Singing Birds

24 posts / 0 new
Last post
stevehapp
stevehapp's picture
Singing Birds

I seemed to get a lot of birds singing yesterday.
These guys are heaps better than Australian Idol.
What do you think of these, Dicko?
.
1. White-cheeked Honeyeater

,
2. Eastern Whipbird

,
3. Australian Whipbird

,
Taken at the Hunter Wetlands Centre at Shortland.
,
cheers,
steve

stevehapp
stevehapp's picture

doh. you cant edit these posts..
.
3. is Australian Reed-warbler of course.
.
double doh!

soakes
soakes's picture

Wooah, you had me scared for a moment there. I've never heard of an Australian whipbird. :-)

Great pics - I think Spring has brought them out. Do birds have calendars? All of a sudden they seem more active around my place.

I'm jealous of your whipbird (the real one) - I never seem to get to look at one for more than a second - let alone time to take a photo!

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

GeorgeP
GeorgeP's picture

They're all ripper images, steve. The White-cheeked is one I have yet to photograph and would be my favourite from the bunch. Very unusual to see a Whipbird out in the open.

Cheers,

George
Melbourne, VIC

Birdgirl2009
Birdgirl2009's picture

These are terrific - makes me want to go there. And I can ...

stevehapp
stevehapp's picture

thanks guys,
.
birdgirl, the hunter wetlands centre is a top spot.
Highly recommended. I always find something there, even on the crappiest days..
.
cheers,
steve

Lyn
Lyn's picture

I love them all Steve - especially the little Warbler. Looks as though he was singing his little heart out!

tarkineus
tarkineus's picture

Quite an amazing collection Steve, I envy the diversity. The Xmas NY break could even see me up your way. Not sure what I can fit into my7 itinerary yet - but if all's well and the creek don't rise, I know I'll be visiting Bathurst.
.
What's happened to Tassie, btw. Did he announce that he was heading off someplace for awhile?

Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour

birdie
birdie's picture

Great chorus you have there Steve... just beautiful. Like Soakes I am jealous of the whipbird. I just can't get near them they are very shy but all around my house in the neighbouring bushland.
cheers
Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Tassie

Superb shots Steve,thanks for sharing mate.

smeedingo2
smeedingo2's picture

HI Steve
Love the shots and the place mate has the reed-warbler got yellow or orange colour in its mouth

stevehapp
stevehapp's picture

smee,
here is a bigger crop. It looks orange to me.
but it seems a bit yellowish on the bottom inside???
,

,
cheers,
steve

birdie
birdie's picture

That is just gorgeous Steve. Tell me , is it just good timing or do you use a motor drive and then pick the best shot?
Thanks

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

stevehapp
stevehapp's picture

birdie,
I use the low burst or 4 frames per second.
I would only take one shot if the AutoFocus was better on the 40D...
shooting a burst makes the autofocus work better for some reason.
then i go through and delete the out of focus shots and keep the in-focus ones..
,
If Canon would fix their Autofocus I would just take one photo and know that it was in focus..
,
hint hint to Canon..
,
cheers,
steve

birdie
birdie's picture

Steve
I am way out of date with the latest technical advances with Canon. I always thought their autofocus was the strong point in years gone by.. have they been overtaken by another brand? I am only using a 1000D which is the very basic ASLR, and I don'r even think it does bursts etc. But I really do have to learn to use it all over again and forget the auto setting. I have become very lazy in the years since I left work and have become very much a happy snapper since I had a child. But that just doesn't cut it in Birding worlds as those birds are always in low light and half hidden and moving so darned fast!! ( Unless your name is aa who gets them to sit on a post and hover in the air just above his head endlessly!!! :))

I have a lot to learn and need a converter or a longer lens at least.
Someday....
CHeers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

smeedingo2
smeedingo2's picture

HI Steve
The Oriental Reed-Warbler is orange in the mouth very nice shots it is a top spot to take photos.

Tassie

Hey Birdie, Don't worry about the 1000D twin lense setup,there is nothing wrong with them.
:)

birdie
birdie's picture

Yeah I know Tassie, but when push comes to shove they are just not sharp or crisp enough for what I would really like. conditions have to be really optimum and the birds doing a statue imitation to really produce a top shot!! :(

Problem for me is that wherever I get to see birds the trees are just too high and too dense. Tried to track the white faced heron (from my avatar) at work up to his roost in the high gum trees over the road from work. It took us 10 minutes to locate him and then he was nowhere near the nest. ( still haven't found that) then it took me about two days to unclick my neck !!!

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

stevehapp
stevehapp's picture

birdie:
The Canon 1000D has some sort of burst.
here is what the canon site says:
"3.0 fps (continuous shooting until card is full: JPEG)"
,
have a look at your manual to see how to use it..
I just hold down the button for mine.. ha ha.
,
I personally think the kit lenses are not much good.
and you would be struggling with them.
..
cheers,
steve

Tassie

Gidday Steve and Birdie, I agree with both of your comments Re 1000D Twin lense kit.
At the end of the day with two kids in private schools and a mortgage over the head etc, the 1000D does just fine for me regardless.
I don't take pics for a living nor am I retired so until then it will have to do me.
I would love to have something better but thats life.
Cheers.

birdie
birdie's picture

HI Tassie & Steve
Agree with all of your comments, and Tassie .... with 2 kids in private schools you are 1 kid and a private school better off than me. I'm still thinking of ways to get her into a private school. The public system will have to do us and the pics will have to be the best I can do with what I have. Unfortunately working for Canon for all those years I got to play free in the big toy pen and it has spoilt my appreciation for the affordable things in life!! :)
As I always used to say to customers though, you really need to learn to use what you have and Steve is quite right , I should read the instruction book instead of filing it under f for [b]"forgotten"[/]

I have never learned or tried to take a decent shot with a 300m zoom lens ( ie with tripod and optimum chance of a good shot) so I get frustrated with them.
In the end I love looking at others" work and appreciate them but with a tinge of green ;'D

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

birdie
birdie's picture

I really wish we had an edit button

#')

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

birdie
birdie's picture

and a link to the next page in the thread at the bottom
of the page as well as the top. So easy to miss otherwise.
;'D

Sunshine Coast Queensland

smeedingo2
smeedingo2's picture

HI Steve
I'm with tassie on this one all mine are with a 200mm lens I would love a 500mm or better but the wife doesn't agree so I just have to get closer GRRRRR.

 and   @birdsinbackyards
                 Subscribe to me on YouTube