Wildlife Photos

turbo

This is the closest that I have managed to get to a GHB since I got the 30D and the 100-400mm. Tight crop from an image shot at 400mm f/l. I'd say he was 100 yards away. The color is not too good because I still had unresolved color-space conflicts (software, plug-in, camera) at the time. Check out all the noise/grain!

SpaceTiger

Wow, that is skittish! The birds we have the most trouble getting close to are the kingfishers and flickers.

larkspur

This guy kept flying around and landing right in front of me. So close I had to move back to fit it in the shot sometimes. Some fishermen said this was his territory and favorite fishing hole. There were about 4 males flying around battling it out screaming at each other.

It was also 7:30 am just before they released water from the dam and there were lots of places for it to stand. After they released the water all the birds took off for about 1/2 hours. I could feel the air temp drop so the water must have been cold.

This one is not cropped to show how close it is.

SpaceTiger

Here are some of our heron shots. From the Everglades:





From home:





I guess you just have to go somewhere where it's worth their while to stick around.

turbo

Wonderful shots! I like the last one - lots of character.

larkspur

More great ones ST. Was it an overcast day when shots 1,2,and 4 were taken? I like the color saturation and soft lighting in these shots.

larkspur

Now I can see that shot #2 must have been in the shade as there is a spot of sunlight on the grass in the upper left corner....

SpaceTiger

We try to avoid overcast days whenever possible, but we also avoid direct sunlight. I don't remember the exact situation with these shots, but we usually go out in the morning or evening when skies are clear. We had a little less control over the lighting in the Everglades, but if I recall, most of the days turned out pretty nice anyhow. The first two were taken at the Anhinga Trail and probably on a sunny morning. We have some even closer shots from there, but I don't have access to them at the moment.

turbo

Because some birds (I won't mention any names, but it rhymes with "coldfinches") throw away bout half of the seeds that they take out of the feeders, we have lots of sunflower seeds on the ground. As a result, I'm raising a thriving herd of squirrels. Since squirrel-herding is not a profitable enterprise, I feel free to exploit them by photographing them. I am a squirrel paparazzi. This little guy headed up the stairs to the deck and saw me sitting up there, then retreated to the herb garden and perched on a landscaping timber to give me hell. If he becomes famous, I could tell you stories....

larkspur

LOL Turbo that is a cute shot and even better story!

turbo

Thanks, larkspur! These guys s are cute as hell and as feisty as all get-out.

dontdisturbmycircles

Geez, so many nice pictures in this thread!!

Wish I had a good camera, we have had birds sitting on our fence all day.

larkspur

Went out early this morning and snapped a few:

Lisa!

Wow! How cute!
Thank you for sharing the pics.

Astronuc

Pregnant doe perhaps, or just well feed.

Nice pic of the bluebird. We see them once in while.

turbo

Oh, yeah! That doe is going to be dropping at least one fawn this month - more likely two. Here in Maine they generally won't twin until they are at least 3 or 4 years old, but in milder climes, they frequently twin at 2.

larkspur

Thanks Lisa!