Here's some classic advice from our dear departed Rupert about shooting backyard wildlife (from
this thread):
Originally posted by Rupert I have been shooting with the Bigma 50-500 since 2007 and a 70-300 before that, and I can tell you that it takes a good while and a ton of shots to get where you can consistently get decent shots without depending on "good luck". I hand hold almost 100% of my shots and have all sorts of ways of holding the big lens and bracing myself. Discovering the right settings is also critical. All this takes time and practice, lots of practice!........every shot I take is still a practice shot. In the end, if you keep at it, the rewards are worth all the trouble! I also acknowledge that Lady Luck is often involved in long glass shooting....
I've tried to practise and learn too. Lady Luck has smiled on me occasionally, although she's a little fickle for me, and like Rupert I prefer her more reliable sisters, Experience, Technique and Shake Reduction. :-)
These are all marsupials (that is, mammals which nurture their young in a pouch), photographed on our property
Grumpy male
koala. K-3 + FA*300mm f4.5.
Swamp wallaby with a joey. K-30 + Sigma 400mm f5.6 Tele Macro.
Common Brushtail Possum. K-3 + DFA 100mm f2.8 Macro WR
Common Wombat. K-30 + DA-L 55-300mm f4-5.8. (A little blurry as it was moving towards me, but exciting to get the shot given it's a mostly nocturnal animal.)