Here's my first photo of the new year, a northern shrike:
We were driving around to see what we could see, I told hubby I was scanning the tree tops for shrikes and not a minute later I spotted this one. It was pretty far away so not sharp, but I rather like the softness of it. Kind of a contrast with the bird's behavior.
Close by a pub wherein I've supped a fair number of pints over the years.
Your shrike strikes the pose. I'm always amazed at how light birds are, given the apparent size.
Was your photo taken from under water?
Here's my first photo of the new year, a northern shrike:
We were driving around to see what we could see, I told hubby I was scanning the tree tops for shrikes and not a minute later I spotted this one. It was pretty far away so not sharp, but I rather like the softness of it. Kind of a contrast with the bird's behavior.
And I'd never even heard of it. Didn't even know in what country it was located.
Well, if nothing else was learned today, I did learn what the Grand Union Canal would be. I browsed many, many wonderful pictures of it – prompted to do so by your barely undulating shot. I browsed so many pictures that I didn't stop to read the history. As I find old canals interesting, I will try to later.
@Daenerys
Great Northern Shrike pic D! What a neat bird. That white over the bill is a key character of Northern. On Loggerhead the black mask connects narrowly over the bill, and the mask is thicker, being above the eye as well. Northern has no black mask above eye. Way bigger bill on Northern. They can take birds nearly as big as themselves with that hooked beak. I saw a Loggerhead ride a Tanager to the ground once, but it fought back and got away. The Northern don't get as far south as me... this is what you get for living in snow! Lucky you!
Was your photo taken from under water?
Here's my first photo of the new year, a northern shrike:
We were driving around to see what we could see, I told hubby I was scanning the tree tops for shrikes and not a minute later I spotted this one. It was pretty far away so not sharp, but I rather like the softness of it. Kind of a contrast with the bird's behavior.
up
5 users have voted.
—
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
@edg
I LOVE these Saguaros like this. Corny as it may seem in one way. I have seen these in person there (in AZ) and it looks great! Its like a living cartoon, a giant cactus in Christmas lights. Its like Disneyland. Thanks for reminding me...
Better late than never. These are Saguaro cacti in front of neighbor's houses. Northerners decorate trees. Desert dwellers decorate cacti.
up
5 users have voted.
—
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
So I took my camera and new lens to the zoo. First time I've really used the camera since July.
up
16 users have voted.
—
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
@boriscleto
GREAT pics BC! Love that Goldeneye! The Troupial is nice too, as is the Wood Duck. Is that a Ringed Teal maybe (not a U.S. native waterfowl)? There is someone in the teeny town I live near that has those blue frogs, one of the 'poison arrow' frog group from Central and So. America. Hers are captive raised, safe to handle, as after 20-30 generations in captivity they lose toxicity. I kept some of the wild red and black ones in late 60's and early 70's. You had to be careful with them, gloves, no open cuts. I think most around nowadays are 'de-toxified'.
So I took my camera and new lens to the zoo. First time I've really used the camera since July.
up
5 users have voted.
—
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
@dystopian
There are several in the tropical aviary.
It was just quick visit to test the new lens. It's not a bad lens but it doesn't have the reack of my 150-450, its only 300mm...but I won it in contest on a forum I've been a member of forever, and it doesn't weigh 2 kilos...
I'll be doing a longer visit later in the month, admission is free if you have a camera. The county has a photo contest to get people to visit the county parks in January...
#3 GREAT pics BC! Love that Goldeneye! The Troupial is nice too, as is the Wood Duck. Is that a Ringed Teal maybe (not a U.S. native waterfowl)? There is someone in the teeny town I live near that has those blue frogs, one of the 'poison arrow' frog group from Central and So. America. Hers are captive raised, safe to handle, as after 20-30 generations in captivity they lose toxicity. I kept some of the wild red and black ones in late 60's and early 70's. You had to be careful with them, gloves, no open cuts. I think most around nowadays are 'de-toxified'.
up
6 users have voted.
—
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
@boriscleto
I'd say this lens is real sharp, your pics are great. As you likely know, as a rule any fixed focal length lens is sharper than any zoom lens. You just cannot get the resolution out of zoom lenses that you can out of a fixed focal length. That is why all the top bird photogs use those Canon 400, 500, and 600mm lenses. Never see one with a zoom. I would need to upgrade my vehicle before I got one of those rigs though. I hate lugging that weight. Birding all day it adds up. Can't wait to see your spring warblers!
I use the website's uploader so the resolution on what I post here is barely passable just for illustrative purposes. And of course not what I am looking at. Obviously piping them in as you and others do makes for a much better view.
It was just quick visit to test the new lens. It's not a bad lens but it doesn't have the reack of my 150-450, its only 300mm...but I won it in contest on a forum I've been a member of forever, and it doesn't weigh 2 kilos...
I'll be doing a longer visit later in the month, admission is free if you have a camera. The county has a photo contest to get people to visit the county parks in January...
up
5 users have voted.
—
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
@dystopian
Just a little lightweight consumer zoom. I already had an older 55-300 with screw drive AF, but this one has a really nice silent focusing motor. And I mean silent, you can hear my other lenses with ring motors focusing, this one is silent...
I can throw this one in the bag with my 18-135 and have most situations covered at less total weight with the camera than the big lens weighs alone.
That being said, the 150-450 is a really superb lens. Equal to the currently available Pentax 300/4 with a 1.4x tele-converter.
#3.1.1 I'd say this lens is real sharp, your pics are great. As you likely know, as a rule any fixed focal length lens is sharper than any zoom lens. You just cannot get the resolution out of zoom lenses that you can out of a fixed focal length. That is why all the top bird photogs use those Canon 400, 500, and 600mm lenses. Never see one with a zoom. I would need to upgrade my vehicle before I got one of those rigs though. I hate lugging that weight. Birding all day it adds up. Can't wait to see your spring warblers!
I use the website's uploader so the resolution on what I post here is barely passable just for illustrative purposes. And of course not what I am looking at. Obviously piping them in as you and others do makes for a much better view.
up
3 users have voted.
—
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
Love that reflection. Just enough bend to give the windows a perfect Dali effect. Awesome!
GREAT photo!
up
3 users have voted.
—
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Here is the Loggerhead Shrike - they are in steep decline in many areas.
This is a meadowlark. Probably an Eastern. Meadowlarks are incredibly difficult to ID in winter when in fresh plumage. Where I live you can have both Eastern and Western in the same flock. When they sing, you can ID them from a mile. Put a silent one in front of most birders and besides using range or what they know is in their area, most are just guessing.
This is a White-winged Dove family outing to the birdbath, no doubt juniors first visit. The male is on the right, female in center, the juvenile on left in water. In breeding colors the male has a mauve haze over crown, nape and sides of neck the female lacks. His bare blue skin around eye is larger and the base of upper mandible is bluish. The females bare skin around eye is barely bluish, the base of upper mandible has pinkish in it. The juvenile has pale or colored bill, no bare skin around eye, barely a hash mark at lower cheek. The parents escort it to the bath to show it what it, and water is about.
Thanks all for the great photos!
Peace and love
up
9 users have voted.
—
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Here is the Loggerhead Shrike - they are in steep decline in many areas.
This is a meadowlark. Probably an Eastern. Meadowlarks are incredibly difficult to ID in winter when in fresh plumage. Where I live you can have both Eastern and Western in the same flock. When they sing, you can ID them from a mile. Put a silent one in front of most birders and besides using range or what they know is in their area, most are just guessing.
This is a White-winged Dove family outing to the birdbath, no doubt juniors first visit. The male is on the right, female in center, the juvenile on left in water. In breeding colors the male has a mauve haze over crown, nape and sides of neck the female lacks. His bare blue skin around eye is larger and the base of upper mandible is bluish. The females bare skin around eye is barely bluish, the base of upper mandible has pinkish in it. The juvenile has pale or colored bill, no bare skin around eye, barely a hash mark at lower cheek. The parents escort it to the bath to show it what it, and water is about.
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
Comments
Evening Bollox, everyone
Was your photo taken from under water?
Here's my first photo of the new year, a northern shrike:
We were driving around to see what we could see, I told hubby I was scanning the tree tops for shrikes and not a minute later I spotted this one. It was pretty far away so not sharp, but I rather like the softness of it. Kind of a contrast with the bird's behavior.
This shit is bananas.
Just a reflection of the Grand Union Canal
Close by a pub wherein I've supped a fair number of pints over the years.
Your shrike strikes the pose. I'm always amazed at how light birds are, given the apparent size.
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
Grand Union Canal
And I'd never even heard of it. Didn't even know in what country it was located.
Well, if nothing else was learned today, I did learn what the Grand Union Canal would be. I browsed many, many wonderful pictures of it – prompted to do so by your barely undulating shot. I browsed so many pictures that I didn't stop to read the history. As I find old canals interesting, I will try to later.
beautiful Northern shrike D!
Great Northern Shrike pic D! What a neat bird. That white over the bill is a key character of Northern. On Loggerhead the black mask connects narrowly over the bill, and the mask is thicker, being above the eye as well. Northern has no black mask above eye. Way bigger bill on Northern. They can take birds nearly as big as themselves with that hooked beak. I saw a Loggerhead ride a Tanager to the ground once, but it fought back and got away. The Northern don't get as far south as me... this is what you get for living in snow! Lucky you!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Christmas Cacti
Better late than never. These are Saguaro cacti in front of neighbor's houses. Northerners decorate trees. Desert dwellers decorate cacti.
awesome cactus edg!
I LOVE these Saguaros like this. Corny as it may seem in one way. I have seen these in person there (in AZ) and it looks great! Its like a living cartoon, a giant cactus in Christmas lights. Its like Disneyland. Thanks for reminding me...
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
It was a nice day yesterday
So I took my camera and new lens to the zoo. First time I've really used the camera since July.
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
great pics BC!
GREAT pics BC! Love that Goldeneye! The Troupial is nice too, as is the Wood Duck. Is that a Ringed Teal maybe (not a U.S. native waterfowl)? There is someone in the teeny town I live near that has those blue frogs, one of the 'poison arrow' frog group from Central and So. America. Hers are captive raised, safe to handle, as after 20-30 generations in captivity they lose toxicity. I kept some of the wild red and black ones in late 60's and early 70's. You had to be careful with them, gloves, no open cuts. I think most around nowadays are 'de-toxified'.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Yes a Ringed-teal.
There are several in the tropical aviary.
It was just quick visit to test the new lens. It's not a bad lens but it doesn't have the reack of my 150-450, its only 300mm...but I won it in contest on a forum I've been a member of forever, and it doesn't weigh 2 kilos...
I'll be doing a longer visit later in the month, admission is free if you have a camera. The county has a photo contest to get people to visit the county parks in January...
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
these are great pix BC
I'd say this lens is real sharp, your pics are great. As you likely know, as a rule any fixed focal length lens is sharper than any zoom lens. You just cannot get the resolution out of zoom lenses that you can out of a fixed focal length. That is why all the top bird photogs use those Canon 400, 500, and 600mm lenses. Never see one with a zoom. I would need to upgrade my vehicle before I got one of those rigs though. I hate lugging that weight. Birding all day it adds up. Can't wait to see your spring warblers!
I use the website's uploader so the resolution on what I post here is barely passable just for illustrative purposes. And of course not what I am looking at. Obviously piping them in as you and others do makes for a much better view.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
The lens is a 55-300mm F4.5-6.3
Just a little lightweight consumer zoom. I already had an older 55-300 with screw drive AF, but this one has a really nice silent focusing motor. And I mean silent, you can hear my other lenses with ring motors focusing, this one is silent...
I can throw this one in the bag with my 18-135 and have most situations covered at less total weight with the camera than the big lens weighs alone.
That being said, the 150-450 is a really superb lens. Equal to the currently available Pentax 300/4 with a 1.4x tele-converter.
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
great pic BR!
Love that reflection. Just enough bend to give the windows a perfect Dali effect. Awesome!
GREAT photo!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
great pix all!
Here is the Loggerhead Shrike - they are in steep decline in many areas.
This is a meadowlark. Probably an Eastern. Meadowlarks are incredibly difficult to ID in winter when in fresh plumage. Where I live you can have both Eastern and Western in the same flock. When they sing, you can ID them from a mile. Put a silent one in front of most birders and besides using range or what they know is in their area, most are just guessing.
This is a White-winged Dove family outing to the birdbath, no doubt juniors first visit. The male is on the right, female in center, the juvenile on left in water. In breeding colors the male has a mauve haze over crown, nape and sides of neck the female lacks. His bare blue skin around eye is larger and the base of upper mandible is bluish. The females bare skin around eye is barely bluish, the base of upper mandible has pinkish in it. The juvenile has pale or colored bill, no bare skin around eye, barely a hash mark at lower cheek. The parents escort it to the bath to show it what it, and water is about.
Thanks all for the great photos!
Peace and love
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
What is the bird on the left?
Happy New Year, y'all! Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Female Northern cardinal
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "