[lukulele]

Late afternoon feeding. A/400

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[tromboads]

I want to go take photos of birds

[Kameko]

It's common knowledge birds like to land on branch a short distance away from the food source, to inspect the scene before diving in. We are providing a service here.

Does this count as a 'cheater branch'? Even though it's a horribly OOF photo taken w/a lens less than 300mm I'm still counting it in here, since my 560 is sort of in the photo, mounted to the K3...

[Canada_Rockies]

Does this count as a 'cheater branch'? Even though it's a horribly OOF photo taken w/a lens less than 300mm I'm still counting it in here, since my 560 is sort of in the photo, mounted to the K3...

We'll have to wait for Otis to weigh in, but my squirrel, Pierre le Canadien, thinks the humourous factor lets you get away with it. Bien fait!

[Rupert]

We'll have to wait for Otis to weigh in

Otis thinks it is good use of an expensive "Cheater Branch" and awards Kameko this award.....


He also says that if you put some peanut butter on the lens, he bets you can get a handsome squirrel up there instead of a "worthless birdie"!

They are fast little buggers. The trick is, they grab a sunflower seed and then take it to a branch to crack it open. You need a branch far enough away to be considered "out of the action" by a chickadee, but close enough to still get an image. They'll sit on that spot for 15 or 20 seconds cracking open their seed. and they return to that spot, to survey the scene, before their next run at the feeder.

Yep, that is exactly how they operate. Titmice too. I've had better luck with the Titmice than the Chickadees. That dark head on the Chickadees is really hard for me to get exposed right.

Some old shots with my first Pentax, the DS, and and old 70-300 Promaster? lens.

Shot in 2006






K10D shot in 2008


Another little jittery/nervous hard to shoot birdie is the Carolina Wren. I had the good fortune to save one of these little birdies that fell from the nest a few years ago and kept him in my shop until he mastered learning to fly. I think he is still around, and comes close to my windows every so often to peer in at me.




Rough day?


I'm going to keep trying for a good Chickadee shot......maybe I'll get lucky?

Regards!

[JML69]

Just your run of the mill Mocking Bird....but I did not know birds had "whiskers" until a K-3II and DA*300 has allowed me to see what the heck I am taking pictures of.
Guess I better clean this double pane window now.....

[swip]

The pictures on this Thread are AMAZING.....

I hope to get as good as you Ladies and Gentlemen but I realize it takes time, technique and good equipment certainly helps! Speaking of "Equipment"...
The Big Brown Truck delivered some goodies (K-3II and DA*300) last night and the Office Walls were starting to close in on me today so I took a ride to "The Redneck Beach" to see what was around. It was was completely clouded over with a stiff breeze and light rain but I am amazed at the first picture taken that would not have been anywhere close to this quality using my K-50 and 8 year old Bigma 50-500.

Congrat on the new and impressive toys.

[littledrawe]

A departure from the usual subject matter

[Canada_Rockies]

A departure from the usual subject matter

Nice shot.

[Rupert]

Nice shot.

I second that....very nice shot!

Regards!

[volley]

European Wildcat, K3 with DA 4/300, shots taken in a Sanctuary.

[Canada_Rockies]

Good looking cat, that.

[lukulele]

European Wildcat, K3 with DA 4/300, shots taken in a Sanctuary.

Nice one Volley. In North America that would be very similar to a Maine Coon Cat which can reach up to thirty lbs. Great mousers, personalities, and big semi-webbed feet for walking on snow. Even though ours was much smaller, it was fearless, chasing our neighbor's Boxer home frequently.

[Rupert]

European Wildcat, K3 with DA 4/300, shots taken in a Sanctuary.

Fine shots! From his size, I bet there is not a squirrel left in that sanctuary!

Pearl Crescent butterfly (very common in my area)

Lovely shot! Gorgeous colors!

I finally got some new leaves hung out far behind the Cheater Branch after my old ones blew away. I was hoping for some more colorful bokeh, and I think I got it! I strung some wire between two trees, climbed a step ladder and hung the branches with the new leaves. Had to adjust the position a couple of times, but finally got it right.

Bigma 50-500 HSM OS




....I know, it's all cheating......Cheater Branches, Cheater Leaves.........but it makes Otis proud of me!

Regards!

[apfhex]

A departure from the usual subject matter

Very cool, I like this departure.

European Wildcat, K3 with DA 4/300, shots taken in a Sanctuary.

Lovely kitty and some great sharp shots.

K-3+DA*300/4+HD 1.4TC, photographed in the wild on 28 July 2015, native lighting, handheld.

Very nice. Really captured the colors.

Went out with the DA* 300 for the first time. Performed well although there wasn't much to see. Mostly gray and cold and still no water. But the sparrows were out in force, mostly more White Crowned (there are even a bunch in my own yard now). I think this might be a juvenile.