Wildlife Part II

[gothmog]

Following on from the excellent Original Wildlife Thread (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357143) :thumbs:

I'll lower the tone a bit with a test of my new Sigma 1.4x teleconverter and a shot of a rare Mankius starlingus.

http://www.pbase.com/gothmog/image/61094628/original.jpg

[john.hem]

A couple more from Gigrin Farm.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/RedKite-6.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/RedKite-7.jpg

John

[Sam]

As a change from the magnificent bird pictures here's a couple of seal photo's I took in Howth harbour near Dublin on Sunday:

http://www.standerwick-images.com/albums/Dublin/seal1.jpg

http://www.standerwick-images.com/albums/Dublin/seals.jpg

[john.hem]

I found this shot quite amusing.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Whistlewhileyouwork.jpg

John

[John C]

What a good start to the new thread - nice pics all!

[Emkay2]

Well after spending an age lurking around this part of the forums, and seeing the high quality of the pictures taken here. It made me want to move on from the "happy snap" mode and try something a bit more adventurous.

So a trip down to the local photographic shop, resulted in a Canon 350D and a borrow of a 70-300 lense from a work colleague I was all set.

I had the day off today, so paid a visit to Cotswold Wildlife Park. These are a few of the pics I took. On the whole I'm happy with these, but the sharpness of a lot of the pictures on this forum is just not there on these. But as they say practice makes perfect !!!

First one...

http://www.markkendall.net/gallery/cotswold/large/image06.jpg

Next one...

http://www.markkendall.net/gallery/cotswold/large/image08.jpg

another...

http://www.markkendall.net/gallery/cotswold/large/image16.jpg

and finally...

http://www.markkendall.net/gallery/cotswold/large/image18.jpg

[Pink Fairy]

Lots of nice photos on this new thread. That first seal looks a real old boy ;) and we've got the dancing Chaffinch as well.

Emkay2; Very nice shot of the Otter, stands out well against the nice out of focus background. I suspect the slight lack of sharpness may be due to camera shake, the shutter-speeds used were not as fast as you would really like for 200-300mm handheld... I suspect a tripod would have made a big difference and also allowed you to close the aperture of the lens down a bit more for sharper images. Excellent start though.

[john.hem]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/MaleChaffinch.jpg

John

[rjw72]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/rjw72/Picture120.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/rjw72/Picture024.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/rjw72/Picture015.jpg

[john.hem]

Coming in for the food.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/RedKite-5.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/RedKite-8.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/RedKite-1.jpg

John

[Highlander]

Wow great pics of the kites, John. :thumbs:
Never actually heard of Gigrin Farm before, but have Googled it and it's now bookmarked, with a view to visitng sometime.

[john.hem]

Great Spotted Woodpecker.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/GreatSpottedWoodpecker1.jpg

Male Bullfinch.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Male-Bullfinch1.jpg

Male Bullfinch.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/MaleBullfinch-1.jpg

Female Bullfinch.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/FemaleBullfinch1.jpg

John

[puddleduck]

Where are you seeing the Bull finches John? Very rare around these parts!

A couple from last weekend.

Low Pass! (Arctic Tern!)

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Farne/DSC_0619_web.jpg

Basking Eider Duck

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Farne/DSC3374_web.jpg

[john.hem]

Funny enough I was just saying, to my wife, that I've seen more Bullfinches this year than ever around the North West. They were taken at Pennington Flash, near Manchester.
Nice Eider photograph.

John

[ifijay]

Wow, there is really good stuff in this new thread. The quality just gets better and better.

[GreyJackal]

Typical - the one day I don't bother taking the 400 out when I go for a walk along the river and there's hundreds of butterflies, insects, little birds and so on flitting about :doh:

Closest I could get to a dragonfly with the 24-105 - even this is cropped about 50%.

http://static.flickr.com/47/159350338_c968944b2b_o.jpg

[RobDickinson]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/robdickinson/home/IMG_1962.jpg

Sperm whale on a borrowed ancient 75-300. like the reach, dislike the AF, build, sharpness.... 70-300IS should be a lot better.

[slayer213]

Bradgate Park, Leicestershire.

http://www.dreamland-design.co.uk/photos/deer.jpg

[DeadKenny]

Not on a par with the pros here, but here are some of my attempts recently...

<a href="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photo.php?photo=502" target="blank"><img src="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photos/parks/normal/_DSC1150.jpg" style="background-color: #000; padding: 3px; border:0px"/></a>

<a href="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photo.php?photo=503" target="blank"><img src="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photos/parks/normal/_DSC1153.jpg" style="background-color: #000; padding: 3px; border:0px"/></a>

<a href="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photo.php?photo=533" target="blank"><img src="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photos/parks/normal/_DSC1186.jpg" style="background-color: #000; padding: 3px; border:0px"/></a>

<a href="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photo.php?photo=549" target="blank"><img src="http://www.sirjohn.co.uk/ee/photos/parks/normal/_DSC1222.jpg" style="background-color: #000; padding: 3px; border:0px"/></a>

[GlynF]

A couple of mine from the weekend (don't be too harsh, I'm a beginner! ;) )

http://www.glynfurlong.net/pics/duck.jpg

http://www.glynfurlong.net/pics/gosling.jpg


Glyn

[wseed]

A great start to a new thread, some excellent shots from John and Andy +others. Almost embarrassed to post mine now. But here's quite a few from today criticism and tips welcome.

1. Exposure not so hot but I liked the family outing.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3543.jpg
2. Not so great an angle shooting from a high bank.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3552.jpg
3. As above and point of focus out.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3556.jpg
4.Need to stop down a little for greater DOF on most of the rest.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3581.jpg
5.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3588.jpg
6.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3604.jpg
7.Deffo missed a good point of focus here and DOF but heck they're cute.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3611.jpg
8.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3613.jpg
9.
http://www.warrenseed.com/images/birds/IMG_3633.jpg

[RobinL]

I like those, especially number 7. Another from me (a jackdaw)

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2653/web36mh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[silverpenguin7]

I popped along to The Hawk Conservancy here in the UK yesterday. Its a bird of prey centre out in the countryside. It was a great day out and I thought I'd share a couple of my favourite pictures from the day.

Not seen a Bald Eagle up this close before, beautiful bird!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8735_bald_eagle4.jpg
D200, 200-400 VR at 220mm, 1/160s at f5.6, ISO 200, fence support

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8735_bald_eagle3.jpg
D200, 200-400 VR at 220mm, 1/180s at f5.6, ISO 200, fence support

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8735_bald_eagle2.jpg
D200, 200-400 VR at 220mm, 1/160s at f5.6, ISO 200, fence support

Vulture (this thing was H.U.G.E. I think they said it had a 15 foot wingspan, and it came in and flew about 2 foot over my head!)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8362_condor.jpg
D200, 200-400 VR at 200mm, 1/800s at f4.5, ISO 160

A couple of Black Kites: (veru hard to expose for I was finding)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8353_kite.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8440_black_kite.jpg

They flew 5 at the same time and at the end of the show they fired food in the air for them to catch, I manged to get 3 of them:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8423_3_kites.jpg

And an outake, heavily cropped and not very sharp:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/richardmpeters/Hawk%20Conservancy/_D2N8335_catch.jpg

I missed out on a superb Barn Owl taking off from a post shot, I didn't think his wings were so big and one of them just goes out of frame! Very annoying.

Still, it was a great day out and I'll be going back again. They do special photographic days where you get a guided one on one tour - think I'll give that a go at some point! :)

[RobinL]

I love #3 :)

[john.hem]

Wseed I like 8 & 9. Robinl is that a Jackdaw, nice blue eye.
Silverpenguin7 I like numbers 2, 3 & 6.

John

[puddleduck]

Excellent shots there Richard :)

[Highlander]

Great shots SP7. Like the bold eagle shots the best.
I went to a BoP centre at the w/e too, but they only flew a few birds, and they didn't fly off into the sky, so most of my pics had cages and stuff for backgrounds. Didn't get many shots anyway, as my lad was getting bored and kept wanting to go home.

Eagle Owl:
http://www.sypix.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_4948s.jpg

Harris hawk:
http://www.sypix.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_5026s.jpg

[john.hem]

That Harris Hawk is a nice shot it's a shame about the fencing in the background.

John

[Nana]

I'm a big bird of prey fan and Harris Hawks are my particular favourite, beautiful shot! All the in-flight pictures are amazing and that first Bald Eagle shot is very striking.

Like the Swans too, picture 7 is so cute!

[gothmog]

I love this thread.

[RobinL]

Any idea why the jackdaw was bald and let us "pick him up"? It was very odd, he stayed hanging onto the branch until we put him back down, and didn't even move then. And no, he wasn't dead :lol:

Bird flu, perhaps :eek:

I think he must have been dying :cry:

http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/8072/web57sl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/1613/web47jf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[GreyJackal]

If he wasn't nailed to that perch, he'd be off....

[Boink!]

beautiful plumage

[DeadKenny]

pining for the fjords

[Highlander]

Vulture, taken at Longleat ...

http://www.sypix.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_4773s.jpg

and a close-up of a rhesus monkey ...
http://www.sypix.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_4802s.jpg

[Boink!]

Time for some smaller wildlife. D70 with reversed 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Save The Children!

http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/2297/dsc7538fcrop7ls.jpg

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/6690/dsc7552crop5le.jpg

Depth of field was a pain to work with, especially as they run pretty fast for such little things. Camera first, ant powder second. :D

Jon

[kerzo]

Sorry to sound like an ignoramus but when you say "reversed" what does that mean?

[GreyJackal]

He took the lens off, turned it round and held it against the body, essentially.

No idea if he has some contraption to keep it there like a bayonet/filter ring thingy or something.

[Boink!]

Hi kerzo, a reversal ring fit your lens on backwards. It screws onto the front lens thread and then you turn the lens around and fit it to the camera so the back of the lens is pointing out.

Here's a link to a similar one I got on eBay (http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-582776-5826355), the Nikon BR2 reversal ring (http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-582776-9479574?loc=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NIKON-BR2-LENS-REVERSAL-RING-MACRO-CLOSE-UP-PHOTO_W0QQitemZ7621257741QQcategoryZ30059QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).

It's a cheap way of turning a prime lens into a macro one, though you lose aperture adjustment and auto focus so you focus by physically moving the camera back and forth until you find the focus point.
I use a manual focus 50mm f/1.8 for and try and shoot f5.6 or f/8. I think it gives me 1:1 magnification, whereas when I use my 28mm f/2.8 I get 2:1. Unfortunately with the 28mm the focus is a lot closer to the subject, the 50mm is around (iirc) 4 - 5".

edit: Found a pic:

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2278/lensreverse4ss.th.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lensreverse4ss.jpg)

Hope this helps. :)

[kerzo]

Ah right I see now, cheers for the info!

[wolfkiller]

Any idea why the jackdaw was bald and let us "pick him up"? It was very odd, he stayed hanging onto the branch until we put him back down, and didn't even move then. And no, he wasn't dead :lol:

Bird flu, perhaps :eek:

I think he must have been dying :cry:



It's a baby jackdaw, just out of the nest. You were probably lucky to not have been dive-bombed by a couple of irate parents.

[GreyJackal]

What's this, a thrush?

http://static.flickr.com/66/162533229_b36f068883.jpg

[Leigh]

Looks like a song Thrush

http://www.noahsarkgardens.co.uk/Wildlife/Birds/SongThrush.htm

[wolfkiller]

What's this, a thrush?

http://static.flickr.com/66/162533229_b36f068883.jpg

Nothing a bit of natural yoghurt won't solve

[GreyJackal]

That's sarny you're thinking of :D

Typically I spent 10 minutes stalking a very jittery magpie and got not one decent shot of it. Then when I walked up to the garage after I got home (leaving camera in the house, natch) I passed two much tamer ones that allowed me to get within 10 feet of them. Arse :D

[roar349]

It's a baby jackdaw, just out of the nest. You were probably lucky to not have been dive-bombed by a couple of irate parents.

Definitely, just seen one looking exactly the same.

[JoePrecious]

Completely forgot to subscribe to this new thread so only just seen all the great photos!

Anyway, a flirting wren that just spent half an houring in the garden:-

http://www.helenandjoe.co.uk/wren.jpg

Amazing how much tamer he is when he's trying to impress the ladies (and noisier!). Unfortunately, it was dusk and I had to up the ISO and open the lens right up so I lost a bit of sharpness. Still, at least the IS helped - wouldn't have had a chance without it.

[Boink!]

Nice capture of a tiny bird in difficult circumstances. :thumbs:

[wolfkiller]

One of the Nightjar that's been conspicuous in Teddington this week

Adjusted a bit for white balance. Not too shabby for a 4 sec exposure.

http://www.esmondb.btinternet.co.uk/nightjar2.jpg

[john.hem]

Such a hard bird to see, usually. Nice capture considering the length of exposure.

John

[Sam]

How did you get him/her to sit really really still for 4s?! Nice capture :)

[wolfkiller]

How did you get him/her to sit really really still for 4s?! Nice capture :)

Sticky-back plastic and threatening looks

[Leigh]

I believe homebase are selling plastic nightjars at the moment if you want your own Sam....

[ifijay]

I believe homebase are selling plastic nightjars at the moment if you want your own Sam....
:lol:

[john.hem]

Male Wheatear.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Wheatear1.jpg


John

[RPG]

Do insects class as wildlife? Hopefully:

http://static.flickr.com/60/164114737_d55eb1aaa6.jpg

[badgerprincess]

Ive got myself a new camera, not very good with focus yet, infact not got a clue what most buttons do yet :P Took a huge load of pics yesterday, mostly of the baby duck (eider, gorgeous looking adults) that my brother is babysitting. He's a park ranger and they get given rescue animals often to look after till they can be released again.
This baby duck was rescued from a durty seagull who was gonna eat him, it appears the seagull may have flew him in from the coast for quite some distance! as we dont have eiders around this area of scotland.

Anyways my brother let him play in my dads pond for a while.

Camera = the 12x zoom sony DSC-H1 thingy.

Basically i wanna know, does this look like its in focus lol :D I've reduced the size but the 2nd one is just a crop to show actual image size.

http://www.stormerdark.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/ducky.JPG

I dont think it looks in focus like this, but maybe when its not meant to be cropped this tight anyways, wont matter? Im very much a point/click person when it comes to photos and sometimes i get lucky and get not to bad a picture :p
http://www.stormerdark.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/duckycrop.JPG

[badgerprincess]

Here's some small ones of him playing in the pond, first it blurry for sure :P was trying the action shot setting...

http://www.stormerdark.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/Duck4.jpg

http://www.stormerdark.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/Duck2.jpg

http://www.stormerdark.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/Duck3.jpg

sorry if im posting too many photos in one go, maybe i should read first post incase there's a rule :P I may be editting in a sec

[DeadKenny]

First one looks in focus especially the eye which is the important thing. A 100% crop will often look blurred though but it's not intended to be scrutinised that close. You can try and fix a crop with harsher sharpening.

As you can see at full frame it looks great, and same will be if you print it.

[RomerojpgX]

badgerprincess wondefull fluffy little things :) and no you are not posting too many pictures, thats imposible :D I wish I had access t little balls of fur like that, they are just too cute.

[RPG]

http://static.flickr.com/45/164349103_49bd652bb2.jpg

Mmmm, Lovely!

[ifijay]

A few unusual visitors I found in my garden.

A locust
http://static.flickr.com/59/164829582_0f5cd19634_o.jpg

A couple of Chameleons
http://static.flickr.com/76/164829581_127a74ea75_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/60/164835572_216e6ff9a3_o.jpg

[john.hem]

I love the colours in No.3.

John

[john.hem]

Long-tailed tit fledgling.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/LongTailedTitFledgling.jpg

Whitethroat.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Whitethroat4.jpg

Poppies.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Poppies.jpg

Speckled wood butterfly
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/SpeckledWoodButterflyParargeaegeria.jpg

John

[ifijay]

Lovely pics John. I love the background colour of the Whitethroat, very refreshing. The poppies are also very good.

[gothmog]

Nice pictures John, we've got a speckled wood invasion going on here at the moment :)

I'm guessing this is a female chaffinch :help:
http://www.pbase.com/image/61696983/original.jpg

[badgerprincess]

First one looks in focus especially the eye which is the important thing. A 100% crop will often look blurred though but it's not intended to be scrutinised that close. You can try and fix a crop with harsher sharpening.

As you can see at full frame it looks great, and same will be if you print it.

Aha cool, i was just worried that it didnt look so sharp at 100% on my pc.

[wolfkiller]

Nice pictures John, we've got a speckled wood invasion going on here at the moment :)

I'm guessing this is a female chaffinch :help:


Definitely not a chaffinch.
Female linnet I think. Do you have a photo that shows more of the wing?

[gothmog]

Female linnet I think. Do you have a photo that shows more of the wing?

Unfortunately not, that's the most side on (s)he got :(

Glad it's not just a boring chaffinch though :thumbs:

[Leigh]

Probosis at the ready!

http://razer.smugmug.com/photos/75247450-O.jpg

[roar349]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/IMG_1107.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/IMG_1275.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/IMG_1236.jpg

Be gentle, took these in Egypt last year with a Powershot A60.

[RobinL]

http://img290.imageshack.us/img290/3434/beastcopy2ni.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[wseed]

Looks like a postcard RobinL very good, nice mix of the daisies and the duck.

[John C]

Lovely shot Robin - I'm having to hold myself back from just going "Awwww...!" lovely composition and use of depth of field.

[RobinL]

Thanks guys. The little ***** are rather hard to photograph :lol: , partly because I want the short depth of field, so in lots of my shots the focus is out. From 3 outing photographing them, I've found that you get about 5 good shots per hundred :D

Also exposure is a little tricky because its easy to lose detail in the dark patches or overexpose everything else!

They got really close to me this time, one of them actually brushed past my shoe. So close my Sigma 70-200 couldn't focus on them. The trick is working out which way they are walking, getting in their way, and keeping still.

[MattaM]

A couple I took while out for a walk yesterday, which I was quite pleased with bearing in mind the cheap camera I've got.

Red admiral catching the morning sun.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/Mattal2/PICT0149-1.jpg

Hoverfly on flower.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/Mattal2/PICT0152.jpg

and a shot from my bedroom window which I thought was quite funny of two starlings sunbathing.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/Mattal2/PICT0143.jpg

[wseed]

This beer must be stronger than I thought can I not count 3 in that last pic Mattam

[MattaM]

This beer must be stronger than I thought can I not count 3 in that last pic Mattam

I can't count 3, even though I've had a wine or two. I should have said 2 and a quarter starlings!

[RPG]

I can see 3 :p

That photo only re-enforces my fear of birds beaks.

[Boink!]

They're laughing at you! :suspect:

[puddleduck]

Lovely shot Robin :)

[puddleduck]

A few from me from a rescue centre:

Eagle flight...

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4616_web.jpg

Secretary bird on the run...

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4679_web.jpg

Pelican

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4698_web.jpg

White faced owl

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4709_web.jpg

Stork in flight

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4610_web.jpg

(can't remember what this is, not an eagle although it looks like one!)

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4572_web.jpg

[john.hem]

Some nice photographs their Andy. Did you use fill in flash on 4 & 6.

John

[Highlander]

Nice shots Andy.
Isn't the first one a Harris Hawk?

[JoePrecious]

Great shots Andy - where were you?

A few from today. Hopefully someone can confirm my identifications...

A scorpionfly
http://www.helenandjoe.co.uk/180606-1.JPG

A four-spotted chaser
http://www.helenandjoe.co.uk/180606-2.JPG

A common frog
http://www.helenandjoe.co.uk/180606-3.JPG

[Fozzybear]

A grey squirrel nibbling peanuts (unsalted!) in Colchester:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/136985263/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/53/136985263_1c669e24ae.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Our father, who art in heaven..." /></a>

and posing on a bench:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/136985947/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/136985947_eda6d25f0c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Posing again" /></a>

Both taken with a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro on a Nikon D50.

[gothmog]

Nice scorpion fly Joe :)

French robber fly kidnapped from Le Mans ;)

http://www.pbase.com/gothmog/image/62250271/original.jpg

[RomerojpgX]

My god thats amazing :) is that much of a crop?

[gothmog]

Only for tidiness, they are massive!

Mind you they need to be they are predatory and go after wasps/hoverflies etc.

[GreyJackal]

Irritating little blighters too :D

[john.hem]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Goldfinch.jpg

John

[John C]

Lovely shots again folks - I'm amazed at the sharpness and detail you guys are able to get.

[puddleduck]

That robber fly thingy really is an amazing shot Gothmog :)

[eklipze]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Goldfinch.jpg

John

Lovely shot but IMO the blurry bud on the right is very distracting ? I'd be tempted to crop that (and possibly the second one at the bottom) out of the picture.

Just my view anyway.

[John C]

Finally got around to this one - it's a bit poo in the light of the stuff posted already, but one of my better ones...

http://static.flickr.com/62/172861036_7305eb2eed.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_the_monkey/172861036/)

These birds were all over Tenerife, generally living the high life on left over junk food and tourist litter.

[gagsy]

Another squirrel.

http://i4.tinypic.com/15d5cu9_th.jpg (http://i4.tinypic.com/15d5cu9.jpg) http://i5.tinypic.com/15d5d9e_th.jpg (http://i5.tinypic.com/15d5d9e.jpg) http://i5.tinypic.com/15d5d39_th.jpg (http://i5.tinypic.com/15d5d39.jpg)

[Fozzybear]

Nice one gagsy. I think they would be able to take a little level adjustment to increase the brightness though, they look slightly dark to me.

Here's a shot of a young blackbird I took from my bedroom window about half an hour ago:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/173862272/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/73/173862272_d5f21d5bb2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Young blackbird" /></a>

I heard a little singing as I sat on the computer and looked out to see him sitting just below the window! Couldn't focus close enough with my 300mm f/4 so had a mad panic rush to change to the 90mm macro before he flew away. Got two shots off (both very under-exposed) and used the RAW processor and Paint Shop Pro to produce this from the better of the two shots.

EDIT: I think I'm developing a bird fetish - pretty much all my recent shots have been of feathered friends!

[Boink!]

Nice photos FB, you're putting your kit to good use. :thumbs:

[john.hem]

Bateleur Eagle, I had to blur the background slightly as there is a annoying fence behind.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/BateleurEagle4.jpg

Harris Hawk.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Harris-Hawk1.jpg

Owl?
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Owl1.jpg

Barn Owl
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/BarnOwl.jpg

John

[puddleduck]

Just got back from Wales, where I popped into Gigrin Farm for a chance to get some Red Kite shots... awful light and I was forced to run the D200 at ISO1600 :gag:

Anyhow just a couple came out OK.

Red Kites:

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC5165_web.jpg

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4986_web.jpg

Buzzard:

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC5152_web.jpg

[john.hem]

When I was there it was very overcast and I found myself having to shoot at high ISO speeds. Oh to just live around the corner and wait for the perfect day. Nice photographs.

Don't they move fast when turning and diving?

John

[Highlander]

John, I'm no expert but at a guess, the unidentified owl could be a milky eagle owl?

BTW, great raptor photos guys :thumbs:

[Nana]

Beautiful birds, the feathers on that Kite are fantastic, and the close ups are stunning. I really like the Harris Hawk, congrats to all.

[wseed]

Went for a walk near Ilam in the south peak district today. Was mid adding a converter to my lens to shoot a stone chat when this fellow ran down the field. Didn't have time to change my ISO for a decent shutter speed so there pretty poor but I thought I'd post as I've never seen one before.

http://www.warrenseed.com/forums/weasle1.jpg

http://www.warrenseed.com/forums/weasle2.jpg

http://www.warrenseed.com/forums/weasle3.jpg

Oh and the bird cleared off too.

[john.hem]

Wseed it's always the way, best of luck next time.

A couple more of the Harris Hawk.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/HarrisHawk4.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/HarrisHawk3.jpg

John

[puddleduck]

Nice shots, here's one of a Harris Hawk I shot last weekend, I got the impression he didn't want his photo taken :)

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4556_web.jpg

and another, with him looking a bit more chilled!

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4676_web.jpg

And an owl who reminds me of someone! (John Fortune I think!)

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4714_web.jpg

[wseed]

Great detail in those chaps, not sure if I like the blue in the out of focus area or not.

Andy you definitely got it's most unflattering side.

I came across a barn owl today on the way out. I tried to capture it with my dads Panasonic FZ5 which should have been more than up to the job with its 12x zoom unfortunately I couldn't suss how to change the shutter speed and took my 3 best snaps at 15th :(. I think I might start my own "Warrens wildlife - The one's that got away" thread.

Is it worth my while returning to the spot I saw the Weasel or the Owl to see if they return. The Weasel was just running down a field beside a wall and the owl was stood in the window of an old barn. Will be returning to the Barn anyhow as the field was full of dear.

[Nana]

Wow, Harris Hawk heaven. Aren't they just the most magnificent birds, and those pictures really do them justice.

Does anyone mind if I save a couple of them to my HD?

[skenaja]

wseed - it was a stoat (http://www.yptenc.org.uk/docs/factsheets/animal_facts/stoat.html[/url) you saw as it had a black tip on its tail. They hunt in fairly large territories so it'll be fairly unlikely that you'll spot it again unless you were next to its burrow.

You could try calling it back next time :) Is it true that you can attract stoats by making squeaking noises? Stoats, and weasels, are particularly curious animals. They may come closer to investigate squeaking noises especially if they sound like the squeal of a rabbit in distress. Try standing still and sucking hard on the back of your hand.

[wseed]

Cool thanks I think I may have been close to it's burrow as even when it had disappeared I could here the squeaking. Unless that was an unfortunate victim.

[puddleduck]

A couple more from Gigrin, a bit washed out due to the crap sky which was causing some under-exposure even with +EV!

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC4767_web.jpg

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC5001_web.jpg

[john.hem]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/BarnOwl1.jpg

John

[ifijay]

Lovely shots Andy and John. Great to see the work of masters :)

[wseed]

Could someone please ID these birds my dad snapped today.

http://www.warrenseed.com/forums/birds.jpg

[emeyedeejay]

Albino Commarants? :shrug:

[puddleduck]

[QUOTE=wseed]Could someone please ID these birds my dad snapped today.

Not sure, looking at the heads, I think its a Grebe...

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC2733_web.jpg

But it might be a Smew...

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Wildlife/DSC2086_web.jpg

My bird ID'ing is rubbish though tbh!

It does look a bit Cormorant-y too as Mike says above, although they are darker usually... (I'll see if I've got one in my collection to compare)

[RomerojpgX]

Looks like glare on their bodies? or overexposed? or maybe they are bright white? :)

[john.hem]

They look like some form of merganser with their shape of bill. Where were they taken?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Hooded-Merganser1-1.jpg

John

[emeyedeejay]

That gets my vote ...

[RomerojpgX]

Lovley hairstyle in that last shot :D must be scotish.

[puddleduck]

yep, its a merganser from John's pic, which I don't think I've ever seen around these parts (not on my travels come to think of it!)

[Highlander]

OK, not a briliant photo, but my first real wild bird shot, apart from the ones in my back garden. Came out very under-exposed, and is very nearly a 100% crop. (I need more length :eek: )

Chaffinch?

http://static.flickr.com/71/176497165_86f3270b09_o.jpg

[Boink!]

The grey sky actually works with this photo and I like the was the leaves frame the bird.

[john.hem]

Nice male Chaffinch.

John

[puddleduck]

That looks good to me, especially as its close to a 100% crop, the only thing if I'm being ultra critical is that such an aggressive crop has brought up a bit of noise.

[Highlander]

Revisited one of my photos from a couple of weeks ago.
Do you think not getting the whole bird in spoils the photo?

Harris hawk (again!!) ...
http://www.sypix.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_5020s.jpg

[Leigh]

Personally i dont think it spoils the photo at all. If you could tone down the left hand side of the beak (looking at the photo) it would be better as it look overexposed on my screen

[Highlander]

Thanks for the feedback.
Yes, agreed about the beak. Not sure if there is anything there to rescue though :( Looks completely blown. Will check the original tonight.

[ifijay]

http://static.flickr.com/69/177046477_de5b23ea53_o.jpg
A regular visitor to my garden.

[maubp]

Cute :)

[wseed]

They look like some form of merganser with their shape of bill. Where were they taken?John

Thanks John and all was on the river Dove near Ilam. The mother thinks it's not one of those now she's looked in her bird book. Looks to be a Gossander (http://www.findhornbay.net/attractions/nature/birdhide/images/goosander.jpg)

[wseed]

Couldn't resist a shot of these youngsters and there mum, even if I only had my 17-40mm with me.

http://www.warrenseed.com/forums/IMG_3921crop.jpg

[wseed]

Spotted this country pigeon this morning. Apparently it had a nest of 11 chicks close by but I didn't like to disturb them.

http://www.warrenseed.com/forums/pigeon.jpg

[fountainhead]

Spotted this country pigeon this morning. Apparently it had a nest of 11 chicks close by but I didn't like to disturb them.

http://www.warrenseed.com/forums/pigeon.jpg


I think you'll find this is a French Partridge :thumbs:

[RomerojpgX]

Tasty Eating :D

[Fozzybear]

Nice mallard and french partridge shots wseed.

I took these shots of a pied wagtail in the grounds of Chelmsford Cathedral this morning. I lay down on the edge of the grass to get the low angle and got mucky marks all over my new clothes. :lol: At least I got some reasonable shots of one of my favourite birds. He/she was hunting for insects and kept running all over the place, but fortunately stayed mostly in sunlit areas - presumably to see the insects better.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/179160711/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/179160711_228ca34e3e.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt="Pied Wagtail" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/179161254/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/77/179161254_e221ce0818.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="Pied Wagtail II" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/179161681/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/67/179161681_02098cc3d0.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt="Pied Wagtail III" /></a>

Nikon D50, Nikon 300mm f/4 AF, RAW processed in Nikon View and Paint Shop Pro 9.

[emeyedeejay]

Very Nice Fozzy ... I particularly liek the last one - it looks very regal :D

[fountainhead]

A couple from yester day

http://static.flickr.com/54/178939821_d6d418ae88_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/71/178939820_50e90253ae_o.jpg

[sideshowbob]

That cock pheasant is nice ... great colours.

[Fozzybear]

That pheasant looks like he's wearing a necklace!

Here's a snap of a couple of ducklings, taken with my Tamron 90mm macro lens (on Nikon D50) this morning:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/179633733/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/67/179633733_6378cb2445.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Duckling on concrete" /></a>

I didn't take my telephoto with me today, I just used the macro lens and shot mostly tree bark and plants.

[Fozzybear]

A couple more shots from this morning. Not quite sure if these come under the 'wildlife' name, but if flowers are in why not trees:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/179631570/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/66/179631570_0b0d37bc82.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Sprouting Yew" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/179630748/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/66/179630748_3386d97af3.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Scaling the Heights" /></a>

[Nana]

Nice bit of contrast and texture, good bit of composition Fozzybear.

[GreyJackal]

Load of birds from Beale Park this afternoon

Three from Australasia. No idea what they are though :
http://static.flickr.com/44/179853171_9446c2f776.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/76/179853196_9457b3ecac.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/56/179853205_dc181231b2.jpg

Buzzard and its chick

http://static.flickr.com/52/179853229_46b99cea9a.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/56/179853251_18fbd3d6b7.jpg

Spectacled Owl

http://static.flickr.com/52/179853434_256ee2cf25.jpg

Snowy Owl (couldn't get him to look at me)

http://static.flickr.com/65/179853417_4ef69d27ea.jpg

Some Terrapins

http://static.flickr.com/76/179853398_733b3332e3.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/57/179853520_b4e2875f96.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/34/179853542_ab2edef103.jpg

And some Lemurs having a scrap (last one isn't very good but liked the poses :D)

http://static.flickr.com/53/179853355_33146ade66.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/34/179853380_0d5dd6a7c0.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/34/179853331_ef7cd63801.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/68/179853304_19c31b53c0.jpg

[Nana]

Fantastic birds and Lemurs GreyJackal, beautiful candids of the lemurs especially. :thumbs:

I made a lot of newbie mistakes at Shuttleworth, so I'm seeking advice. I set the camera for the sunshine, and unexpectedly the birds were often in the extreme shade beside me and the camera shutter speed went to zilch. :brickwall
Should I just set the ISO for 400 at events like this (extreme light and shade) where things happen too quickly to change the ISO?

Also I tried the AI-servo and got pretty poor results, my own fault probably. I used autofocus when I tried AI-servo and it seemed to focus mostly on the birds bodies not the eyes, so I got some nice crops and rough beaks. :doh:
Should I have used a single focus point with AI? I tried using that today at home and it gave better results, at least I had a sight to connect up with the point I was trying to focus on.


Anyway, thanks for any input, here's Owl from Shuttleworth.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-4/1175899/BirdsofPreyOwlJune06IMG_0512AJune06-01JPGC.jpg


A Caracara, we were told to put any food away as it would do anything for a sandwich or an ice cream. :eek:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-4/1175899/CopyofBirdsofPreyOwlsJune06IMG_0579AsmallAJune06-01JPGB.jpg

[FireclownUK]

Ok - I'll give this a go. I don't use anything special - a Dimage Z10 - so don't expect super quality ... :)

Wish I could say these first two were spotted whilst over in Germany a couple of months ago, but ....
http://www.brutal-planet.net/images/Wildlife/PICT0007.JPG
http://www.brutal-planet.net/images/Wildlife/PICT0012-1.JPG
My favourite Otter photo is on my laptop; I'll post it later.
http://www.brutal-planet.net/images/Wildlife/PICT0028-1.JPG
and last for now....
http://www.brutal-planet.net/images/Wildlife/PICT0023-1.JPG

[Nana]

Two more, first a nosey Peacock who thought he'd look appealing to get some scraps.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-4/1175899/BirdsofPreyPeacockJune06IMG_0615-2June06-01JPGB.jpg

Secondly Doobie! an abandonded Eagle Owl chick we were allowed to stroke.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-4/1175899/BirdsofPreyOwlDoobieJune06IMG_0520June06-01JPG.jpg

[Highlander]

That baby eagle owl's a cracker Nana :thumbs:

Could someone ID these 2 birds please? (Cropped to death again!!)
I think one is one a reed bunting?

http://static.flickr.com/63/180862563_43e1029c96_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/51/180862561_850a8de2f7_o.jpg

[john.hem]

The first, I think, may be a female Reed bunting. The second is a young robin.

John

[RomerojpgX]

Some of the animals on here are stunning! Wish I had them near me :)

I mak do with birds. Very Small ones.

http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/302/littlevisitorp10202946hk.jpg

Not bad for 100% crop, the noise isnt horrifc as some pics I see with my camera, well not ion the bird :)
http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/1594/littlevisitorp1020294small3hw.jpg

[Highlander]

Thanks John.
Female reed bunting and juvenile robin it is :)

Great shot there Rom. 100% crop is pretty good too. :thumbs:

Here's another shot from today.

Chaffinch:
http://static.flickr.com/68/180924374_d18bb2947e_o.jpg

[roar349]

GreyJackal - 3rd down looks like a zebra finch to me, can usually be seen in your local pet shop :D

[john.hem]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/HoodedVulture.jpg

John

[Leigh]

Man thats a scary looking eye.

Absolutely cracking shot John :thumbs:

[ifijay]

Magnificent John. :thumbs:

[busterboy]

Saw this chap having a good look round before he was brave enough to move in on the bird table..:suspect:

1. Is he looking at me.:suspect:
http://www.timprocter.co.uk/photography/bird-table/woody-frame=2.jpg

2. Dare I pinch some seed..:thinking:
http://www.timprocter.co.uk/photography/bird-table/woody-frame.jpg

3. Him with the camera isnt bothered. :dork:
http://www.timprocter.co.uk/photography/bird-table/woody-frame=4.jpg

4. Ah what the hell..:nuts:
http://www.timprocter.co.uk/photography/bird-table/woody-frame=3.jpg

[wseed]

1. Why's there a shadow of hair clippers on me chest cooo.....


Just what I was thinking too.

I can never see why people hate pigeons so much I think they look quite nice. Same goes for Magpies.

[RomerojpgX]

Mainly becuase pigeons are vermin and spread disease etc.. :)

Whats this? a Gul? brown top and tail confuses me.

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/8392/lonleybirdp10206207jr.jpg

[Boink!]

pigeons = rats with wings.

[roar349]

Black Headed Gull I believe.

[wolfkiller]

pigeons = rats with wings.

The photos are of a wood pigeon, very different to the feral rock dove (town pigeon).
You won't see any bedraggled wood pigeons with toes or feet missing.

[RomerojpgX]

Yea the wilder pigeons look nice, the city ones can look like nuclear bomb victims with awful growths and parts missing, its like a pigeon zombie film.

[Mick Davies]

Took a visit to a zoo yesterday, heres a collection of pics :)

Elephant
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Elephant_Eating2.jpg

Hippo
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Hippo.jpg

Rhino
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Rhino.jpg

Giraffe
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Giraffe_Eating.jpg

Turtle love
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Turtle_Love.jpg

Otter
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Otter_Eating.jpg

Penguin
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Penguin_Swimming.jpg

Flamengo
http://www.silentground.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/fLAMENGO.jpg

Any comments welcome!

[fountainhead]

Just one to revive the thread


http://static.flickr.com/53/189448823_5304c41f33_o.jpg

[Boink!]

Aww, it's learning how to preen.

[Fozzybear]

Here's one from my back garden, nearly my photo-a-day for today but I went for a starling shot instead (hard to pick between them though - I'm beginning to prefer this shot now!):

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/189474684/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/189474684_d757b37acd.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Sitting on the fence" /></a>

[John C]

Very nice fozzy - oddly enough, I got some of starlings today too;

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_the_monkey/189693640/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/189693640_402fad5589.jpg" width="500" height="348" alt="Starling #3" /></a>

is my favourite.

[DeadKenny]

starlings - grrr, ******** :mad: :D

They're the bully of the garden, kicking all the little birds off the birds feeders and using my water "feature" as a bath splashing all the water out of the container. Damn things :D

[John C]

Does anyone recognise this?

I snapped it this morning on my seed feeder - I'm guessing it's a juvenile tit of some kind...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_the_monkey/189928042/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/189928042_494a16c349.jpg" width="500" height="475" alt="What is this?" /></a>

Edit - saw the back of it properly just now - I think it's a young Coal Tit, as it has the white stripe on the back of it's head.

[Fozzybear]

Certainly has a strong coal tit look to it. Mmm... seeds! :D

Here's a pigeon from Ipswich marina last weekend:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/190066860/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/190066860_3bdb484af5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Suffolk pigeon" /></a>

[GreyJackal]

Some of my results from a trip to Marwell today with robgallop & Radiohead

http://static.flickr.com/71/190145112_fdd95c5c40.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/48/190145045_429f59feb6.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/61/190144980_5510e595bc.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/72/190144906_f68e0477d5.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/45/190144871_4cceec36fa.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/66/190144794_ff328cb139.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/46/190144691_3b26538e5a.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/72/190144665_e01028936d.jpg

A few more in my Flickr Stream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingbadger/sets/72157594199999910/)

[Radiohead]

Some from Marwell today

http://static.flickr.com/56/190126969_e95e485e57_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/48/190126900_524e9781ab_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/76/190114155_cd9ae45676_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/42/190114642_24355d2260_o.jpg

I theme these "Texture"

http://static.flickr.com/70/190114852_860b051b3c_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/48/190114513_7f5542724a_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/48/190127063_d96c266111_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/46/190126510_c3d1571f82_o.jpg

[GreyJackal]

Beat you ;)

[Radiohead]

:lol:

[busterboy]

Great timing chaps. :lol:

[john.hem]

Greyjackal I like number 3 and number 1 from Radiohead.

John

[Fozzybear]

http://static.flickr.com/46/190144691_3b26538e5a.jpg

Excellent Capybara shot! :lol: :thumbs:

[GreyJackal]

We watched him get in it and once he was there his face just says "What?" :D

[mnementh]

Some from me ...

http://static.flickr.com/48/190177919_20aeaf6992_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/64/190176238_04bd3aaf86_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/72/190178335_6250cb94dd_o.jpg


rest are here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robgallop/sets/72157594200047122/)

[lticket]

http://gallery.tickett.net/data/media/95/bfly.jpg

http://gallery.tickett.net/data/media/95/bfly5.jpg

http://gallery.tickett.net/data/media/95/birdinflight.jpg

http://gallery.tickett.net/data/media/95/iguana3.jpg

http://gallery.tickett.net/data/media/95/rodent.jpg

Still got some to process from today; all the ones i've done so far on the gallery: http://gallery.tickett.net/categories.php?cat_id=95

[Highlander]

Love your 'texture' shot RH :thumbs:

Took 20-30 shots trying to get this dragonfly in flight, with plenty of 'sky' shots. Started of zoomed in at 400mm trying to follow it, but failed miserably. Then went back to 100mm (on a Canon 100-400mm L) and just pointed the camera in the general direction. This isn't brilliant, but if you've ever tried this, you'll know how difficult it is!!

Brown Hawker in Flight ...
http://static.flickr.com/50/190836845_7191b3ab23_o.jpg

[r.vernon1]

Here is my first attempt. Starting to get into this semi-seriously.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1080677.jpg

Mainly do Ice Hockey, during the season. Though I should go through my Animal collection and post more here.

Rob

[bubbahotep]

Some photos from my big cat photo shoot day earlier this year.

http://static.flickr.com/59/190083902_882171268f.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/64/190082865_5c8a22eb57.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/63/190083534_f04c422474.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/58/190083433_096d9cb752.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/59/190083230_db16b6efe2.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/74/190083782_514dc08c1f.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/61/190082998_3f68cc1433.jpg

[john.hem]

Wow, some great shots of these animals. Where did you do the big cat photo shoot?

John

[bubbahotep]

Hi John,

Thanks for the comment's, means a lot coming from someone as accomplished as yourself. :notworthy

Did it with a company called wildarena, they do a lot of safari's, photodays etc. This was at a wildlife breeding programme centre in Kent (used to be the centre run by born free association I think), it was an absolutely fantastic day though, the access to the Cats was through one wire fence only so was able to get much closer than at a zoo etc. Actually managed to stroke a tiger, which is pretty humbling to say the least.

Highly recommend there days though, (do a variety of courses and photodays with a wide range of subjects - www.wildarena.com)

I go on safari with them in september to the Masa Mara where they are also organising my wedding!! :thumbs:

[emeyedeejay]

http://static.flickr.com/74/190083782_514dc08c1f.jpg

:clap:

[mnementh]

Great shots :clap:

[GreyJackal]

Grrrrrreat!

Ahem

[john.hem]

I go on safari with them in september to the Masa Mara where they are also organising my wedding!! :thumbs:

Make sure you have some lenses on your wedding present list. :lol:

John

[Highlander]

Some superb shots there bubbahotep.
It looks like you startled that first tiger. You still got all your limbs? :D

[bubbahotep]

Thanks for the comments peeps...

chance would be a fine thing John, :suspect: expect the wedding present list has been done already and there will be no camera bits on there!! :cry:

[bubbahotep]

One quick limb check later... Yup all fine and dandy!! although scary thing was the big Siberian had trashed the door on its enclosure(from its's hut into the enclosure) the night before. the door was made of 5mm plate steel, when the tiger had finished it looked like a bit of corregated iron, was bent over in several places (almost folded like a towel) with a fair few punture marks from its teeth straight through!! :eek:

[Fozzybear]

Blimey!

Moving on to slightly safer wildlife, here's a couple of collared doves taken from my bedroom window:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/202024459/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/57/202024459_98afeb27a5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Under surveillance" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/202023008/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/58/202023008_8b5a9c27c8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Doves on a Streetsign" /></a>

[John C]

Do giant Amazonian fish count?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_the_monkey/206009419/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/66/206009419_7da805240e.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Arpamai" /></a>

Shame to see this thread languishing elsewhere than the front page, I thought.

[fountainhead]

Thats looks great the glass must have been very clean it looks very clear the pictures sharp too

[fountainhead]

A couple of test shots in the garden

http://static.flickr.com/86/206351548_3bbef7eba1_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/87/206372636_ca24982291_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/84/206372635_6c8b04835e_o.jpg

[John C]

Thanks frank - I reckon I lucked out and got a bit of the glass that hadn't had little noses and hands on it all morning :) As for sharpness - that's the 50mm f/1.8 all over - best £60 I ever spent :)

Great shots from you there - as I commented on flickr, I like the second best - great placement in the frame, and a really nice "pose" by the bird.

[john.hem]

Nice shots fountainhead. What focal length.

John

[fountainhead]

Thankyou Mr C. and thankyou very much for helping Mr. ssb out this week

Thanks John H it's a 300mm f/4L lens taken in the garden so i got quite close, it's time we had some more from you as I always enjoy seeing them,

[r.vernon1]

Here are some I did, not much cop, but I am getting there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1080880.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1080904.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1080935.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1080948.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1090023.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1090050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1090077.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1090104.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1090129.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1090170.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/fluffyfred/P1090204.jpg

Rob

[john.hem]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/LittleEgret03.jpg

John

[fountainhead]

Cracking shot of the Egret there John great exposure

[RobinL]

I went to Monkey World today. A great learning experience, the lighting was poor. My first experience shooting manual focus (because of the cages)...it turns out that I got more "hits" this way than I usually get with auto focus.

They are a bit grainy, and not all spectacularly good shots, but I hope they are a bit of fun to look at anyway. I'm though they would come out worse, so I was quite happy just to get a few keepers.

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7093/img2913vn9.jpg


http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/5473/img2879qr1.jpg


http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/6978/img2816bq1.jpg

[RobinL]

http://img312.imageshack.us/img312/6015/img2938dm6.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/5879/img2931yo6.jpg

[fountainhead]

You've caught some very nice exprssions no2s my favourite and to say you took them thruogh the wire they are very good

[Boink!]

Very well done and for the first three, somewhat sad.

[RobinL]

:) The first one is of a very young baby. Monkey World looks after monkeys which have been ceased by the authorities, so many of them have been maltreated in the past. The conditions at the park are excellent. It was dark, cloudy and all of those pictures are indoors. The hardest thing to combat was the glass viewing windows, which were grimy from kids' hands and faces!

[roar349]

Not sure if these are Wildlife or Macro, but here goes (all taken on a Powershot A60)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/119_1998.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/119_1991.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/119_1990.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/119_1989.jpg

And a first photoshop effort from the previous pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/roar349/caterpillar1.jpg

[skenaja]

There's been a couple of caterpillar pics posted today in the Macro thread... This one's a Comma Butterfly caterpillar (Polygonia c-album (http://www.leps.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/PolygCalbum.htm))

[john.hem]

Baby Orangutan
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Baby-Orangutan.jpg

Lion
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Lion.jpg

Lion again
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Lion1.jpg

Macaw
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Macaw.jpg

Macaw close-up
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/Macaw3.jpg

Rhinocerous Hornbill with slight gaussian blur added.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/RhinocerousHornbill.jpg

John

[ifijay]

Lovely shots John. The Hornbill is beautifully done. You've captured the eye to perfection.

[bubbahotep]

Fantastic shots as usual john!!! :notworthy Love the Hornbill!!! Any chance you could post some not so good pictures to make us all feel a little better e.g some with your thumb or finger straddling the lense?? :)

[fountainhead]

Fantastic shots as usual john!!! :notworthy Love the Hornbill!!! Any chance you could post some not so good pictures to make us all feel a little better e.g some with your thumb or finger straddling the lense?? :)


What he said fantastic all of them

[cat]

Any dragonfly experts? would like to know what this stumpy bodied little fellow is...

http://www.snappycat.co.uk/unidentdragonfly.jpg


not a great photo... end of zoom and photoshopped to within an inch of its life :lol:

[Highlander]

My (uneducated) guess would be a common darter?

[bubbahotep]

Hi Cat,

No expert could be a common darter or yellow winged darter... both have yellow/brown abdomen's... not very sure though....

[cat]

cheers guys - googled 'common darter' and looks identical :thumbs:

[GreyJackal]

Crow

http://static.flickr.com/59/210413878_42f772ae1a.jpg

Seagull

http://static.flickr.com/64/210412877_7b18f7256d.jpg

Deer

http://static.flickr.com/84/210412855_aa6b59cfe9.jpg

All on the Isle of Arran last weekend.

[john.hem]

I think No.1 is a Jackdaw and No.2 Herring Gull. Nice photographs.

John

[John C]

Yay for that Deer greyjackal - that's just a lovely shot, made all the better by the fact that it looks ever so slightly unhinged.

A deer on the edge, if you will.

[GreyJackal]

It was utterly fearless. Looked well odd straight on like that though.

http://static.flickr.com/68/210359750_2391045be5.jpg

[puddleduck]

Just getting around to sorting out the "Wildlife" part of my Alaska trip :)

Landscapey type stuff I posted here...

http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=436537&highlight=alaska

A few wildlife shots, loads more to come I suspect....

Alaskan Musk Ox

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Alaska2006/DSC6919_web.jpg

Fishing

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Alaska2006/DSC_1225_web.jpg

Ground Squirrel

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Alaska2006/DSC_1580_web.jpg

Moose!

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Alaska2006/DSC6929_web.jpg

Brown Bear (rare 500mm shot, normally I could get closer!)

http://odysseus-software.co.uk/photos/albums/Alaska2006/DSC_1059_web.jpg

[GreyJackal]

I think No.1 is a Jackdaw and No.2 Herring Gull. Nice photographs.

John

"Scabby Craw" and "****ehawk" :D According to the locals anyway ;)

[John C]

It was utterly fearless. Looked well odd straight on like that though.

http://static.flickr.com/68/210359750_2391045be5.jpg

Chuff me!

You went to Northern Exposure?

:nuts:

[fountainhead]

Nice shots there Andy that part of the world must be on every wildlife photograghers wish list I can't believe how close you getting to one of those bears.

[fountainhead]

http://static.flickr.com/74/213126831_896410855c_o.jpg

[RomerojpgX]

fountainhead what sort of distance were you from her? I see them in the trees, but so far away they would barley show up, and they also seem to see me a long time before I see them. So they run.

[fountainhead]

I was only about 8 - 10 ft away with a 12x zoom panasonic Z5 The Squirrel comes to a feeder in the woods

[tinder]

Spotted this pair while i was stumbling around a derelict building this afternoon:

http://static.flickr.com/78/213218661_7683c97654_o.jpg

[john.hem]

Nice swallows!

A couple from today.

Female House Sparrow.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/FemaleHouseSparrow.jpg

Blue Tit.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/BlueTit.jpg

John

[kipp]

You can feed the squirrels round here by hand :)

Although a lot of construction work has scared them away at the moment :(
hopefully they will come back when the work is done as there very funny & interesting to watch !

Heres one that comes to the garden regulary !

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kipp/213266129/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/213266129_20c70f6f5f_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Squirrel 2" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kipp/213270666/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/213270666_7de42efc6f_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Squirrel3" /></a>


Kipp

[fountainhead]

Lucky find there tinder Nice Shot of the Swallows

[ifijay]

Egyptian Goose

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifijay/213376101/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/213376101_67e7aa81f3_o.jpg" width="614" height="629" alt="Egyptian Goose" /></a>

[fountainhead]

Nice and sharp that ifajay nice definition on the feathers

[GreyJackal]

Spotted this pair while i was stumbling around a derelict building this afternoon:

http://static.flickr.com/78/213218661_7683c97654_o.jpg

Even the wildlife round his way looks worn out ;)

[john.hem]

Egyptian Goose

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifijay/213376101/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/213376101_67e7aa81f3_o.jpg" width="614" height="629" alt="Egyptian Goose" /></a>

Nice head shot.

John

[emeyedeejay]

Nice goose shot there ifijay - I must have been really close!

[PS. DJJ is sitting here looking at it going "Duck...duck... tuck,...duck ... etc. :lol:]

[ifijay]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Highlander]

White tigers (well just the one actually) at West Midlands Safari Park

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219322197/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/219322197_f2c7291e6b_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="White Tiger" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219468138/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/68/219468138_321090db7c_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="White Tiger" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219468140/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/70/219468140_0d31990a03_o.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="White Tiger" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219468147/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/219468147_cc8741a6b8_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="White Tiger" /></a>

[john.hem]

Nice photographs, one and four are my favourites. Those teeth look as if they could do some serious damage.

John

[fountainhead]

Cracking shots Highlander were they taken with your 100-400 and is there a good variety of birds and animals at the park, any more pictures

[Highlander]

Thanks fountainhead (and John).
Yes, they were taken with the 100-400.
There were the usual array of animals - lions, tigers, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras etc. But tbh, most of my shots were of the big cats. They have a website with what you wan expect there http://www.wmsp.co.uk . The one thing that's lacking there is monkeys, apes etc. I did get a few shots of other animals, but we were only there for a couple of hours, as the heavens opened about 2/3rds through the safari. I've not gone through them all yet, but here's a few more ...

Rhino
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219322202/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/70/219322202_19e3c079bf_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="White Rhinoceros" /></a>

Bengal Tiger
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219322198/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/59/219322198_8d89504cf7_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Bengal Tiger" /></a>

African Lion
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219322200/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/68/219322200_0ac5751bda_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="African Lion" /></a>

Zebra
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/219469498/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/219469498_d3eb1851d9_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Zebra" /></a>

Camel
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/220369685/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/61/220369685_0624bd5630_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Camel" /></a>

[fountainhead]

Thats a nice Lens very sharp nice shots

[Fozzybear]

Female House Sparrow.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/johnhem/FemaleHouseSparrow.jpg

The colours look a little funny here, but that is still superb - getting a close shot of small birds can be quite difficult - certainly the sparrows around here don't let you get that close!

Got a few gull shots yesterday at Aldeburgh. I haven't really identified the species yet as many are juviniles and difficult to ID (for me at least!):

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/223969459/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/77/223969459_3c707ce2d1.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Mine?" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/224309849/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/61/224309849_ee8357f711.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/224310348/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/224310348_6e78bb5ba8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Out for scraps I" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/224310861/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/224310861_e229fe682d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Out for scraps II" /></a>

These were shot on a Nikon D50 with Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G. I didn't take my 300mm f/4 as it's a bit heavy to lug about a shingle beach all day (we walked for miles!) and I wasn't sure we'd get any photo opportunities - I was wrong about the second part though, it was a great day with very moody skies!

[Fozzybear]

Another gull shot from yesterday:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/224363195/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/224363195_5b88f97716.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Riding the sea breeze" /></a>

[sworrall]

not strictly wild but its life.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sworrall/223939894/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/223939894_a0896ea440.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Hello Ducky" /></a>

[ifijay]

A couple of pictures taken with my new Sigma 50-500mm

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifijay/229283265/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/229283265_c449ae33fb_o.jpg" width="800" height="530" alt="Swan" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifijay/229283266/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/229283266_011664652e_o.jpg" width="800" height="619" alt="Duck" /></a>

[john.hem]

Nice photographs, how are you enjoying your new lens.

John

[ifijay]

Nice photographs, how are you enjoying your new lens.

John
Thanks John. It's a bit of a monster, so it is going to take a bit of getting used to. Other than that I think it's a stunner.

[Fozzybear]

Pigeons flocking near my house on Monday. Something I've tried to photograph before but the restricted view from my window and from the garden makes them quite difficult to photograph - this is the first time I've managed to catch them:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/229338124/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/229338124_3141cf648f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Flocking" /></a>

Nikon D50 and Nikkor 300mm f/4 IF-ED

[mnementh]

Spotted - BW Conversion

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/robgallop/230354874/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/230354874_e5d1be4156.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Spotted - BW Conversion" /></a>