[ccc_]

i'm still not convinced that the iq of the da*300 is 800usd better than the hd55-300
however it did let me get some shots that I wouldn't have otherwise
including this little one

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Last edited by ccc_; 09-26-2017 at 09:59 AM.

[Canada_Rockies]

i'm still not convinced that the iq of th da*300 is 800usd better than the hd55-300
however it did let me get some shots that I wouldn't have otherwise
including this little one

Sassy little guy!

[photolady95]

Couple more from the Sigma M 400mm f5.6 @ various f stops.

[ccc_]

Sassy little guy!

brave, too

the whole family bolted when I raised my ugly mug over the rise to get a group portrait
but not this one...must be part mulie

[RockvilleBob]

From a Bombay Hook outing in April 2015
Taken with K3 and Sigma 500

[RockvilleBob]

From another April 2015 outing to Bombay Hook
Taken with K3 and Sigma 500

[siva.ss.kumar]

A couple more
From my recent visit to California, USA.
With K5iis + FA300/4.5 (with/without 1.4x TC)

Acorn woodpecker. Storing one away.


Western Bluebird. In urban setup


A few more to be shared later.

[kengoh]

K5-IIs + DA*300 - A pair of Silver Breasted broadbill

[RockvilleBob]

Still catching up from some 2015 outings to Bombay Hook
August - shot with K3 and Sigma 500

[RockvilleBob]

Another 2015 outing with K3 and Sigma 500. The Sigma 500 is capable of terrific results. I would like to buy the new version.

[BigDave]

Another 2015 outing with K3 and Sigma 500

Absolutely a GREAT image!

[jbinpg]

Bob - Screech Owls have yellow eyes. Do you know why this one has grayish eyes?

[aslyfox]

Sumatran Tigers at the Kansas City Zoo - Brothers

making nice and not fighting

how many brothers can say that ?

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hand held shot through the wire of the enclosure

K 3 + Smc PENTAX-DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED

one of three male Cheetahs

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hand held, no obstructions

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW

the Amur Leopard hidden way in the back in heavily shaded area

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hand held shot through the wire of the enclosure

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW

[rkappleby]

A couple of years ago I learned of a heronry in my area but I only found its exact location this year. There were eight nests and they were located down in a sharp valley that allowed me to view the nest from a location above the nest. The nest nearest to me was roughly 300 feet away and I had a great location to set up and watch the nest without disturbing the birds at all. I shot all the photos with a K3 and my FA 600. I had to pack my gear up a trail to get to my vantage point and packing the FA600, camera, tripod collapsible stool and what ever other gear the weather and bugs dictated – this gear isn’t really designed for back country photography.

The following photo was taken with the FA31 and shows the valley where the nests are located. Most of the nests are tucked into the trees but fortunately the closest nest was wide open for viewing.


June 1 I’m not sure when the chicks hatch but my best guess is that they were five or six days old when I first made my way to the nest.


June 4 - For the first week and a half the adults stayed very close to the young but as you will see that changed as the chicks developed.


June 7 – in the earlier stages you could see significant differences between the chicks in terms of their development and throughout their growth there was always differences between the chicks in their stages of growth and development


June 11 Mom is still staying relatively close to the nest


June 18 – they reminded me of little pterodactyls -


June 19 – From June 1 to June 19 there is huge difference in the chicks in terms of their feather development and they were also starting to become more active


June 21 – The chicks feathers are really starting to take shape – two of the chicks were always more active – for a while I questioned whether or not the third was getting enough food and I wasn’t sure if he was going to make it


June 25 – One of the adults has come in for feeding – this was really quite an exciting time in the nest


June 29 – The adults did a little parade when they came in for feeding – It appeared that they seemed to wait so all three of the chicks were in place for feeding because feeding time only lasted a matter of seconds and if they weren’t ready they were going hungry


June 29 – The actual reading reminded me of a rugby scrum and it was actually quite brutal for all involved


July 4 – by early July the chicks were starting to jump around the nest and there was lots of wing flexing and practice going on


July 7 – another feeding assault


July 7 – the chicks spent a lot of time preening – this was quite constant from the time they were very young until they left the nest


July 9 – the food truck showing up at the nest – not certain but I think this is the male coming in, when the adults landed at the nest the chicks all crouched down and fanned out they feathers – it was very ritualistic


July 13 – In a month and a half since I began watching them the change has been immense – here is one of the chicks flexing its wings and showing off its wonderful wingspan


July 16 - There appears to be some type of discussion going on here – I would assume it would be regarding who made a pig out of themselves at the last feeding


July 18 – Another shot of an incoming adult – this photos shows more clearly the outstretched subservient stance the chicks displayed when the adults showed up. By this time the adults typically stayed at the nest about a minute and a half at most and seemed they could not get away from their enthusiastic brood fast enough. The feeding ritual started with the chicks surroundings the adult, the chicks would all stand upright and grab the adults beak and wrench the adults head downward. The adult seemed to regurgitate into the nest and sometimes directly into the beak of a chick. The feeding was simply brutal.


July 18 – The chicks are having another discussion as the adult readies to make a hasty exit from the nest.


July 20 – The chicks have assembled for feeding


July 22 – One of my last photos with the chicks on the nest – I did not return till July 25 and by then the chicks had all left the nest.


If you are interested I put together a Youtube video with stills and some video capture of the chicks on the nest – the feeding sequence is so hard to explain you really have to see it.

You Tube

You Tube

Thanks for looking
Robert

[Canada_Rockies]

What a terrific post, Robert. Thank you!