Topic: Bird watch

[Chakan]

I took a few pictures.. will post it sometime after 6:00 PM..  Its a DSLR (Lumix FZ300) but I am clueless about photography so I use the auto mode!

Nothing wrong with auto mode! Quick great setting to be honest.

Looking forward to the pictures

Also great pics Brisseyred! Great to see some birds of a different country.

["21C or 70F?" SchizoidWeatherMan!]

[Chakan]

Very cute. Very different from our Robins here.

["21C or 70F?" SchizoidWeatherMan!]

Very cute. Very different from our Robins here.

Yep!

There were so many. I was too slow to click...

[Brissyred]

flippin eck - and all those at crosby beach?

nice photos mate

is the osprey one taken somewhere were they feed them? the fish is cut in half that's why i'm asking - ospreys are one of my favourite birds

and we do get black swans at crosby - not so much the rainbow lorikeets though 

We don't have places to feed them locally. I was on a boat and spotted it heading toward its nest, we have a lot of nesting pairs that nest in the navigation beacons on Moreton bay. Grabbed the camera and took a snap, unfortunately it only had a 24-70 on at the time so I was a bit(lot) FL limited. Maybe the fish had been discarded by a fisherman or he ate half of it before taking it home to the family. 

[ShrewKop]

We get some fun birds in Florida. Most of them are lovely to watch and listen to, although we currently have a limpkin who has set up home in our back garden. I’d never heard of them, and I wish I hadn’t! They are known as the “crying bird” and this thing just screams and screams all night long. Combined with thin windows, it’s causing some insomnia around here  . I’m hoping it buggers off to a different area soon, and we can get back to the nice quieter birds!

[liverbloke]

Yep!

There were so many. I was too slow to click...

use A mode (aperture priority) for birds that aren't moving and S mode (shutter speed priority) for moving birds

in A mode you enter an f-stop for the available light - the brighter the light the larger the f-stop you can choose

in S mode enter a shutter speed something like 2000 or more (depends on the capabilities of your camera) and it'll freeze birds in flight or that are moving quickly

and make sure to select 'burst mode' for continuous shooting and see how you get on

play around with these settings (you have nothing to lose) and upload them if you take one you're happy with - remember that you can take tons of shots and only have a handful of good ones (this is normal even with the professionals)

[liverbloke]

We don't have places to feed them locally. I was on a boat and spotted it heading toward its nest, we have a lot of nesting pairs that nest in the navigation beacons on Moreton bay. Grabbed the camera and took a snap, unfortunately it only had a 24-70 on at the time so I was a bit(lot) FL limited. Maybe the fish had been discarded by a fisherman or he ate half of it before taking it home to the family. 

ah i see - very good that you got the shot 

["21C or 70F?" SchizoidWeatherMan!]

use A mode (aperture priority) for birds that aren't moving and S mode (shutter speed priority) for moving birds

in A mode you enter an f-stop for the available light - the brighter the light the larger the f-stop you can choose

in S mode enter a shutter speed something like 2000 or more (depends on the capabilities of your camera) and it'll freeze birds in flight or that are moving quickly

and make sure to select 'burst mode' for continuous shooting and see how you get on

play around with these settings (you have nothing to lose) and upload them if you take one you're happy with - remember that you can take tons of shots and only have a handful of good ones (this is normal even with the professionals)

Cheers mate, much appreciated.

Going to the kings meadow on Sunday so will try the above suggestions to click better bird pics!

[Chakan]

Out and about walking again, not just about the birds this time. I'll put a few in the photography thread as well. Was a very mixed bag, which is always great when that happens.

Just one point I absolutely love the pick of Hawk in this series, it's one of my favorites so far and I only managed to get like 6 shots before he/she flew off.

Downy Woodpecker inspecting the hole



Yellow-rump warbler


Mallards




Red-Shouldered Hawk


Eastern towhee


Dark-eyed Junco

[John C]

Are they early morning Chakan? The sun light is hitting everything at lovely angles.

[Chakan]

Are they early morning Chakan? The sun light is hitting everything at lovely angles.

Actually later in the afternoon like around 3:30/4pm. The sun is setting later and later here, so managing to stay out a bit later.

[John C]

Ah ok, sort of the same thing, low sun angles.

Boss though mate.

[Chakan]

Ah ok, sort of the same thing, low sun angles.

Boss though mate.

Thanks!

Yup pretty much. Really need to remember my sunglasses next time.

Will see how tomorrow goes might be able to go out again weather depending of course.

[reddebs]

Just had a female pheasant on the bird table with 2 others plus 3 crows patrolling round it waiting their turn 😂

[liverbloke]

Out and about walking again, not just about the birds this time. I'll put a few in the photography thread as well. Was a very mixed bag, which is always great when that happens.

Just one point I absolutely love the pick of Hawk in this series, it's one of my favorites so far and I only managed to get like 6 shots before he/she flew off.

...

sound those mate - cracking birds too 

[jillcwhomever]

Your photos Chakan, always such a pleasure to see. I love woodpeckers, they look just like our ones as well.

[Chakan]

sound those mate - cracking birds too 

Your photos Chakan, always such a pleasure to see. I love woodpeckers, they look just like our ones as well.

TY was a very fun walk, hopefully will be able to get out today as well.

Yeah the woodpeckers are so much fun, we get mainly 2 here, the Downy Woodpecker and the red-bellied woodpecker. I hear them working at it all over the show.

[Chakan]

Second walk of the weekend, the weather was absolutely fantastic this weekend! Not a cloud in the sky both day.

Came across this Great Blue Heron, searching for a drink and something to eat, it found a frog and thrashed it around for ages before swallowing it. Unfortunately by then my arms were tired and I missed it actually swallowing it, although I did get a pic just before the final gulp. Also saw this cute duck having a nice bath.

Red-Shouldered Hawk


Mallards



Great Blue Heron













Mallard bathing







Cardinal Male and Female

[liverbloke]

great stuff mate - i always say that if there isn't much going on then any behaviour, like the mallard washing itself, will usually result in a more interesting photo especially as you freeze the water droplets with a fast ss

...and if your arms are getting tired then try using a outdoor monopod - much lighter and easier to carry and you can leave it attached to your camera for when you need it

[Crosby Nick]

Great pics again Chakan. Where do you live, one of the Carolinas? Are you by the coast? Loads of wildlife around you!

[Chakan]

Great pics again Chakan. Where do you live, one of the Carolinas? Are you by the coast? Loads of wildlife around you!

I live in the Carolinas yeah, north to be specific. I’m about 3/4 hours from the coast though.

@Liver, I do have a tripod that I usually carry around but not really on my wildlife walks. There’s usually not a call to set it up because I’m usually photographing birds between trees and they move like lightning. The heron was unexpected

[jillcwhomever]

Unexpectedly working from home today which is nice. I have just filled all the feeders up there are some ravenous birds out there, heard a really unusual call so I got really excited. It ended up being a Great Tit! I just hadn't heard the call he was making before. I would love to understand all this bird call stuff. 

[Millie]

The Heron was back on the pond by me yesterday, eying up the moorhens building their nest 

Magnificent creature though.

[jillcwhomever]

The Heron was back on the pond by me yesterday, eying up the moorhens building their nest 

Magnificent creature though.

Herons are so hard faced as well. When I got the train from Wallasey Village I would get to watch one fishing from some pond on a regular basis, bold as brass.

[Millie]

Herons are so hard faced as well. When I got the train from Wallasey Village I would get to watch one fishing from some pond on a regular basis, bold as brass.

Oh yes, they know they are the biggest and the best in the neighbourhood 

[liverbloke]

Unexpectedly working from home today which is nice. I have just filled all the feeders up there are some ravenous birds out there, heard a really unusual call so I got really excited. It ended up being a Great Tit! I just hadn't heard the call he was making before. I would love to understand all this bird call stuff. 

bill oddie used to say - if you hear a bird song and you don't know what it is then it's most probably a great tit

those guys can come up with all sorts

but on that subject - here's some advice:

just learn one call at a time

record calls on your phone and then try and guess them

don't get downhearted if you're wrong because even the experts can argue over certain short contact calls

the rspb website has audio of birds

the best is xeno-canto though - it's full of uploaded calls from its users (it can look daunting but you'll soon get used to it)

here's a link to great tit (Parus major) calls/song

https://xeno-canto.org/species/Parus-major

[jillcwhomever]

bill oddie used to say - if you hear a bird song and you don't know what it is then it's most probably a great tit

those guys can come up with all sorts

but on that subject - here's some advice:

just learn one call at a time

record calls on your phone and then try and guess them

don't get downhearted if you're wrong because even the experts can argue over certain short contact calls

the rspb website has audio of birds

the best is xeno-canto though - it's full of uploaded calls from its users (it can look daunting but you'll soon get used to it)

here's a link to great tit (Parus major) calls/song

https://xeno-canto.org/species/Parus-major

What a fantastic site that is, I didn't realise it had so many different calls overall. I go on the RSPB site a lot and they have probably the first two calls on their site. But it wasn't until I got to the fifth call that I identified it, you're right it was a Great Tit. I never heard Bill Oddie say that, I used to love Springwatch when he was on it he was so knowledgable. I have got a DVD of over a 150 species calls which is an interesting listening. But it doesn't have the depth of calls that the site above has. Thanks for that. 

[Bioluminescence]

Loving the photos on here, thanks to those sharing. New neighbours bringing three cats with them and health issues limiting what I can do means I'm not seeing many birds at all here (magpies and pigeons basically), so I'm enjoying the pics.

[reddebs]

Unexpectedly working from home today which is nice. I have just filled all the feeders up there are some ravenous birds out there, heard a really unusual call so I got really excited. It ended up being a Great Tit! I just hadn't heard the call he was making before. I would love to understand all this bird call stuff. 

We are exceptionally lucky that we have lots of song thrushes here and at this time of year it's beautiful listening to them singing their stuff.

What a range of calls they have that they put together into a full on song.  I managed to record one on my phone one morning it was full throttle until a cock pheasant ruined it 😂

[jillcwhomever]

We are exceptionally lucky that we have lots of song thrushes here and at this time of year it's beautiful listening to them singing their stuff.

What a range of calls they have that they put together into a full on song.  I managed to record one on my phone one morning it was full throttle until a cock pheasant ruined it 😂

I don't half miss thrushes. In our old place which had loads of trees we would get constant song from thrushes and blackbirds, but I have to go to the park for that now sadly.

[reddebs]

I don't half miss thrushes. In our old place which had loads of trees we would get constant song from thrushes and blackbirds, but I have to go to the park for that now sadly.

I love them and we have no issues with slugs and snails in the garden which is a bonus.  If I find any amongst the plants I throw them onto the lawn and within minutes they're eaten ☺️

You really need to pay Anglesey a visit Jill as we have pretty much a full of range of species from sea birds, waders, raptors, passerines, woodland birds etc 👍

[jillcwhomever]

I love them and we have no issues with slugs and snails in the garden which is a bonus.  If I find any amongst the plants I throw them onto the lawn and within minutes they're eaten ☺️

You really need to pay Anglesey a visit Jill as we have pretty much a full of range of species from sea birds, waders, raptors, passerines, woodland birds etc 👍

It sounds like heaven. Once spring arrives I'm packing my bag and we'll meet for that pint somewhere. 

[reddebs]

It sounds like heaven. Once spring arrives I'm packing my bag and we'll meet for that pint somewhere. 

Great stuff 👍

[liverbloke]

Loving the photos on here, thanks to those sharing. New neighbours bringing three cats with them and health issues limiting what I can do means I'm not seeing many birds at all here (magpies and pigeons basically), so I'm enjoying the pics.

glad you're enjoying everyone's photos - we're all bird lovers in here 

We are exceptionally lucky that we have lots of song thrushes here and at this time of year it's beautiful listening to them singing their stuff.

What a range of calls they have that they put together into a full on song.  I managed to record one on my phone one morning it was full throttle until a cock pheasant ruined it ??

here's 2 links to recordings i did on my phone of a lone song thrush and also a trio of singers (think of the 3 tenors) with a song thrush, a blackbird and a dunnock all trying to outdo each other

https://on.soundcloud.com/NPb5G

https://on.soundcloud.com/zjGFE

[jillcwhomever]

This a trailer from the David Attenborough documentary which starts tonight on BBC1 at 7pm, called Wild Isles. It looks spectacular.

https://youtu.be/C-KcTje9sMk

[Bioluminescence]

glad you're enjoying everyone's photos - we're all bird lovers in here 

here's 2 links to recordings i did on my phone of a lone song thrush and also a trio of singers (think of the 3 tenors) with a song thrush, a blackbird and a dunnock all trying to outdo each other

https://on.soundcloud.com/NPb5G

https://on.soundcloud.com/zjGFE

I'm a big fan, too. I enjoy drawing and painting them, as well as taking photos. A bit limited in what I can do right now so this thread is like a balm Some great photographers here.

[Chakan]

First walk for the weekend. I plan to go out tomorrow as well, weather permitting.

So I saw 2 different hawks, the first one was fighting with another hawk for the mouse it caught, unfortunately by the time I got there the other one had flown away and the remaining one was just finishing it's meal. I managed to get like 4 shots before it took off.

The other hawk was perfectly perched right near me, so managed to get some really nice shots from behind and then went around to get some front shots. It then flew down to the ground, but those shots are obscured quite a bit by trees and bushes, then it flew up to a tree which was really close to the wooden bridge I was on and managed to get some nice close ups of it, unfortunately I was really zoomed in when it took flight, so managed to get one nice one of it just before take off and the rest are terrible of it flying as i'm waaaaaaaay to zoomed in. A pity.

If people want to see the flight shots I can post them...

Red-bellied Woodpecker





First Red-Shouldered Hawk with the mouse




Downy woodpecker playing peeka-boo, it's a bit out of focus but a cute shot nonetheless



Red-Shouldered Hawk number 2

[jillcwhomever]

Fantastic photos as ever Chakan, I would love to see the flight ones please. Those Hawk ones especially are amazing you can see every detail.

[Chakan]

Fantastic photos as ever Chakan, I would love to see the flight ones please. Those Hawk ones especially are amazing you can see every detail.

Thanks! Ok i'll work on the flight ones and post them a bit later, gonna head to do some shopping then i'll edit them when I get back. The second hawk was perfectly perched for photos, like he knew I was coming