[normhead]

I finally got a day to shoot some images. We have sun.
K-3 and Tamron 300 plus 1.4 TC or DA*200 with stacked 1.4 and 1.7 TCs, ƒ8

[KC0PET]

This sparrow posed nicely for me! What is not obvious is that there is a window between us. The window (and not a clean one either) didn't affect the IQ much.

[Knock]

#3 is my favorite Norm with the last capture as a close 2nd. I'm a sucker for bokeh. Good stuff. Sun is good eh?

[normhead]

#3 is my favorite Norm with the last capture as a close 2nd. I'm a sucker for bokeh. Good stuff. Sun is good eh?

For us yesterday, it ended a huge streak of bad light. It was such a relief.

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Last edited by normhead; 04-22-2018 at 06:07 AM.

[mohb]

A very rare visitor in my urban backyard feasting on a pigeon I think.

[dadipentak]

A very rare visitor in my urban backyard

Nice shooting among the branches.

[normhead]

K-3 and Tamron 300 3.8 with 1.4 TC.
500 ISO, ƒ8, AV

We've been hearing them for a couple of days singing "O-Canada da da", so time to get out and get some images.







And some of the regulars...

[photolady95]

Rare visitor to the front yard this morning. Pair of them showed up just after my oldest brother and I were talking about not seeing them yet this year.



Pentax FA 100-300mm silver version

[normhead]

Very nice, there are so many Pileated Woodpeckers around us, but we rarely see them. On yesterdays 4km walk there was one knocking away int eh wood every 100 meters. We heard at least 8, but we didn't see any.

K-3 and Tamron 300 2.8 with Pentax HD DA 1.4 TC.
Anyway, the migration continues, bird headed on their way north to their breeding territories. For day there were a few Red Winged Blackbirds hanging out with the grackles. Today most of the grackles were gone , there were a few left hanging out with the Red Winged Blackbirds.

A straggling Grackle....




One of the (probably immature) Red Winged Blackbirds
\

New yesterday, 3 or 4 female Redwinged Blackbirds


These guys stop in for a few days spring and fall. There were as many as three last fall, I've just seen one come back to date, this guy, a fox sparrow.




The latest arrival before yesterday, the White Thrated sparrows, who've been here about a week, and who's calls fill the woods when you walk. A whole flock must have arrived.


One of the American Tree Sparrows who stayed the winter, still hanging around.


And also one of the 4 or 5 Dark Eyed Juncos left rom the 40 that wintered with us.


And of course, our contingent of rodents.

[normhead]

K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM

All shot at 300mm. Most shot at ƒ8 and 400 ISO, the wood pecker image was shot at 100 ISO, don't blame the lens, the softness is motion blur. Todays theme was "who likes the peanut feeder?" It looks like the answer is "just about everyone."















Most of my Pine Siskins are gone, I think I have a breeding pair still hanging out at the feeders, I did't get an image of it at the peanut feeder, but I have proof of it's existence. I did see it briefly on the peanut feeder but didn't get an image.


The Red Breasted Nuthatch was there before I went out to the blind, and he was there after I left. but wasn't there for a photo op. And I got no decent pictures of the six grackles that are still hanging around.

And of course this guy can't get onto the peanut feeder. But I'm sure he'd love it if he could.


All these images were hand held. I don't have another telephoto I can even hold for as long as it took to get these images. As far as I'm concerned, it's a great addition to the arsenal, even if in the future, it does not see a lot of time in the blind. My other three telephotos get better IQ but need the tripod. But as sample images, if you look at the sharpest images, you can get'r done with this lens.

[photolady95]

I think it did fine Norm. Looking at them on flickr and zooming in, the details look good. I'm still amazed how you get such detail without blur shooting at 1/160s though.

I'm looking to get the PLM lens next month. I installed the hacked K-50 firmware on my two K-30s. Both will now allow me to use that lens on them.

[photolady95]

Here's a few more I took with the new to me, Pentax FA 100-300mm f4.7-5.8 Silver: I like this lens because it's so light and I can shoot handheld again.

Blue Jay Stares


Blue Jay again water on back:


Mockingbird eating sap


Mockingbird again, I've never seen one shake off the water after a bath.


And lastly, the Northern Cardinal proves Peanut butter tastes delicious:

[normhead]

I think it did fine Norm. Looking at them on flickr and zooming in, the details look good. I'm still amazed how you get such detail without blur shooting at 1/160s though.

My secret on that is to shoot a 23 shot burst and pick the one where he stood still for a fraction of a second.

[photolady95]

My secret on that is to shoot a 23 shot burst and pick the one where he stood still for a fraction of a second.

I forgot you do that burst thing. I prefer shooting singular shots, though, sometimes I take more than one shot to make sure I got one in focus.

[photolady95]

I went back through my photos and found the female of the Pileated Woodpecker.