows/

Thanks for the suggestions, Nancy.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Don, maybe we're onto something; a way to get close to bitterns by pretending to be a potential mate. My first, now deceased female African Grey found me to be quite to her liking. Was always trying to feed me.

Jack

 

[lafuria]

Himantopus mexicanus - Black-winged Stilt, from Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, Argentina
Canon 5DIV, 500 f4 ll+1.4 lll