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[GracesWarbler]

P. S. In regard to the Osprey photos above, does anyone have tips for keeping flying birds in focus?  I really wish I hadn't missed the focus on the bird above, but I took about ten photos of it and none of them are completely sharp.  I'm using Nikon's auto servo autofocus, which is supposed to switch between single-servo and continuous-servo as appropriate.  I've also been using a single autofocus point and trying to keep it centered on the bird.  My aperture is wide open, which I guess isn't helping either.  Should I be trying a different focusing technique (e.g. continuous-servo, dynamic-area instead of single-point, and/or smaller aperture)?  I've seen some fantastically sharp flying birds in this thread!

[Ned]

The Chukar

I subscribe to an App that notifies me when an unusual bird shows up in my area and sure enough, this one was right where they said he would be !

This guy is certainly unusual on the Coast of New Hampshire across the street from the beach !  He certainly didn't fly here with those stubby little wings and plump little body   ; - )

He was very friendly and calm,  my presence was obviously no cause of concern to him.  Every bit the handsome, self assured gentleman.

I swear if I had some cracked corn he would have come to my hand !  Likely an escapee from some nearby farm,  it was a pleasure to have made his acquaintance.

[pictaker]

18 hours ago, GracesWarbler said:

P. S. In regard to the Osprey photos above, does anyone have tips for keeping flying birds in focus?  I really wish I hadn't missed the focus on the bird above, but I took about ten photos of it and none of them are completely sharp.  I'm using Nikon's auto servo autofocus, which is supposed to switch between single-servo and continuous-servo as appropriate.  I've also been using a single autofocus point and trying to keep it centered on the bird.  My aperture is wide open, which I guess isn't helping either.  Should I be trying a different focusing technique (e.g. continuous-servo, dynamic-area instead of single-point, and/or smaller aperture)?  I've seen some fantastically sharp flying birds in this thread!

Continous focus is usually what you would use for flying birds, HOwever,there are so many variables,One is shutter Speed,you need a minimum of 1600 for a shutter speed to catch something flying, focus is a catch all, i use single point but many others I know use group,I am comfortable with single point and confident with it so thats what I use, try to get as close as possible that will get you better pics, Do a search on youtube for flying birds and photos and you will find a lot of videos to get you started...

Edited August 6, 2018 by pictaker

[patbirddude]

Had a nice Roseate Tern today!

Roseate Tern by Patrick Felker, on Flickr

[bearcat6]

[The Bird Nuts]

Greater Yellowlegs

[GracesWarbler]

4 hours ago, pictaker said:

Continous focus is usually what you would use for flying birds, HOwever,there are so many variables,One is shutter Speed,you need a minimum of 1600 for a shutter speed to catch something flying, focus is a catch all, i use single point but many others I know use group,I am comfortable with single point and confident with it so thats what I use, try to get as close as possible that will get you better pics, Do a search on youtube for flying birds and photos and you will find a lot of videos to get you started...

Thanks!  I'll definitely keep working on it.

For now, how about some yellow!  (Yellow is one of my favorite colors, so I'm glad some of the birds decided to hang out near the flowers.)

More yellow, for good measure:

[GracesWarbler]

12 hours ago, Ned said:

The Chukar

I subscribe to an App that notifies me when an unusual bird shows up in my area and sure enough, this one was right where they said he would be !

This guy is certainly unusual on the Coast of New Hampshire across the street from the beach !  He certainly didn't fly here with those stubby little wings and plump little body   ; - )

He was very friendly and calm,  my presence was obviously no cause of concern to him.  Every bit the handsome, self assured gentleman.

I swear if I had some cracked corn he would have come to my hand !  Likely an escapee from some nearby farm,  it was a pleasure to have made his acquaintance.

That is a magnificent and stately bird.

[Ned]

1 hour ago, GracesWarbler said:

That is a magnificent and stately bird.

Happy to bring him to you !

[Ned]

Yellow it is !

How about a Yellow Warbler ?   Light as a Feather ! 

Edited August 7, 2018 by Ned

[jak]

Immature Osprey caught up close at the San Joaquin Marsh Ecological Reserve in Irvine, CA 

[Ned]

More Yellow ?

How about a Common Yellowthroat ?

Here is an example of a handsome adult male.

[bearcat6]

[mossyhorn]

[Johnd]

Juvenile Yellow crown night heron Ft Worth TX Nature Center 8-18

 

 

Juvenile Yellow crown night heron Ft Worth TX Nature Center 8-18 by johnd1964, on Flickr

[Ned]

An image of a loving couple entitled "Dance Me"

 

A Link to the video that inspired the shot:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGorjBVag0I

 

"Dance Me to the End of Love" by Leonard Cohen

 

(worth the watch, viewed over 39 million times !)

Edited August 8, 2018 by Ned

[pictaker]

[bearcat6]

[JDA]

Green Heron - Portrait

Green Heron by Johnny, on Flickr

Monarch

Monarch by Johnny, on Flickr

[Ned]

One of my favorites.... The Red-shouldered Hawk !

Like most raptors, the male (L) is smaller and and stockier than the female (R)

[Ned]

The image above was made while this breeding pair took a break from nest building one February near Maitland, FL (winter home of Jack Kerouac)

[Ned]

27 minutes ago, Ned said:

 

I should have said a "one" winter home.

 

29 minutes ago, Ned said:

(winter home of Jack Kerouac)

 

[MarkG]

Indigo Bunting by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr

[bearcat6]

[patbirddude]

Not the greatest picture, but a pretty good bird. Little Egret

Little Egret by Patrick Felker, on Flickr