Some of my latest bird pics

[Maestro]

From the endangered whooping crane to the very common goldfinch.

[Mira]

1. I've been waiting for them - you said you were off to do this ! Favorites:

5 - 9 - 11
and all the others. The colors in the surroundings are also very telling of the climate and the temps. They look like personal communication to me, not wild life photography so much. I am happy to wake up to these !

[Maestro]

6. I have many more.

If you click on the link in my sig, you can find more from my last outings. Thanks for looking.

[Mira]

7. I will save it for a break - I actually am noticing the phone has

started to ring more since the inauguration of a real elected President.
If I don't save it for when I have some time I'll get stuck and get behind. As I look at the others my favorites change. Now I LOVe number one :)
Thanks for alerting me.

[northofdenali]

28. Not only did I click the sig link - I added it to my favorites.

My hubby is an excellent hobby-photographer and, living where we live, does a lot of nature stuff. Of course, that could be because he's under threat of waterboarding if he takes any photos of me.... :rofl:

SmugMug is a nice site. I loving knowing that other DU'ers are members, and watch it! I keep track! Photo sites are some of my most-visited, and friend's photo-sites get tons of hits.

Keep it up!

[Maestro]

35. Thank you northofdenali

One of these days, I plan on traveling to Alaska, perhaps even Denali.

[Fumesucker]

2. Nice shots..

The raptor closeup is really impressive..

I like the pelican in flight a lot also.

[Maestro]

10. Thanks fumesucker

I was happy with the raptor close-up. It turned out better than expected given the harsh light.

[Dallas Dem]

3. WOW!! This could be.....

......a hard-fought contest, in and of itself.

All terrific shots, some really outstanding. I think I'm leaning towards the pelican, too.

Very nice job. :toast:

P.S. - Tell us about the lens. Thanks!

[Maestro]

11. Thanks Dallas Dem

All of these were shot with a Canon F4L IS 300mm + 1.4x TC except the whooping crane which was shot with a Sigma 500mm + 1.4x TC.

[bvar22]

25. Ah, that explains it.

The EXIF data listed the focal length as exactly 420mm for each photo except the first.
I was wondering if you were shooting a BIG prime, but haven't heard of a 420mm.

Which TC did you use?
I added a offbrand 1.4TC to my 200mm Nikon and was really disappointed in the results.
Your photos are very sharp.


So, how do you like shooting a big prime?
Any problems?

[Maestro]

36. I have both a Sigma TC and a Canon TC

The Canon gives me much better results for sure and it even works with my Sigma 500mm prime lens.

[jhain]

4. How DO you Do this!?

Amazing stuff!

The color in the goldfinch shot is SUPERB.

I have to go with the oyster catcher ON THEEEEEEE OYSTERS as my fave.

[Maestro]

12. Ninja stalking skills and a big lens.

:)

Actually, it really is just patience with a few serendipitous moments. The stalking skills help though. :)

[jhain]

15. have you read Tom Brown's books?

http://www.trackerschool.com/

[Maestro]

16. No, but

that does look cool, but to tell you the truth, while I love being outdoors, I do like my creature comforts. :)

[jhain]

23. borrow a couple of his books from the library

well worth the read when it comes to ninja stalking skills.

[flamin lib]

5. Ya' just keep gettin' better and better at this. nt

[Maestro]

14. Thank you flamin lib.

I am always trying to improve.

[priller]

8. Really nice!

I particularly liked this one:




I like the angles the birds make. I probably would have cropped it to focus on the two birds, but then I'm a chronic cropper. Really liked the hawk closeup too.

So what lens are you using these days? I've seen the whooping cranes at Aransas before and they were far, far away.

[Maestro]

17. Thanks Priller

I could probably go back and crop a bit more, but I really lost too much in detail going in further. These shots were mostly done with a Canon F4L 300mm prime with a 1.4xTC attached. The whooping cranes were done with my Sigma 500mm.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Great shots as usual, Maestro.

Excellent detail.

[Maestro]

19. Thanks Blue

I really like the detail I can achieve now with that 300mm prime I use now. Even with the TC attached I still get better detail that my zoom lens.

[Celebration]

13. Wow

It must be really satisfying to be able to take such wonderful closeups of wildlife.

Do you know all their calls, or chirps? Are you a birdwatcher too, I suppose?

The whooping crane, was that taken on the Texas coast?

You would have a field day at the Tennessee River Wildlife Refuge, which is probably hundreds of square miles along the Tennessee River. Driving there once I looked out into a tree bare of leaves and saw an eagle about twenty feet from me. Only in a zoo have I seen one so close.

[Maestro]

20. Yes, it is. It allows me to really connect with Nature.

That is what I like. I am a birdwatcher, but I do not know all the calls and chirps of many birds but I am familiar with the calls and chirps of the birds I see the most. The whooping cranes are, in fact, from the Central Texas Coast near Rockport, Texas at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding vicinity. It is the only wild flock left and it numbers 268 individuals.

I would love to head up to the TRWR. I have seen some great photographs of eagles from that area.

Thanks for looking.

[Adsos Letter]

18. Maestro, these shots are excellent!

Your eye is superb; what camera do you use?

[Maestro]

21. Thanks Adsos Letter

It's funny you mention my "eye." I've always said that I like to photograph wildlife and specifically birds because I have no artistic eye. I just let the wildlife produce the interesting aspects of the photo. :rofl: Although wildlife photography is really a completely whole different deal. It can be very challenging and that is what I like.

I am currently using a Canon 40D.

[MissHoneychurch]

22. No idea what kind of bird that is

But it is my favorite picture.

[Maestro]

30. American Oystercatcher

Very photogenic.

[leftyladyfrommo]

24. Wow. These are wonderful.

I just read where we have some trumpeter swans here in Kansas City - up in a field by Farley. They are warning geese hunters not to shoot them. There are about 10 0f them in here right now.

[Maestro]

31. I hope they survive and are not confused

for snow geese or something else that the hunters shoot. I'd love to see one in person. Thanks for the comments.

[Brucie Kibbutz]

26. beautiful pictures

They are magnificent looking creatures, especially the ones I am assuming are hawks. Great job on the photos! :applause:

[Maestro]

32. Thank you Brucie -nt

[northofdenali]

27. Your birdie photos give me goosebumps! (LOL) -

They ALL have such personality. I'd guess I'm lucky - I've seen all these birds "up close and personal", and they're fascinating.

The little finches and redpolls live up here all winter long, and are a gorgeous sight to see when it's really cold and frosty. Bringing us a hint that winter only lasts 9 months!

Thanks for the photos, Maestro, they warm my heart (which is why you got one from me!)

[Maestro]

33. Thank you so much for the comments

and the heart! :hug:

[ConsAreLiars]

29. OK, but here's the problem.

How could you possibly get any better? I've watched your photos in this forum go from "nice, but..." to excellent. These are way beyond excellent. I can't imagine anything better than these, other than more.

(edit inevitable typos)

[Maestro]

34. Thank you. I'm humbled by the comments

And I have really worked at improving. I still have a ways to go though. I'm always looking to get better.

[GentryDixon]

37. Beautiful.

Thank you.

[Maestro]

38. Any time

and my pleasure. :hi: