Birds you've seen today

I think it's probably grass but I could be wrong.

Collared Doves but no,definitely no Passenger Pigeons here.

I think it is known as beginners luck.

Sue.

You are either a very talented beginner or you have more than your fair share of luck. Which one is it?

regards Roy J.

I would very much like it to be the first one, but I'm afraid it's the second, as I was just playing with different settings and certainly not doing something specific.

But Roy, I can build on what bit of talent I have and with all the positive response I am getting, it certainly helps me feel good about my abilities and what I can achieve with some learning and practice.

 I feel a group hug coming on  .

POE

I have submitted a picture of a Nuthatch in an attitude that you might like.  This one was going down the feeder head first.

Sue.

You have produced some outstanding pictures.  Just keep on with the practice and try to remember which setting produce the best results. The auto settings on the camera will give great results without you having to worry to much about exposure etc. 

Have you tried the 'burst' facility yet. I just love using the in the sports setting.  Keeping that button pressed while following a bird in flight and just letting the camera click away taking pictures and at the same time doing the hard work re the focus etc is lovely. I have never owned a camera that had this type of function and i have made a lot of use of it.  Mind you, you will find that a few pictures are rubbish, but there will be some great shots in there.

Regards Roy J.

I'm searching for that burst facility, not finding yet. I tried to take a picture of a dove taking off but everything was fuzzy once it started flying. I guess it will take practice.

One day I want to take pictures like these http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/640262

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/639569

and these http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/639443

Hi Sue. I have had a look at the pictures that you linked above.  I agree that they are great picture. If you want to take pictures of that quality all you need to do is to get the right gear.  I have cheched out the camera that this chap is using.  The Canon D1, body only, is priced at £4,799.00p. and the lens a Canon EF 500 Is is a bargain at £3,999.00p. I just hope that legacy of yours will stretch that far.  If not, perhaps your ever loving husband will buy you it for Christmas. Perhaps if you check round the web you might find this gear a bit cheaper. Sorry that the prices are in sterling, i dont know how that would compare with the price over there.

Oh dear, i think i am on the wrong thread again.  It gets complicated.

Regards roy J. 

I wouldn't dream of buying equipment that expensive unless I were a professional, which I will never be. It's a dream, and I'm happy with that.

I am quite happy with my new camera, and foresee some great times with it, it will suffice.

Hi Sue.

I had a male Bullfinch in the garden today, they are not exactly rare, but I don't think that I have ever seen one in this condition before. I think he was out to impress his girl friend, because he seemed to have his best suit on. His colours appeared to glow and he was so clean and shiny that you would think he had been given a coat of varnish. Of course, my camera was up in the house and I was at the far end of the garden at the time, so no pictures. Sods law.

How is your Bittern doing, any close encounters of the feline kind?

Regards Roy J.

Oh Roy, I know just what you mean about the Bullfinch, way, way back when I was a young woman, I think I was 21 or 22, I saw this male Bullfinch in our cherry tree, and it was so shiny, glossy, bright, it was absolutely stunning, and I think that was the moment I became a bird watcher.

I'm sad that you didn't have your camera, but I have that image from way back, still in my head, so I can visualize your bird.

The Bittern is still here, in our neighbours garden. We have terrible winds today, gusts up to 50 MPH or more, and the poor little thing is struggling to stay upright.

See my new avatar, this was taken on our trip to Oregon last week.