[WPRESTO]

Here are some loon pics from the same trip up north - just here in Toronto overnight before heading up there again for a few more days.

The last loon shot is very well done. The second, with all kinds of action, looks a bit, well, loony. The first one looks like a conversation: "So, who do you guys think will take the pennant this year?"

[jacamar]

The last loon shot is very well done. The second, with all kinds of action, looks a bit, well, loony. The first one looks like a conversation: "So, who do you guys think will take the pennant this year?"

Thanks Walter. The biologists call these "social gatherings" - though they have a name for it I'm not sure they actually know what's going on. In the middle shot I think there's some aggression occuring between the loon on the left and the others.

I took this shot on the same lake with my 55-300mm lens a few years ago - there were at least 6 birds involved with a lot of calling, flying loops around the lake etc.

[WPRESTO]

Thanks Walter. The biologists call these "social gatherings" - though they have a name for it I'm not sure they actually know what's going on. In the middle shot I think there's some aggression occuring between the loon on the left and the others.

I took this shot on the same lake with my 55-300mm lens a few years ago - there were at least 6 birds involved with a lot of calling, flying loops around the lake etc.

Best guess to explain seemingly bizarre behavior, almost always, it's the males trying to impress the females or trying to eliminate competition for the females. There are exceptions* but that is the most common reason for otherwise inexplicable activity

* The primary rule for biology: there are exceptions to every rule, including this one.

[Canada_Rockies]

Cross posted to K-3 Samples

Shot this fellow on our deck this morning. We found him when we went out to clean up the debris from a windy night. We are not up to speed on beetle identification, so we have no idea what it is.

K-3, DA 55-300 @ 300mm, minimum focus distance, ISO 400, 1/400" @ f/8

Cropped to 1424x2142 from SOOC JPG. PP with LR 6.3 Tone Curve: Dropped lights to -84, increased darks to +36.

[littledrawe]

Kingfisher from the driver's seat.

The bird that has caused me the most consternation while out shooting. A close second is the Peregrine Falcon.

---------- Post added 07-19-16 at 10:28 AM ----------

This one coulda been sooo good--if I'd nailed the focus (which I didn't )

Looks like they were pretending to be the Blue Angels. That third Eagle shot is excellent.

Went to my nephews ultimate frisbee tourney

While Simultaneously giving Ultimate Frisbee the most serious media coverage it has ever received!

---------- Post added 07-19-16 at 10:31 AM ----------

drunk in charge of a long lens

This charge makes up 2/3rds of Gary's rap sheet.

[Kevriano]

Hi all. A few Butterfly pics taken recently, again with the 150-450 and TC combo. Given perfect light the detail can be amazing. The first 2 are of a Red Admiral, and uncropped. The last is a Skipper, and cropped in at around 50% (I never use a specific crop factor). Butterflies have been slow to emerge this year, as our weather has been... temperamental. Plenty now though, thankfully.

[Ducatigaz]

Afew shots using the new Eckla window mount and my K-5/FA*600mmF4ED[IF]
My modification stops the mount from moving

[rvannatta]

This California Quail was photographed out the car window with no special rest. equiipment was a K-3, F*300 f/4.5
at 1/800 sec f/10, ISO 6400 and the HD converter (1.4x) for effective 420mm focal length. the shot is uncropped

[Kameko]

Wowww... I can't believe it's been 3 months since I've posted here! When life gets busy! Here's a few from the last few weeks all taken w/the DA 560mm

Anna's Hummingbird


Violet-green Swallows


I can't say I think this is a great image, but I'm still getting use to the 560 w/the 1.4x TC

[derekkite]

A few from this afternoon. Clarks Nutcracker, Mountain Bluebird adult and chick, Hoary Marmots

[kengoh]

Superb shooting again Ken. How large is a Giant Nuthatch versus the Nuthatches we see in the Eastern US?

Thanks RockvilleBob, that is my 1st nuthatch captured, i've never seen other nuthatch personally but the Giant Nuthatch is about 19-20cm.

2 shots taken with K3 + Sigma 500 F4.5

Spectacled Barwing


This pair of pheasant was taken one shot after another, 500mm focal length is too long to capture both within the frame, the 2 shots were stitched into one.

[ChipB]

Thanks RockvilleBob, that is my 1st nuthatch captured, i've never seen other nuthatch personally but the Giant Nuthatch is about 19-20cm.

2 shots taken with K3 + Sigma 500 F4.5

Spectacled Barwing

This pair of pheasant was taken one shot after another, 500mm focal length is too long to capture both within the frame, the 2 shots were stitched into one.

Well done as usual Ken - that Barwing is a really cool looking little guy!!

[Dieseler]

Afew shots using the new Eckla window mount and my K-5/FA*600mmF4ED[IF]
My modification stops the mount from moving

Love the third shot Gary!

[Kameko]

This was one of those days I wish I'd had rain boots on. Y'know when you get excited about seeing a bird, and don't notice you're standing in water until your shoes have already filled up?

[Sigmund]

Rainbow Bee Eater, Elsey National Park, NT. Osprey, Ord River, WA. Egret, Lily Lagoon, Kununurra.