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I've seen golden eagles and osprey in Scotland, there are puffins on the west coast and Hebrides, and apparently in SE England you can even find parrots. I too am a bit envious of some of the cool animals the rest of the world has, though.
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Jan 20, 2013 23:38
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No, you think you've seen Osprey. Then you go to Florida, park you car, and realise there's one sat ten metres away in a tree nonchalantly ignoring you. Then you've seen an Osprey. Lock Garten's view-down-the-telescope doesn't seem quite the same after that! I'm off to Skomer this summer, so have Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots on my 2013 todo list.
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Jan 21, 2013 00:05
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Puffins are my favourite bird by so, so far. You expect them to be the size of a rugby ball (since you're British, football to Americans) but nooooo they're sooooooo tiny, like 10cms tall, and the most adorable little things on the planet.
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Jan 21, 2013 00:50
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Nah, a friend of mine worked for the Forestry Commission and gave me a private tour of this place. It's a pretty cool area, also has a nice hide for watching red squirrels, woodpeckers and all sorts of smaller birds. But that does sound cool in Florida, it would be awesome to see them properly wild. I've never seen puffins yet and I would love to, hopefully this year I'll manage to get out to the isles at the right time for once.
big scary monsters fucked around with this message at 01:36 on Jan 21, 2013 |
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Jan 21, 2013 01:29
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 Tiny by HelloWorldEp1, on Flickr Stonechat, not very clear, but shot handheld 283mm (200mm with tele) @ 1/20, amazing anything came out at all.
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Jan 21, 2013 01:45
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icechris posted:Wish we had more interesting birds like some of you guys have. All we seem to have is pigeons, ducks, crows and tits. I can't speak to your location, but I'd bet you'd be astonished at how many bird species are around. I didn't even realize that some of our most common species existed until I found my local birding listserv and had my mind blown. It's all about knowing where and when to look and what to look for. If you've got Red Kites in the area than color me jealous. If I recall correctly InternetJunky spent most of last winter looking for Snowy Owls without much luck, but he got hooked up with good information this year and has been much more successful.
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Jan 22, 2013 03:14
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BeastOfExmoor posted:I can't speak to your location, but I'd bet you'd be astonished at how many bird species are around. I didn't even realize that some of our most common species existed until I found my local birding listserv and had my mind blown. It's all about knowing where and when to look and what to look for. If you've got Red Kites in the area than color me jealous. If I recall correctly InternetJunky spent most of last winter looking for Snowy Owls without much luck, but he got hooked up with good information this year and has been much more successful.
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Jan 22, 2013 05:59
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The bit about Internet Junky's bad luck last year, looking for snowy's, is my fault - I baited him with pictures of Saskatchewan owls atop power poles alongside quiet roads. Trouble is, ALL of Saskathewan's roads are like that, while Alberta is also inhabited by people as well as birds. That makes his successes even more impressive, if that's possible. I really want to see some Great Greys and Northern Hawk Owls in the wild when I get back to Canada. Having spent hours digging through my National Geographic Birds of North America, I was expecting Tasmania to have more than the 172 species listed in my Field Guide to Tasmanian Birds (insert "duh" comment here regarding Island Biogeography Theory). Not that I have any chance of seeing and identifying more than a small fraction of that total (LBFs are universal, it seems), but yeah, there are a lot of different birds around, pretty much everywhere. Less talk more bird  SD 113 Alternate Mountain 38 by Execudork, on Flickr  SD 113 Alternate Mountain 44 by Execudork, on Flickr  SD 113 Alternate Mountain 51 by Execudork, on Flickr  SD 113 Alternate Mountain 52 by Execudork, on Flickr
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Jan 22, 2013 06:32
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InternetJunky posted:Everything you say is true. There's a nature group doing a winter bird count in my city, and they're up to 73 separate species now. I never realised the variety around here, even in the dead of winter. Before I joined the group I would probably have been able to track down 15-20 of those. I spent 3 winters unsuccessfully looking for snowy owls, and this year after finally getting some info on some locations I'm up to almost 30 separate snowys I think. The great gray owls I keep posting are a group of 4 that are hunting in a roughly 20x20km patch of land. If you don't get info on where they are you could be driving around for weeks in either direction and probably never see one. Had another snowy sighting, on top of a lamppost on Highway 2, but... it was on a lamppost right where an on-ramp from Nisku connects to the highway... and this was on Saturday when it was snowing and crazy windy at 4:00pm when the road was busy and the conditions way too lovely to pull over
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Jan 22, 2013 14:42
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neckbeard posted:Had another snowy sighting, on top of a lamppost on Highway 2, but... it was on a lamppost right where an on-ramp from Nisku connects to the highway... and this was on Saturday when it was snowing and crazy windy at 4:00pm when the road was busy and the conditions way too lovely to pull over The trick now is finding a snowy that the banding guys haven't gotten to first. They paint the head pink so they don't waste time trying to re-catch an already banded bird, but who wants a pink headed snowy picture?
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Jan 22, 2013 15:02
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InternetJunky posted:Everything you say is true. There's a nature group doing a winter bird count in my city, and they're up to 73 separate species now. I never realised the variety around here, even in the dead of winter. Before I joined the group I would probably have been able to track down 15-20 of those. 73 species in the middle of Alberta, which is about one step away from being Antarctica this time year. It gets better (in winter) the farther south you go. I've seen about 100 species in 2013 in Western Washington and I spent about a day and a half birding in southern California last week and saw over 100. It's really incredible what's out there. Anyway, back to photos. I made it down to the Salton Sea on Sunday. It's a pretty legendary birding spot and it did not disappoint:  Ladder-Backed Woodpecker by beastofexmoor, on Flickr  Salton Sea Green Heron by beastofexmoor, on Flickr  Vermillion Flycatcher 2 by beastofexmoor, on Flickr  Vermillion Flycatcher by beastofexmoor, on Flickr  Greater Roadrunner by beastofexmoor, on Flickr The beach in Orange county where I was working was also awesome. I've seen a lot of birds begging for handouts, but never imagined a Black Phoebe would be among them.  20130122-20130122-_MG_4053.jpg by beastofexmoor, on Flickr If gulls started a band, their promo shots would look like this:  Heerman and the Gulls by beastofexmoor, on Flickr  Sanderling by beastofexmoor, on Flickr  California Willet by beastofexmoor, on Flickr  California Marbled Godwit by beastofexmoor, on Flickr
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Jan 24, 2013 20:11
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Yup- for birds California in the winter probably as good as California in the summer.
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Jan 24, 2013 22:11
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 Bald Eagle by tylerhuestis, on Flickr  Bald Eagle by tylerhuestis, on Flickr I was standing in knee-deep snow during this next shot, thought it was getting ready to take off to hunt one of the mallards in the river... nope.  Bald Eagle by tylerhuestis, on Flickr neckbeard fucked around with this message at 00:50 on Jan 26, 2013 |
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Jan 26, 2013 00:19
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Pablo Bluth posted:Nought wrong with some nice tits.... I'm as jealous as the next man over InternetJunky's owl escapades, but that doesn't we don't have some nice birds. As a resident of Basingrad, you're in Red Kite country. If I have a criticism of British wildlife, it's not the selection, but that it tends to be so secretive or skittish, so we have to work harder to get the good photos. I've literally never noticed a Red Kite around Basingstoke before, and then two days after you posted there was one flying circles at less than 100ft over my place of work on a day when I didn't have my camera!
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Jan 27, 2013 01:20
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icechris posted:I've literally never noticed a Red Kite around Basingstoke before, and then two days after you posted there was one flying circles at less than 100ft over my place of work on a day when I didn't have my camera!
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Jan 27, 2013 14:18
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I want to comment on some of the awesome shots posted recently but I only have time to post this for now. Heavy crops and poor lighting, but the speed at which these owls plunge makes it hard to track so this is the best I can do.
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Jan 28, 2013 21:01
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I will never cease to enjoy pictures of owls vigorously faceplanting into snow.
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Jan 28, 2013 21:16
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I agree - owls hunting in winter are a treat, even more so if they can be photographed. Bruny Island is even better than mainland Tasmania for birds. Dusky Robin  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 1 by Execudork, on Flickr Some kind of Honey Eater  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 44 by Execudork, on Flickr A couple of Scrubwrens  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 45 by Execudork, on Flickr  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 46 Doublebirdie by Execudork, on Flickr Brown Thornbill, I think  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 47 by Execudork, on Flickr Scarlett Robin  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 48 by Execudork, on Flickr The confusingly-named Green Rosella  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 49 by Execudork, on Flickr
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Jan 30, 2013 12:40
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Not mine, but I think the regular viewers of this thread will enjoy these sets. From another avid bird photographer in the same city as me; there's a massive grain elevator which attracts a lot of pigeons, which in turn, attracts a lot of birds of prey... http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymklee/8429122814/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymklee/6889793457/
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Jan 30, 2013 14:41
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neckbeard posted:Not mine, but I think the regular viewers of this thread will enjoy these sets. From another avid bird photographer in the same city as me; there's a massive grain elevator which attracts a lot of pigeons, which in turn, attracts a lot of birds of prey...
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Jan 30, 2013 16:38
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InternetJunky- just curious if you are seeing anything like the snow imprints described here during your owl shoots. I've occasionally seen these in on grouse leks (not owls, just grouse landing in the snow) but I think usually either the snow is too hard to make a good imprint or it just gets blown away too quickly.
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Jan 30, 2013 22:05
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BetterLekNextTime posted:InternetJunky- just curious if you are seeing anything like the snow imprints described here during your owl shoots. I've occasionally seen these in on grouse leks (not owls, just grouse landing in the snow) but I think usually either the snow is too hard to make a good imprint or it just gets blown away too quickly.
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Jan 31, 2013 00:08
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BetterLekNextTime posted:InternetJunky- just curious if you are seeing anything like the snow imprints described here during your owl shoots. InternetJunky, I love love love your owl work. I can't wait to try to find some Northern Hawk Owls, Snowies, Great Greys, and anything else when I get back to Saskatchewan. The point about owls consistently hunting in the same area is really good, hopefully I can find some of those "snow angels of death". Also, "bone ratchets" 
ExecuDork fucked around with this message at 00:17 on Jan 31, 2013 |
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Jan 31, 2013 00:15
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Sorry for the double post, but it's been 3 days... SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 79 by Execudork, on Flickr I saw many Green Rosellas on Bruny Island. They are poorly named.  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 81 by Execudork, on Flickr A somewhat crappy and heavily cropped picture, but the only one I've got of a Strong-billed Honeyeater.  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 82 by Execudork, on Flickr I know I shouldn't be surprised by a heron in a tree, but they always look a bit out of place on a branch.  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 83 by Execudork, on Flickr Swift Parrot  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 88 by Execudork, on Flickr Juvenile Dusky Robin  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 91 by Execudork, on Flickr Crescent Honeyeater being a bit acrobatic  SD 114 Bruny Part 6 Labillardiere Peninsula 92 by Execudork, on Flickr Dusky Woodswallow
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Feb 2, 2013 04:40
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BetterLekNextTime posted:InternetJunky- just curious if you are seeing anything like the snow imprints during your owl shoots.     Seeing all 4 together I realise how much I suck at proper white balancing.
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Feb 3, 2013 06:10
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I hope you never stop posting owl photos. I got kind of lucky with a tolerant eagle today  SacNWR 1008 on Flickr edit- here's a few more...  SacNWR 1027 on Flickr  SacNWR 1017 on Flickr  SacNWR 1019 on Flickr BetterLekNextTime fucked around with this message at 06:17 on Feb 4, 2013 |
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Feb 3, 2013 07:04
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Finally fed up with this poo poo 55-200. Missed out on a lot of great opportunities today. Anyways, here's a Snowy Egret (I think). DSC_0201 by jankyangles, on Flickr
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Feb 7, 2013 02:22
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Burds   
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Feb 7, 2013 08:38
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what's the top one?
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Feb 7, 2013 08:40
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It's a sunbittern, but I've never imagined seeing one on a sidewalk before. edit: bummed I didn't have my dslr with me- but even a g12 can work sometimes for shooting birds.  sd_peli 1017 on Flickr BetterLekNextTime fucked around with this message at 07:31 on Feb 9, 2013 |
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Feb 7, 2013 08:42
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This just showed up on my facebook page.  
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Feb 10, 2013 14:36
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InternetJunky posted:This just showed up on my facebook page. That is pretty terrible...
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Feb 10, 2013 20:24
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InternetJunky posted:This just showed up on my facebook page. God damnit. 
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Feb 10, 2013 22:05
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Why did you blank out his face and his name? Assholes don't know they're assholes until somebody tells them. Did you let this guy know this poo poo is not cool?
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Feb 10, 2013 23:03
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To lighten the mood here's a super terrible shot that's still hilarious. DSC_0510 by jankyangles, on Flickr
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Feb 10, 2013 23:21
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  Reasons number one and two why I need a longer lens.  Where do I go from here? teleconverter? 100-400?  Edit: in other news, ducks are cool   Edit 2: Welp. Keh had a great deal on a 2x sigma teleconverter. Time to see how that goes. Casu Marzu fucked around with this message at 10:04 on Feb 11, 2013 |
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Feb 11, 2013 09:01
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Casu Marzu posted:Where do I go from here? teleconverter? 100-400? I'm shooting 200 on a crop sensor and it's only really good for city water foul so yeah.... 400 would be ideal for getting started on wild birds. Ducks are pretty rad though.  Mallard, female by jankyangles, on Flickr  American Wigeon by jankyangles, on Flickr Edit: God drat, my panel at home must be really drat dark. Maker Of Shoes fucked around with this message at 16:24 on Feb 11, 2013 |
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Feb 11, 2013 16:20
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InternetJunky posted:This just showed up on my facebook page. Yea, I found this one a few months ago:  Snowy Owl Wide 40mm by www.jamiedouglasphotography.com, on Flickr quote:This is the first time I have attempted to approach a wild owl and the decision to do so was only made after a long and careful assessment of the situation. "Yes, I carefully assessed that even though I had a 400mm lens on me and the lighting was great, I should try to get a full frame shot at 40mm because...uhhh...well I thought about it." This guy walked past big loving signs that say to not approach the wildlife to get here. I imagine you can report the Snowy photographer to the local wildlife authorities. Should be good for a scary phone call at least that might get him to knock off that bullshit. I think I've mentioned it recently, but as someone who went from a 55-250 F/5.6 to 70-200 F/2.8 to 100-400 F/5.6, nothing ever feels long enough or fast enough. I was out birding yesterday and saw quite a few folks with glass much larger than mine and they were still trying to get within 50ft of a perched Short-Eared Owl. I've come to the conclusion that you just have understand that birds are often too far for just about any glass you can afford and you have to put in the time to get lucky enough for them to give you a good shot.
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Feb 11, 2013 17:20
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quote:No glue or bait was used in the making of this image. Glue? People aren't putting glue onto perches and hoping a bird lands there, are they?
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Feb 11, 2013 21:21
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This problem can easily be solved by photographing the offending individual and his license plate and sending it in to the park rangers.
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Feb 11, 2013 21:49
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