Bird of the Week: 11th Feb - New photos

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Holly
Holly's picture
Bird of the Week: 11th Feb - New photos

Hey gang

Lets get out and take some new photos of birds - add your photos of birds you have taken in the previous 2 weeks (or this week). Of course we can't check when the photos were taken but you are all an honest bunch smiley

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Ooo, you might have opened the flood gateswink, how many do you want? I take about 100 per day, but took 500 yesterday, X two weeks. Which ones do you want???

M-L

di.anneslegacy
di.anneslegacy's picture

That right how many is too many.  Here are a couple of samples of me trying to perfect taking sulphur crested cockatoos - hard subject, either in the sun or if it is cloudy, they tend to blend in with the sky.

Diane - Canberra

Araminta
Araminta's picture

I just love them Diane.

Here is one I took this morning.

A " cute bottom". O, sorry, a "Coot bottom"devil

M-L

Araminta
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These photos of a Golden Whistler, were taken at 3 o'clock this afternoon in my garden. Ithere are 80 more, let me know if you want to see themwink?)

M-L

GeorgeP
GeorgeP's picture

Here are a few of mine. I don't take quite as many as M-L but I have been known to take a couple of hundred in a few hours at the WTP. wink

1. Black-shouldered Kite at the Western Treatment Plant (WTP).

2. Australian Spotted Crake at Mill Park Lakes.

3. A young Black-winged Stilt at Rivergum Reserve.

4. Red-kneed Dotterel at Rivergum Reserve. 

Cheers,

George
Melbourne, VIC

Roly
Roly's picture

OK, is this an Eastern Spinebill in our garden this morning? It seemed a bit small!

Roly
Roly's picture

Dianne, cockatoos of all description are my absolute favourites.

Post all the photos you can! Great photos, BTW!

Roly
Roly's picture

Fairy wren.

At last! One decided to take a bath today!

That reminds me! It's nearly mid-month - time for my bath too (not that I need one yet!) blush

Roly
Roly's picture

Is this a female Maggie?


teott
teott's picture

some of 27 black swans at narabeen lake, nsw

busy eating lake grass(?) at sunset

Teo

sydney

pacman
pacman's picture

I was feeling very black & white on Saturday morning at Toorbul Wading Bird Roost, Qld - 22 Pied Oystercatchers, 2 Australian Pelicans and 2 White-headed or Black-winged Stilts

Peter

cassie.c87
cassie.c87's picture

These were taken between friday and today. Still working on imprving my skills but that's half the fun :)

di.anneslegacy
di.anneslegacy's picture

Hi Roly

Have tried to post photos on my laptop, so will have another go, hope it works this time.  I love cockies too, they are so loud and they are starting to get used to me and fly so close some times, I just have to stand my ground and keep photographing.  Great photos of yours.

Diane - Canberra

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Little Brown Thornbill  (I hope that's what it isdevil), in my garden at 8.15 this morning.He was having a drink and a nice bath under a shady tree.

M-L

---
---'s picture

A few that I took early this morning:

Araminta
Araminta's picture

The colours in the photos of the Singing Honeyeater  (if I'm correct?) 2&3 are great  Nathan. Something all of us hate, are sticks infront of the bird. Sometimes just one step to the right would make a difference wink It's great fun though.

M-L

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Great photos everyone. I don't get out to shoot birds as much as i would like but yesterday i went out to play with my 150-500 + 1.4 teleconverter with pretty poor resultssad Anyway i'll post these two up since they meet the criteria and hopefully someone can tell me what it is ( taken in Canberra )


bird-6550 by rawshorty, on Flickr 


bird-6543 by rawshorty, on Flickr 

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Roly
Roly's picture

As always, M-L, superb photos. I wish I had your patience and ability to get so close!

Roly
Roly's picture

Oh Diane! What stunning poses. The naked eye just shows a flurry of flapping - but your pics show the power and the beauty in those wings!

Awesome!

Roly

Roly
Roly's picture

Hi Shorty, (can I call you that - I'm only 5ft 4ins myself!)

What awesome horse-power!

A 500 lens with a 1.4 converter gives you an effective 700 mm lens!

I think the 7D has a cropped sensor with a factor of 1.6.

So, at 500mm with a 1.4 converter on a 7D you would be getting an effective focal length of a whopping 1120mm!!!!

What aspect were you disappointed with in your experiments? I guess the downside of getting such high magnification is that the quality of the image must start to decrease proportionally. I imagine stability at that magnification would also start to be a problem.

Good luck with it Mate, you're getting some great shots with the 500 on it's own. Awesome photos on your Flickr page too!

Roly

Roly
Roly's picture

Hi Teo,

The picture of the swans is just beautiful!

Roly

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi Shorty, the bird is a Red-browed Firetail.

M-L

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Two of my "very old photos" from two weeks ago. Some of my favourites, young Lewin's Honeyeater.

M-L

rawshorty
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Hi Roly, i am actually 5ft 11 but i have had that nick since i was about 8 (long story)

Yes it is a lot of reach but with the tele it is f9 manual focus so it needs a lot of light and high iso. I just could not get a sharp pic with it (my eyesight is not as good as it used to be either) i will keep working on it though.

The 500 on it's own is quite good but my keeper rate is a lot lower than my 70-200f4.

Thanks for the compliment on my Flickr pics, a lot were taken with the 70-200 and a couple with my 17-50.

Hi ML, thanks for the ID. I really need to get a good book on birds, can you recommend one for me?

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi again Shorty,

It’s a matter of finding one that suits your own requirements. Just go into a good bookstore and have a look through a few. I use Birds of Australia, Simpson&Day, but I saw one the other day that also had photos of eggs , nests and the young. Don’t remember who it was by. Only remember it was too expensive for me to just buy on a Saturday. Will have to wait for my birthday.

M-L

Roly
Roly's picture

Hello again, Shorty.

Yes, a big ask of the glass, especially of a zoom lens instead of a prime. I have a cheap Newtonian telescope and if I use a low powered eyepiece it gives a reasonable view of the moon. However, if I try a stronger magnification to see a crater it get's so blurred it becomes a waste of time. What sort of weather was it when you experimented? I've found that with a high powered lens the pic quality can depend a lot on the weather! The longer lens has the longer reach - but that means it looks through a lot more air. I have found that if there is any haze or shimmer, even though to the eye it looks ok, the long lens accentuates it and ruins the shot! 

I have a 70-200 also and it is probably my favourite lens. So versatile! I love it for taking candid portrait pics at parties etc. as well as the birds.

Cheers, Roly

Chris F
Chris F's picture

The wrens decided to bathe on top of the drums the other day after it rained. I hope these photos come up as I'm quite proud of them.

Chris

Chris F
Chris F's picture

Some more here!

Blue wren females bathing, and an interested spectator. :)

Chris

WendyK
WendyK's picture

Popular Australian Field Guides:

The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds (P, P & R Slater)

Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Simpson & Day) (mentioned above)

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Pizzey & Knight) new 9th edition out recently

Field Guide to Australian Birds (Michael Morcombe) This one also comes in a you-beaut iPhone ap I believe (plus some bird calls??) but I don't have a smart phone so :-(((

If you're in WA:

Birds of the Greater South West - Western Australia (Simon J Nevill) - contains photographs, not drawings.

Each of these books is really good and I find each has something to offer that the others might have missed so I like to cross-reference between them.

Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/

Ms Wombat
Ms Wombat's picture

.

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Roly, yes it is a big ask i think. As i was handholding the lens at that focal length i think i am expecting too much from it, i will get a good monopod before i try again, oh and conditions were good.

Wendy, thanks for the list. I did some quick research on the WWW  but i think i will take M-L's advice and go to a book store and check them out. I am the same as you and only have a phone that makes phone calls, but i think that is pretty smartsmiley

And i am in Canberra, i will update my sig so people know.

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Chris F
Chris F's picture

One morning last week I stepped out the back door to see this! Ran back for the camera and just kept clicking.

I've never noticed the spurs on the wings before, looks like these Lapwings were pretty serious!

Then again it's amazing what a zoom lens will pick up :) - and I only use Auto with my camera so far.

I've cropped these to get under the 500 KB limit, otherwise they are untouched.

Chris

Araminta
Araminta's picture

What camera do you have? (I'm sure you told us, I'm getting old, please remind mecrying)

Those spurs are impressive.

M-L

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Taken this afternoon in my garden, Crimson Rosella moulting into adult plumage.

M-L

Chris F
Chris F's picture

Camera is an Olympus Digital E-PL1 now fitted with an Olympus 40-150mm zoom lens using a four-thirds adapter.

Earlier post of "Gull Pirouette" was taken with the original 14-42mm zoom lens which we bought with the camera a couple of years ago. Christmas holidays down at the Coorong made me realise that I needed a better zoom if I wanted to get serious!

PS - great photo of the Crimson Rosella

Chris

di.anneslegacy
di.anneslegacy's picture

Hi Everyone

I have enjoyed seeing all your pictures, it is so great that there are others in the world who just to have to grab their cameras and take photos of birds.  I sometimes feel that I am an alien, and when I walk around the neighbourhood with my camera, I get some funny reactions, some people thought I was with ASIO, another thought I was with google earth!! and there are some nasty types who tell my it is illegle to take photographs, they obviously have something to hide.  Anyhow, I feel quite normal now thanks everyone.  Araminta how do you get such wonderful closeups.  Do you have a hide or are you just a bird whisperer!  I have added another photo of the little corellas, love these little guys, but have noticed that they have disappeared this week, I know they are actually not native to the ACT but would love to know where they have gone.

Cheers diane

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Thanks Diane, No hide, I just pretend to be a treewinkthat sneaks up on them. Mostly though I try to think like a bird. Sounds strange? Don't think so, it's getting to know the birds by observing and anticipating what they will do next. I have a lot of patience and can quietly stand in one spot for a very loooong time.

But I'm dreaming of taking good shots of birds in flight as good as  you do.

M-L

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Hi Diane, i know what you mean about walking around town with a telephoto lens on. Some people are very paranoid about it.

As for the Corella it is acually endemic to Canberra but they do seem to come and go, i assume they move around a lot looking for food and water sources.

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Roly
Roly's picture

Yes, the issue of photography is a very vexed and confusing one.

Certainly, some people are paranoid about having their photo taken - but their paranoia does not give them any greater rights or diminish yours. From what I can read, the general taking of 'normal' (ie., not deliberately peeping or prying photos) in a public place, for non-commercial purposes, is perfectly legal - with certain exceptions such as military establishments etc.  No-one (including police - unless you are under arrest) has the right to confiscate your camera or memory card.

It is NOT illegal to photograph children unless, of course, the poses are pornographic or may be used for sexual gratification. Private facilities (swimming pools, schools, councils etc.,) may impose their own restrictions with regard to permission - but again, while they may have the right to ask you to leave, they do not have any right to demand your card or camera.

The other thing is that although a long lens may look intimidating, it is, in effect, no different to someone taking a photo with their phone.

There is a good explanation from The Arts Law Centre of Australia here:

http://www.artslaw.com.au/info-sheets/info-sheet/street-photographers-rights/#headingh21 

Araminta
Araminta's picture

There are a few similar issues , some weeks ago, I took some photos of very interesting light fittings in David Jones. The security cameras were right above me. Two security guards came running towards me, it was like the stuff you see in the 6 o’clock news.( They were as big as a house and intimidating) They told me , they would have to call the police, as it was illegal to take photos inside shops. I stood my ground, asking to show me the signs. And the old lefty I am, I remembered to ask for their names and ID. They couldn’t show me the sign, so I said very politely that I would be taking some more photos of the gorgeous lamps, but should they feel like it, to please call the police. Disgruntled they walked off.

M-L

Roly
Roly's picture

Yes, large stores like DJ and Myer have that policy and, as it's technically their property, they can ask you to stop. If you don't stop, they can ask you to leave - but that's it! They have no right to detain you, to confiscate anything or to ask you to delete the photos. 

Some of these 'security' personnel get bored and then excitedly like to throw their weight around when they get a chance. If they so much as deliberately touch you on the arm they could be accused of assault. They are NOT police and do not have any powers greater than you or me.

Well done for standing your ground, M-L - and it's a pity you didn't take their photos too!!!

Woko
Woko's picture

Perhaps the DJs heavies would have been less intimidating had you asked them to pose beside or beneath the light fittings, Araminta.

Roly
Roly's picture

I'm finally learning to do an M-L and getting closer to the wrens!

Nahar
Nahar's picture

I took these in Ash Island near Newcastle on Wednesday. The first two shots are of the same bird - about 10-12cm and the 3rd one would be about 15-18cm. Can someone help with ID please?

WendyK
WendyK's picture

Magnificent shots, rolyd.

You can't blame people for being paranoid about cameras in this day and age.  Personally, I've always had a thing about having my photo taken, ever since I was little.  I'm not that interesting and I feel my privacy is being invaded.

If you're going to enter photo comps, you may be required to produce written authority from the person the subject of your photo for you to use it.  I can't see how it could hurt to at least walk up to someone and ask them if they minded.

Anyhoo, my pic ... Little Corellas.  I was playing with my new bridge camera, it was about 42deg and the many birds in and around the local lake behind the building I work in looked like they were about to drop out of the trees.  This baby was not going to let up harassing its poor parent who looked just too frazzled from the heat to care either way.

And ... you know when you get one of those pics and when you upload it you suddenly find extra stuff in there you hadn't noticed?  I thought I was going for a Golden Whistler ... turns out there were no Whistlers but several others sprinkled in the shot, including a new one for my list.  I doubt you can see them all but there was a New Holland Honeyeater, Sacred Kingfisher, Brown Honeyeater and two Varied Sittellas (my new bird!).

Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/

hakeae
hakeae's picture

M-L, will you tell me about your garden? I just have a rented green square because the landlord doesn't like plants. Fortunately I have a great bird bath & I rely on my willy wag-tails to visit regularly. I keep trying to snap hem on the Hills Hoist (on of their favourite spots) as it's so BIB but they do not cooperate!

jo

HendoNT
HendoNT's picture

Took these the other day while walking the dog, forgetting that i had been taking some black and whites of my Grandson!, I didnt look in the viewer  until afterwards (as i can't see properly in bright light, so i don't bother!) but i think they are okay and you dont need color to know what they are!

Roly
Roly's picture

Hi Wendy,

Yes, nothing beats good, old-fashioned courtesy. If someone is obviously going to be centre of attention I normally try to catch their eye first and a lot of pools and basketball courts have a policy of asking others in a group for permission. What I was really talking about is the legality of photography. I was more concerned about your rights when some thug fronts you, demanding your camera or pictures.

As far as privacy goes, the law does cover that aspect, eg., in a change-room, toilet etc. However, when you out are in public (even on your own property if you can be seen from outside) you are no longer 'in private'. So, if you are out in public and not engaged in any 'private' activity,  I'm not sure what privacy is being invaded. We are all subject to surveillance cameras nowadays and good old tourists taking their 'happy snaps'; so, realistically, someone with a 'good' camera should be seen as no different. I guess if people taking pics offends it might be best to look the other way as they point the lens.

Most competitions, exhibitions and even some web sites which publish photographs require the model release. This is not because of privacy or even courtesy - it is part of the legal requirement in 'commercialism'. If a contest has a prize or if a business gets any advertising or other gain from such activity the thing then becomes a 'commercial' venture - thus requiring a model release. Often, organisers will simply cover themselves - just in case someone later publishes one of the photos or wants to complain!

As I said, it a vexed question! smiley

Araminta
Araminta's picture

hakeae wrote:

M-L, will you tell me about your garden? I just have a rented green square because the landlord doesn't like plants. Fortunately I have a great bird bath & I rely on my willy wag-tails to visit regularly. I keep trying to snap hem on the Hills Hoist (on of their favourite spots) as it's so BIB but they do not cooperate!

jo

Hi Jo, sorry I didn't answer earlier, went out too take a few (456) photos. But before I look at them, I want to answer your question.

I would love to tell you about my garden, but there isn't one. We live next to State Park (Bunyip SP), have some open paddock, planted some grevilles that are dying because of the drought, but the best thing, and that is what I would recommend ,are the many native grasses, and dusty miller that grew naturally because it just selfseeds from the bush on the other side of the fence.

If I was you, I would buy some big pots and plant something that flowers in them, so you can take it with you to the next place. Woko would be the best person to ask.

Here is what my place looks like.

M-L

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Well i went out today to get some shots for this weeks challenge and was happy to get a good variety of birds.


wren (1 of 1) by rawshorty, on Flickr 


white eyed duck-7884 by rawshorty, on Flickr 


pacific black duck-7892 by rawshorty, on Flickr


musk duck-7638 by rawshorty, on Flickr 


goose-7693 by rawshorty, on Flickr 


Eastern Yellow Robin-7487 by rawshorty, on Flickr


Brolga-7615 by rawshorty, on Flickr 


Australasian White Ibis-7759 by rawshorty, on Flickr

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

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