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Bird PhotographyNikon DSLRs and Lenses for bird photography  Rate Topic 
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Posted by blackfox: Fri Feb 22nd, 2019 17:17 1001st Post
Thanks Jonathon , it was a stunning day to be fair ,several targets to go at and we got every one of them ,the Kashmir goats on the mountain even played nicely , .. had a mega week and still got tons of really good stuff to process .. ..



Posted by blackfox: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 11:22 1002nd Post
another one from Fridays mega trek , a obliging turnstone 

is this my best side by jeff and jan  cohen, on Flickr



Posted by jk: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 12:36 1003rd Post
I wish my bird knowledge was better.
All those different names.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 12:53 1004th Post
jk wrote:
I wish my bird knowledge was better.
All those different names.
In Norfolk it's called a Stunrunner. :lol:



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Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 14:15 1005th Post
jk wrote:
I wish my bird knowledge was better.
All those different names.
There was a tv programme recently that showed a Cornish town where the Turnstones came up into the streets at high tide. They are waders and cant swim so avoid the incoming tide like the plague. They sit out high tide on the promenade and streets eating tourist bits like chips.
They are very easily photographed being close to humans so much. Not like here in Norfolk>:(



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 14:37 1006th Post
I am in Scotland taking pixs of Siskins with D500 with 500mm AF-S Lens. This is out at 15 feet so did not need x1.4 found local posing stick and put some food on it. Got plenty of good pixs today more to come when I get home. Try another session in morning.

Attachment: Siskin1288s.jpg (Downloaded 215 times)



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Posted by blackfox: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 17:08 1007th Post
a flock of curlews , a grab shot as I was debating with Robert whether to go when these flew past , came out rather well and suits a pano crop . best viewed full size . by clicking on pic and going to Flickr 

flocking curlews by jeff and jan  cohen, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 18:41 1008th Post
blackfox wrote:
a flock of curlews , a grab shot as I was debating with Robert whether to go when these flew past , came out rather well and suits a pano crop . best viewed full size . by clicking on pic and going to Flickr 

flocking curlews by jeff and jan  cohen, on Flickr
Have to say that's a terrific capture. And to get them so sharp from that distance. :bowing:



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Posted by chrisbet: Sun Feb 24th, 2019 19:31 1009th Post
best viewed full size . by clicking on pic and going to Flickr Actually you get the same image here on a desktop as you do on flickr



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Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 04:24 1010th Post
chrisbet wrote:
best viewed full size . by clicking on pic and going to Flickr Actually you get the same image here on a desktop as you do on flickr Agree the size is the same but theres more contrast on the Flickr version....eg the white dots on the wings are more punchy.



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Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 04:55 1011th Post
Ahh - I see what you mean - I assume you inserted the flickr url into the upload icon or did a copy & paste?

Just as an experiment, try using the blue cross to upload directly to the server and paste into the post.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 08:29 1012th Post
Yes very good!



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 12:18 1013th Post
here's a direct post to the forum 



Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 12:21 1014th Post
as can be seen by the direct upload above the colour balance has been totally thrown out of kilter by a direct upload .in fact it looks like two totally different pictures 

back to the drawing board methinks



Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 12:22 1015th Post
That has done something odd to the colour!



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Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 12:28 1016th Post


Looks OK if I upload a screen shot !  Did you use the Blue cross button to upload fro your hard disk?



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 14:23 1017th Post
yep certainly did



Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 14:26 1018th Post
a Flickr cut and paste and a direct upload from desktop blue cross code 
is this my best side by jeff and jan  cohen, on Flickr

Attachment: is this my best side .jpg (Downloaded 164 times)



Posted by jk: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 15:34 1019th Post
Yes it is something about the way the image is rendered from the gallery compared to Flickr that really dulls the image quality.
I wish I understood the why of this but I acknowledge that it happens which is why I raised the topic about finding a better forum software.  Maybe Chris can comment on the why of this.



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 15:45 1020th Post
At least this proves it's not a freak , both shots have a direct  comparison . What the actual answer is I don't know , I have never come across this before on any other forum and I post on lots , even Facebook does a better direct upload than here ,, compression I understand but what's altering the colours so drastically ?



Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 16:16 1021st Post
I think it has something to do with resampling the image on resizing - I have turned it off in the blue cross upload routine now, so images will be at full resolution  and size - question is, can we contain them on the page!



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Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 16:22 1022nd Post
Well that one looked HUGE before posting but scaled down WITHOUT resampling but a big file - so the cost of good quality is storage space and processing time, colours are exactly as the original seen via image viewer on PC.

Have another go with uploading the original curlews image from your hard disc using the blue cross - let's see if it was the resampling doing the damage.



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Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 16:29 1023rd Post
It's not the rendering FROM the gallery, it's the uploading TO the gallery that is the issue - same resampling code is in the normal gallery upload routine AND in the PP photo gallery.

Edited to add - I have amended the Ultra gallery upload setting to preserve original images as well - so you can upload up to 5 images at a time to the gallery and preserve resolution.



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 16:38 1024th Post
Will re.post in a bit but surely the simple and cost effective answer is to host from Flickr



Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 16:43 1025th Post
Except that flickr changes the URLs so images disappear after a while to non flickr users. Also you need to leave the forum to upload the pics, then get the link to paste in to a post. Blue cross uploads from the forum direct to our server without leaving the post and if you want to post elsewhere you can use the forum url to your image.

Additionally, since the image is hosted on the same server as the forum, it will load faster than having to go out to the flickr server and pull the image down from there to display.



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 17:34 1026th Post
right try again using the blue cross code 

still no better ????



Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 18:11 1027th Post
weird when posted it was still that sludge blue , ten minutes later its larger and proper colour , is then something happening backstage ????



Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 18:13 1028th Post
try this one from today , direct up load not been posted elsewhere yet 



Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 18:14 1029th Post
I do believe you have cracked it chris W.D



Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 18:23 1030th Post
I sincerely hope so!!!

I have done a cut & paste - left side of image is flickr - right is from the gallery.

Actually there is better definition from the gallery!



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Posted by chrisbet: Mon Feb 25th, 2019 18:30 1031st Post
If you want to see the image at max size - click on the recent images thumbnail on the left of the main pages.

Here's an enlargement of part of the gallery image:



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Posted by jk: Tue Feb 26th, 2019 04:13 1032nd Post
That is much better.  In fact it is a world of difference.
Thanks Chris.



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Posted by blackfox: Tue Feb 26th, 2019 08:19 1033rd Post
try this one a slightly different pose . showing his wet breast feathers 



Posted by blackfox: Tue Feb 26th, 2019 17:38 1034th Post
one from yesterdays mega day out , I promise not to post all 600 shots 



Posted by blackfox: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 06:02 1035th Post
and another one 



Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 07:57 1036th Post
Is there room for me to put one up too? Another Sickin but next day D500 500mm AF-S FL at 15 feet through a double glazed window. Much softer early morning light.

Attachment: Siskin1319.jpg (Downloaded 79 times)



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Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 09:43 1037th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Is there room for me to put one up too? Another Sickin but next day  D500 500mm AF-S FL at 15 feet through a double glazed window. Much softer early morning light. Lovely soft light, Graham....perhaps a tad more contrast?



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Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 09:46 1038th Post
I wondered why I was getting tiny bird poo down the side of my car. 

It's a Long Tailed Narcissist.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 10:42 1039th Post
What fun, we also had some sun in Scotland

Attachment: Goldfinch1331s.jpg (Downloaded 69 times)



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 10:43 1040th Post
This is a slightly larger file from same shoot.

Attachment: Siskin1292A3s.jpg (Downloaded 68 times)



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Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 12:09 1041st Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
This is a slightly larger file from same shoot. I hope you brought that posing stick back home with you? It's a cracker!



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Feb 27th, 2019 14:02 1042nd Post
some lovely shots there graham



Posted by jk: Thu Feb 28th, 2019 12:44 1043rd Post
Great shots Graham.
The red faced thingy is very good.



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Feb 28th, 2019 12:45 1044th Post
high flying buzzard yesterday 



Posted by blackfox: Thu Feb 28th, 2019 12:47 1045th Post
female reed bunting yesterday big crop 



Posted by blackfox: Thu Feb 28th, 2019 12:48 1046th Post
another shot from yesterday a short eared owl diving in for lunch 



Posted by blackfox: Thu Feb 28th, 2019 12:50 1047th Post
and finally a short eared owl coming out of a backlit  misty marsh.



Posted by chrisbet: Thu Feb 28th, 2019 14:17 1048th Post
I like the high flying buzzard - I was watching one the other day while walking the dogs but it was way too high even if I had the Nikon with me - on the phone it was probably less than a pixel!



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Mar 2nd, 2019 11:46 1049th Post
Mostly Gulls in Titchfield Haven today but this Redshank came in reasonable range for the D850 and 500mm lens: 1/1250 sec f11 ISO 1250

Attachment: Redshank3378.jpg (Downloaded 336 times)



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Mar 2nd, 2019 11:55 1050th Post
These chaps were also out in the Solent today having fun in the sun and strong wind same camera and lens as above.

Attachment: Wind Surfing3400.jpg (Downloaded 324 times)



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Posted by Robert: Sat Mar 2nd, 2019 12:18 1051st Post
Nice Redshank Graham.

We get windsurfers here, quite popular off Walney Island, some of them take off, big time, maybe 30, 40 feet above the water, quite spectacular at time especially when the light is right.  The only issue is the wind farm which provides the background get's a bit dominant.



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Mar 2nd, 2019 12:38 1052nd Post
nice redshank graham , though I find the angle of the reeds very distracting . a bit more thought could have got the reeds straight and the birds reflection to.

  again with the windsurfer nice sharp shot but the top of the sail is missing .



Posted by jk: Sat Mar 2nd, 2019 13:39 1053rd Post
Nice image Graham.
Is that picture of the redshank lodged in Flickr or the forum database for your post?
I cant see the file location data.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Mar 3rd, 2019 10:26 1054th Post
It's been precipitating all day here...but life outdoors still goes on.....





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Posted by jk: Sun Mar 3rd, 2019 13:15 1055th Post
Obviously your Discovery attracts the birds.  :lol:



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 3rd, 2019 18:23 1056th Post
Eric build them a dry bird house? I had good weather in Scotland another D500 pix.

Attachment: Nuthatch1412.jpg (Downloaded 215 times)



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Posted by Iain: Mon Mar 4th, 2019 15:07 1057th Post
One from last week that I just processed.

DSC_4774 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Mar 5th, 2019 06:39 1058th Post
Nice shot Ian, here is another Siskin from Scotland.

Attachment: Siskun1195.jpg (Downloaded 170 times)



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Posted by Iain: Tue Mar 5th, 2019 08:21 1059th Post
Good detail in that Graham.



Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 5th, 2019 08:31 1060th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Nice shot Ian, here is another Siskin from Scotland. Are you starting to gift wrap them, Graham? :lol: Lovely bird detail ...but I feel it's competing with the amount of lichen surround.



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Mar 6th, 2019 05:57 1061st Post
nice shots by graham , Eric , and Iain well done



Posted by blackfox: Wed Mar 6th, 2019 05:59 1062nd Post
couple of mine a grounded shorty and one in flight head on with a gnat under right wing 




Posted by blackfox: Thu Mar 7th, 2019 13:24 1063rd Post
a purple sandpiper , from when my chauffeur Robert took me along the coast a week or so ago 



Posted by blackfox: Thu Mar 7th, 2019 13:43 1064th Post
looked at the pic above and realised that I had really ****ed up the white balance in p.p .. I suppose this boils down to changing cameras , not trusting the w/b on them and altering it without need .. I do see where graham is coming from with the rendering of the w/b .. hope this now rectifies it a bit .. shows we are never to old to learn .. both shots taken within a second or two of each other . and teaches me to trust the camera more and not photoshops rendering of it .. 



Posted by Eric: Thu Mar 7th, 2019 14:12 1065th Post
Whilst the first one may be slightly over warm, it depends what time of day and year as to how warm the camera captures the scene. 

Backing off the wb, as you have done. makes the bird more pristine but I think it's a little bit cold/blue.

Either way both lovely photos, well done.

This is the best purple sandpiper I've got (unedited straight out of camera).....




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Posted by Eric: Thu Mar 7th, 2019 14:18 1066th Post
This bird watching and photography can be a frustrating pastime.

Mike (of RSPB Frampton fame) and I were in Alsace in September. In Munster, we were after the storks that nest on the rooftops. Even an experienced birder can miss the obvious.....




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Posted by blackfox: Sun Mar 10th, 2019 04:35 1067th Post
a great spotted woodpecker from yesterday at my local n/r where I took rob on his recent visit . 



Posted by Robert: Sun Mar 10th, 2019 06:05 1068th Post
Very good Jeff, those claws tell a story,  some grip there.

Does it announce it's presence with a little drilling?  The one near here lands on a tall telegraph pole and it's rattle, rattle, rattle! Very loud, everybody knows it's there.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 10th, 2019 10:37 1069th Post
Nice one Jeff shame about end of tail but you are doing great with colour balance now! This is a male GS Woodpecker from my Scotish trip, quite a big blow up from the D500 with 500mm lens ISO 1250 1/250 sec at f10.

Attachment: WP1173A3s.jpg (Downloaded 110 times)



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Posted by Eric: Sun Mar 10th, 2019 11:27 1070th Post
During a short break in the wind and rain, this chap popped into the garden for a snack...
















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Posted by blackfox: Sun Mar 10th, 2019 17:14 1071st Post
thanks for the nice comment graham , heres a couple more from yesterday gsw with full tail . it was really close only cropped side to side , and a long tailed tit with the longest tail I have ever seen 




Posted by Eric: Mon Mar 11th, 2019 15:14 1072nd Post
blackfox wrote:
thanks for the nice comment graham , heres a couple more from yesterday gsw with full tail . it was really close only cropped side to side , and a long tailed tit with the longest tail I have ever seen 


That is what you call a long tailed tit. 8-)



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Posted by blackfox: Tue Mar 12th, 2019 06:59 1073rd Post
had a stunning afternoon yesterday with the short eared owls coming in rather close , virtually frame filling in fact 







Posted by jk: Tue Mar 12th, 2019 07:57 1074th Post
Wow.
Those owls are close!
Loving them.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Mar 12th, 2019 09:16 1075th Post
Super shots well done!



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Posted by blackfox: Tue Mar 12th, 2019 14:07 1076th Post
thanks Jonathon and graham for the nice comments , yesterday was a day to remember the shorties were as you can see virtually flying in under our feet , I missed a stunner of one perched on a log six foot away as a big fat woman pushed past me to take a selfie with a mobile phone . the owl as expected did one ..  but non withstanding we also had close fly pasts by ring-tailed hen harrier , a barn owl came out at 3.30  for over a hour , plus kestrels and buzzards . just looking on Flickr and spring watch team have faved a buzzard shot .. and the mobile 4x4 hide has just passed its m.o.t



Posted by chrisbet: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 06:28 1077th Post
My 70-300 turned up today - weighs more than all my other lenses put together!

So - thought I'd try it out and this chappie turned up in the garden :smilesmall: - no time to fine tune the exposure and shooting through a double glazed patio door - daren't open it & scare the bird...




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Posted by blackfox: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 07:50 1078th Post
just had a surprise visitor myself a sparrowhawk decided to land right outside our living room window for about five minutes ,eyeing up the bird feeders .. taken through double glazed window at a angle so pretty good . had to zoom back for the full height one 




Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 08:12 1079th Post
Nice pix again. We had one take out a starling yesterday but it took 20mins to eat most of it but was under a bush in corner of garden so no pixs.



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Posted by jk: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 09:28 1080th Post
Good shots through the glass Jeff.


Chris, we have those here in Cornwall.  I think it is a rook but I need confirmation of identity.



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Posted by chrisbet: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 09:57 1081st Post
Might be a juvenile rook but more likely a crow.



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Posted by jk: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 10:10 1082nd Post
I have difficulty with rook, crow, raven and chough (easier to spot).
Would be nice to have a side by side comparison, with same relative scale.



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Posted by chrisbet: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 11:31 1083rd Post
Adult rooks have bare skin behind the beak & under the eyes so look white/grey.



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Posted by blackfox: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 18:23 1084th Post
Chris it's a crow



Posted by chrisbet: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 18:34 1085th Post
blackfox wrote:
Chris it's a crow As I thought :coffee: - we get crows, magpies and jays in the garden - all same family.



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Posted by Robert: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 19:44 1086th Post
This is definitely a white(ish) bird.



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Posted by chrisbet: Tue Mar 19th, 2019 20:24 1087th Post
Not a crow then ..:lol:



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Posted by Robert: Wed Mar 20th, 2019 03:59 1088th Post
No more a crow than I am an ornithologist! :lol:



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Posted by jk: Wed Mar 20th, 2019 07:11 1089th Post
Robert wrote:
This is definitely a white(ish) bird.

Lovely work Robert.



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Mar 20th, 2019 13:29 1090th Post
it's a black headed gull ( there heads are actually brown ) coming into breeding plumage. Mediterranean gulls are similar but with a redder beak and there heads do go black .. BTW  there is no such bird as a SEAGULL  lots of variants of gulls though



Posted by Robert: Wed Mar 20th, 2019 13:59 1091st Post
blackfox wrote:
BTW  there is no such bird as a SEAGULL  lots of variants of gulls though
I studiously avoided the term SEAGULL!  :lol:

So perhaps I am learning, a little, slowly.

Thanks for the clarification on the white(ish) bird, the photo was taken at Haverigg, across the Duddon estuary from home.  The birds had been driven in by the tide, the bulk of them were slowly retreating along a spit some way from my viewpoint, definitely beyond the reach of most lenses.



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Posted by chrisbet: Wed Mar 20th, 2019 14:43 1092nd Post
If you have ever been bombed by one of them you call them something else entirely - digested crabs are just the worst :lol:

However, Jonathon Livingstone Seagull is a good book!



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Posted by Iain: Thu Mar 21st, 2019 15:52 1093rd Post
A Brambling from yesterday. May be my last shot of one before they fly off for the summer.

DSC_4988 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Robert: Thu Mar 21st, 2019 17:20 1094th Post
Not a bird photo but the picture to provide background for a quick bird story.



I had just taken this exposure to start a sequence of test exposures with my equatorial mount, I walked back to the car to leave the camera clicking away on it's own at 9 minutes past midnight when I saw three Swans almost silently flying over the col where I was parked.  They were very low and very close, maybe twenty feet away?  I was quite startled by their sudden appearance, the road must be close to 1,000 feet above sea level, it was a surreal experience, the outstretched necks and massive wingspan in silent flight.  I have seen Buzzards circling very high above that area in very poor light, I don't know if they would tackle a group of three Swans, in the dark, actually bright moonlight. A you can see from the photo.



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Mar 21st, 2019 17:40 1095th Post
a few from yesterday and today (thurs) mega high tide tomorrow and I shall be out with a mate chasing the owls yet again . I think that will probably be the turning point as its been such a good owl season I have a few thousand un edited owl files .I need to concentrate on other birds for a change .. all shots below taken hand held with d7200 and sigma 150-600c what a combo 













Posted by Iain: Fri Mar 22nd, 2019 16:43 1096th Post
Nice set Jeff



Posted by blackfox: Sun Mar 24th, 2019 04:34 1097th Post
couple more from Friday . I must add I'm extremely pleased with the definition im getting from the d7200 and the sigma 150-600 C. 




Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Mar 25th, 2019 06:52 1098th Post
More good sharp pixs with good colour balance and sharp focus!
No need for me to post any more bird pixs as Black Fox is doing such a good job for us all!



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Mar 25th, 2019 06:53 1099th Post
Nice one Ian I have not seen any this year.



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 05:16 1100th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
More good sharp pixs with good colour balance and sharp focus!
No need for me to post any more bird pixs as Black Fox is doing such a good job for us all!
please dont stop posting yours on my account graham .. its only a hobby and with birds every day is different



Posted by blackfox: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 05:17 1101st Post
a nice reflection shot of a coot from yesterday ..



Posted by blackfox: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 05:21 1102nd Post
oops I forgot these from over the weekend ,my first decent shots of the very elusive bearded tits , right time right place .. there must have been 70 to 80 people in the hide trying for these shots 




Posted by jk: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 05:48 1103rd Post
I think that seeing the different photographic styles and also locations makes the images more interesting.

I dont think that we need to be competitive over it as parameters are different.
Jeff has said how he uses seed and maggots to tempt the birds in.  I know people who get really sniffy about that as it is unnatural.  That said it is actually part of fieldcraft.
Then there is the 'no Photoshop' brigade.  

We need to embrace the fact that there are great cameras, lenses, tools, techniques, but knowledge and fieldcraft are very valuable.
My bird expert friend who goes all over the world and he gets amazing photos that are totally natural but they are not as good/sharp as those from Graham, Iain, Eric or Jeff.



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Posted by Robert: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 08:56 1104th Post
jk wrote:
I think that seeing the different photographic styles and also locations makes the images more interesting.
I agree, diversity is good, we all have own styles and the localities influence the species available too.

It would be sad to see any of you abandoning posting, for any reason.

The question of commenting is a difficult one, I comment when I see an image which resonates with me, the fact I don't always comment doesn't mean I don't like the image, but countless 'liking' are pretty bland and can clutter the thread with chatter detracting from the images.  I recently (mistakenly) joined a star watching forum, not only were images severely limited in size both pixel count and quality, members are also actively discouraged from complimenting the poster, which amazes me because the work required to produce high quality astro images is astounding.  The forum admin regard complimentary posts as post count farming, according to their rules you can be barred for doing it???

I think the proof of success of this thread lies in the topic views count and that is down to the high quality of the images.

Edited: To correct errors and add clarity.



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Posted by chrisbet: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 14:17 1105th Post
I have refrained from hitting the like button ... :lol:

I agree, some forum admins are so anally retentive - as long as posts are relevant and polite then I see no reason not to post.

Having wandered off topic, I'll get my hat ( if I had one...) :offtopic:



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Posted by jk: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 14:36 1106th Post
We allow wandering here.

Wandering shows that you have a creative thought process.

Those that are fixated on single trains of thought often are very 'successful' as they are seen to be focussed, driven or determined, but in my experience they are frequently people who lack real vision, creativity and unfortunately frequently of lesser intelligence.   Theresa May are you listening...... no you never have.  QED.



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Posted by chrisbet: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 15:14 1107th Post
Lol - couldn't agree more - in my "ideal" world, anyone who "wanted" to be a politician would NOT be allowed to become one...

You may have noticed I am fond of horses - they live in the moment, totally connected to their world and that is something I try to do as well, shame some of our leaders don't join our world ...  I need more Chianti ...:wine:



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Posted by jk: Fri Mar 29th, 2019 15:53 1108th Post
chrisbet wrote:
Lol - couldn't agree more - in my "ideal" world, anyone who "wanted" to be a politician would NOT be allowed to become one...

You may have noticed I am fond of horses - they live in the moment, totally connected to their world and that is something I try to do as well, shame some of our leaders don't join our world ...  I need more Chianti ...:wine:
I agree all politicians should be strangled at birth!  Herodian principle.



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Mar 30th, 2019 18:51 1109th Post
Of course I use seeds and mealworms ( not maggots jk) to attract the birds as you say it's part of field craft I.e getting the subject where your going to obtain the best view of it , it doesn't always work though , and with the likes of the larger species owls ,seabirds,waders etc a lot of it is down to studying habitats and also taking into account the direction of light , sometimes it's inevitable that you have to shoot into the sun though , it can be extremely frustrating at times when the birds don't want to play ball but you need that extra bit of dedication , on Thursday I spent the whole day with Andy rouse the well known wildlife photographer (on a personal friends basis) not a lesson waiting on the owls And I took around 500 shots , , once home and downloaded I think that only 3 or 4 shots were useable 
     . He stayed on at the location waiting on the RIGHT light .. he may or may not have got it I'm yet to find out . But that's the name of this game dedication , realising that it may or may not all come together in a few minutes a day ..
    and take my shots of the bearded tits from last weekend , I waited 12 years for that opportunity , I may return on Sunday as a stork turned up on the reserve today ..



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 31st, 2019 06:32 1110th Post
I agree put down food in our garden helps the birds to over-winter and bonus is I get the odd pix! No photography last two weeks winding up GWP and selling the company so I am now fully retired and very please to enjoy taking photos for fun!



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Posted by jk: Sun Mar 31st, 2019 08:50 1111th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
I agree put down food in our garden helps the birds to over-winter and bonus is I get the odd pix! No photography last two weeks winding up GWP and selling the company so I am now fully retired and very please to enjoy taking photos for fun! Congratulations on the sale of GWP.  
Work is such a distraction!



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Apr 1st, 2019 07:19 1112th Post
just a black backed gull shot from yesterday , there been a major firmware update on the sigma lenses and just done it yesterday morning , seems to have speeds up a/f and sharpened it a tad . taken hand held 



Posted by blackfox: Wed Apr 3rd, 2019 05:50 1113th Post
a Dunnock from yesterday ,I do like whatever the firmware update has done to the sigma lens 



Posted by Robert: Wed Apr 3rd, 2019 06:45 1114th Post
Looking good Jeff.



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Posted by jk: Wed Apr 3rd, 2019 07:37 1115th Post
Wow that is close.

I have been debating with myself whether I seeing wrens or dunnocks on my walks in the country.
Looking at your picture I am convinced that there seems to be large numbers of wrens along that lane.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 7th, 2019 05:22 1116th Post
Super pixs Jeff you are getting better by the day! I must pick up my camera on day soon, now I have sold GWP should have bit more time. Pair of GS Woodpeckers in garden this morning. Gardening today and no doubt friend Reg the Robin will join me!

Attachment: Reg3456.jpg (Downloaded 43 times)



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Posted by Robert: Sun Apr 7th, 2019 15:55 1117th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
now I have sold GWP should have bit more time.
I think the reality will not meet your expectations Graham!

You will almost certainly be busier than ever.  Just try to fit some more bird or any other photography into your schedule. :thumbs:



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Posted by chrisbet: Sun Apr 7th, 2019 16:22 1118th Post
There is never enough time once you retire - the days just get fuller and fuller - trouble is that I can never remember what it is that I did ....



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Posted by blackfox: Tue Apr 9th, 2019 17:05 1119th Post
couple of little egret shots from a Sunday evening stroll along the estuary with the wife and dog 




Posted by jk: Tue Apr 9th, 2019 17:20 1120th Post
Nice work Jeff.  
Colour is good.



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Posted by Iain: Wed Apr 10th, 2019 11:33 1121st Post
One from a recent trip out.

DSC_5183 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Robert: Wed Apr 10th, 2019 11:45 1122nd Post
Very nice Iain,  is it a Red Kite?  Not sure cause I can't see the tail from underneath.



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Posted by Robert: Wed Apr 10th, 2019 11:56 1123rd Post
Do Buzzards and other large birds of prey fly at night?  Last night in full darkness after the Moon had set, something large flew past at very high speed, I just saw it in the corner of my eye, a black shadow then it was gone.  A few weeks ago two Swans flew past in the dark quite close to the ground, much more slowly of course but still quite eery when not expecting them.



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Posted by Iain: Wed Apr 10th, 2019 12:10 1124th Post
It is a Red Kite Robert and in answer to your other question there are Owl's like a tawny or a long eared owl that fly at night and have a large wing span.

May have been one of them you saw.



Posted by Robert: Wed Apr 10th, 2019 14:57 1125th Post
Thanks Iain, need a radar camera which pops of when birds approach in the dark!

It's a tiny pass in the Lake District about 900ft above sea level, probably the only way for the birds without climbing a lot higher.



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Apr 15th, 2019 06:00 1126th Post
one of mine from the other day ,not been out much for a few days high winds are subduing a lot of stuff 



Posted by Iain: Mon Apr 15th, 2019 13:21 1127th Post
Nice one Jeff, I love the LLT.



Posted by Iain: Mon Apr 15th, 2019 13:24 1128th Post
Why is a yellowhammer doing the Goose step!!
;-)

Attachment: DSC_5324.jpg (Downloaded 219 times)



Posted by chrisbet: Mon Apr 15th, 2019 13:30 1129th Post
Iain wrote:
Why is a yellowhammer doing the Goose step!!
;-)
Cos his thumb claw is stuck in the twig? :lol:



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Apr 17th, 2019 04:47 1130th Post
super Iain one bird on my wish list . seen one once but no pics ... yet others get them regularly



Posted by blackfox: Thu Apr 18th, 2019 16:11 1131st Post
few from today keeping my hand in 




Posted by Robert: Thu Apr 18th, 2019 17:13 1132nd Post
Very nice Jeff, particularly I like the last one, what bird is it?



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Apr 19th, 2019 05:15 1133rd Post
its a female (possibly juvenile) house sparrow rob , puzzled me for a bit to



Posted by jk: Fri Apr 19th, 2019 06:51 1134th Post
Is the middle one a robin?  Never noticed the speckle in the head feathers before.
Lovely shots.



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Apr 19th, 2019 10:16 1135th Post
No Jonathon thats a male stonechat in nice breeding condition



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Apr 19th, 2019 12:17 1136th Post
More super pixs Jeff good lighting and nice and sharp.
Just for a change a Hawaii Goose: Ne Ne. D500

Attachment: _DSC2634.jpg (Downloaded 182 times)



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Apr 19th, 2019 12:53 1137th Post
Nice graham



Posted by jk: Fri Apr 19th, 2019 13:20 1138th Post
blackfox wrote:
No Jonathon thats a male stonechat in nice breeding condition Thanks Jeff.  
Thought its legs looked too long and the head being all speckled.  Now can I remember that for next time.



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Posted by Robert: Fri Apr 19th, 2019 15:58 1139th Post
My fishing friend tells me this morning he saw an Osprey take a fish from a nearby reservoir, rotate it in it's talons (so it was facing forward, to create less wind resistance) then fly off with it in the Easterly direction of the Foulshaw nest.



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Apr 20th, 2019 05:27 1140th Post
couple more from Friday a female stonechat and a first for me a cattle egret in flight , the smallest of the three u.k based egret types 




Posted by blackfox: Mon Apr 22nd, 2019 15:41 1141st Post
a few geese  shots from today including a bit of porn, and at the end of the day a nice low flying spoonbill .looking like a pterodactyl 










Posted by Robert: Mon Apr 22nd, 2019 16:07 1142nd Post
My own small offering, on my walk back up the pier this afternoon, I walked right past it before I realised it was there, it was amazingly patient, it even waited while I got my tripod out and mounted the camera on it because I couldn't hold the camera still enough! LOL  I must have taken 10 shots because the AF was getting confused by the foreground and the background.

I have no idea what it is.

D3, Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 AF


A 100% crop.

I missed a pair of Curlews which flew very close by.

In passing, I am sure I saw a Seal swimming up the estuary as the tide reached it's fullest but it was some way away and would have needed a very powerful lens just to catch a glimpse of a very shiny black head which was only visible for fleeting glimpses.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Apr 23rd, 2019 05:45 1143rd Post
Nice shot Robert it is a Ringed Plover. This time last year you Eric and I were photographing them fighting with the smaller Little Ringed Prover in Frampton Marsh at our Last of the Summer Wine event!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Apr 27th, 2019 10:08 1144th Post
couple more from mid week m black tailed godwit and greylag geese 




Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 28th, 2019 06:21 1145th Post
Jeff can not fault your quality, that D7200 is producing super images every time now!



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Posted by blackfox: Sun Apr 28th, 2019 08:43 1146th Post
thanks graham ,  it does seem a lot better than the d300s . still yearn for some really good glass though



Posted by blackfox: Sun Apr 28th, 2019 08:46 1147th Post
storm Hannah day yesterday so sat indoors playing around , tried a couple of photoshop effect filters out here's the results . might not be to everyones tastes but I quite like them 




Posted by blackfox: Sun Apr 28th, 2019 13:33 1148th Post
and a couple more done today ,gradually refining it to get the effect I want 




Posted by jk: Sun Apr 28th, 2019 13:44 1149th Post
Top one looks great but I think the lower one looks like you need to feather the selected owl or use a different blend mode for the background.  Just my opinion.  Graham or Eric are the ones to ask.  They are the experts.



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Posted by blackfox: Sun Apr 28th, 2019 17:34 1150th Post
very much on a learning curve with this Jonathon , the bottom one had to be totally black ,the main reason I have started doing this is in the owl place your shooting at low flying brown birds against a brown sea marsh i.e brown on brown and also shooting into the light or low winter sun due to when they come out to play , so a lot of good sharp images have had to be abandoned due to lack of contrast . this is simply a way in my books to save them . I don't learn from books or u.tube or advice but by playing around and finding what I like , and my chief critic SWMBO then stands behind me and says its either good or not . :whip:



Posted by Iain: Wed May 1st, 2019 02:39 1151st Post
blackfox wrote:
and a couple more done today ,gradually refining it to get the effect I want 



I like these Jeff.



Posted by blackfox: Wed May 1st, 2019 15:37 1152nd Post
cheers Iain



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 2nd, 2019 15:23 1153rd Post
The light on the owls is great. Perhaps you shoud use one of Robert's night skys as your plain black is a bit stark but your cut-out looks good. Well done Jeff!



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Posted by blackfox: Fri May 3rd, 2019 04:39 1154th Post
some from this week including a fairly rare male garganey duck and some black tailed godwits before they depart for Iceland to breed 










Posted by blackfox: Mon May 6th, 2019 07:08 1155th Post
three from the last week or so ,behind with my editing 







Posted by blackfox: Fri May 10th, 2019 18:08 1156th Post
mallard duckling doing a Freddy Starr 



Posted by blackfox: Tue May 14th, 2019 03:45 1157th Post
nice hour down the estuary last night (by the castle Robert) 







Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed May 15th, 2019 18:17 1158th Post
Very well done getting the House Martin!!!



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Posted by blackfox: Thu May 16th, 2019 11:54 1159th Post
trying to catch them mating graham , I have in previous years , they were in the same spot this morning with bums raised ready but it was far to windy



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 19th, 2019 05:35 1160th Post
Starlings have been busy as our garden is full of young fighting to get to food on our feeders. We have also had rats in serious amounts picking up food falling from the feeders. Council rat man has put down traps with poison and I have shot 9 to date with my air rifle. Now the foxes are there with a keen interest in eating rats so we have been rat free for several days!

Attachment: Young Starlings1616.jpg (Downloaded 27 times)



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Posted by Robert: Sun May 19th, 2019 07:33 1161st Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Starlings have been busy as our garden is full of young fighting to get to food on our feeders. We have also had rats in serious amounts picking up food falling from the feeders. Council rat man has put down traps with poison and I have shot 9 to date with my air rifle. Now the foxes are there with a keen interest in eating rats so we have been rat free for several days! Sounds like a battleground Graham, would a tray, suspended below the feeder prevent the feed falling to the ground?

No Fox pix?



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 19th, 2019 07:44 1162nd Post
Have done that but big birds tip tray, have also greased the pole to stop rats climbing up! Do not want to stop feeding as birds have young to feed so are extra hard at work at the moment.
At least it looks as if this batch of rats is finished.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 19th, 2019 11:13 1163rd Post
On the left shot with D850 and 500mm lens and on the right same rat a few moments later shot with a .177 air rifle!

Attachment: Rat.jpg (Downloaded 235 times)



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Posted by jk: Sun May 19th, 2019 14:25 1164th Post
Good shooting Graham.
I suspect that you are refreshing your skills from the years in Africa.



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Posted by blackfox: Sun May 19th, 2019 18:06 1165th Post
a couple from today no dead rats though , the oystercatcher is on the estuary about 200 yds from home 







Posted by blackfox: Mon May 20th, 2019 16:16 1166th Post
quick trip to the estuary this evening to try for the house martins in evening light it paid dividends as the flock let me approach to with a few feet on foot , I moved very very slowly and gained there confidence and it paid dividends as seen below ,waled away feeling very smug 







Posted by Robert: Mon May 20th, 2019 16:56 1167th Post
Well done Jeff, get much closer and you will need the 60! LOL



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Posted by blackfox: Fri May 24th, 2019 06:23 1168th Post
a few from yesterday ,one of those days when it all falls into place 










Posted by jk: Fri May 24th, 2019 09:31 1169th Post
Superb images Jeff.
No less that I expect from you. :thumbs:

The spoonbill? is fantastic.



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Posted by Robert: Fri May 24th, 2019 18:13 1170th Post
Saw an unusual bird s afternoon in a very large rural garden near Lancaster.

It appeared over some large bushes, swooped across the lawn and disappeared into or over some more bushes about 80 yards later.

At first I thought it was a hawk, it was flying quite fast with a powerful wingbeat, the wings seemed smallish and were dark on the upper side, when raised the wings formed a steep V not unlike the character V.  Then as it crossed the lawn I thought of Jeff's Owl, the body didn't look like an Owl but it could have had a flat face like the pictures Jeff has posted, even if I had had my camera with me there would have been absolutely no chance of photographing it, the whole thing was over in a couple of seconds.

I will be spending some time in this garden so I will try to have camera ready, but if it repeats the same manoeuvre I will have zero chance of getting a pic.



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Posted by blackfox: Fri May 24th, 2019 18:20 1171st Post
could be one of many small raptors rob sounds like sparrow hawk behaviour though



Posted by blackfox: Fri May 24th, 2019 18:20 1172nd Post
thanks Jonathon



Posted by blackfox: Sat Jun 1st, 2019 04:35 1173rd Post
a few practise shots with the new rig yesterday , testing out its A/F speed and accuracy more than trying to get a quality shot . the weather was pants grey overcast which didn't help . but I have to admit I was suitably impressed with a far higher percentage of b.i.f shots in focus  SOMETHING WRONG HERE THIS IS NOT THE PHOTO I CLICKED ONTO POST ???????



Posted by blackfox: Sat Jun 1st, 2019 04:37 1174th Post














Posted by blackfox: Sat Jun 1st, 2019 04:41 1175th Post
no idea how the puffin shot appeared .. unless its selected a title I have previously used ??? one for Chris to look into 

 I have also noticed that there appears to be over sharpening halos around yesterdays shots , might be to do with the built in camera profiles so I have now done a re-set on them . trial and error I suppose



Posted by chrisbet: Sat Jun 1st, 2019 05:00 1176th Post
What Puffin shot? I see no puffins :lol:



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Posted by jk: Sat Jun 1st, 2019 05:07 1177th Post
Puffins would be nice!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Jun 1st, 2019 15:57 1178th Post
Plenty of them will sort in a day or so



Posted by blackfox: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 06:23 1179th Post
as requested a few puffin shots assorted cameras , Nikon d300s , canon 1d3 ,Panasonic g80.. as you can seethes is very little if any difference between the photos over the years and camera/lens  changes in fact if I reprocessed the RAWS  again using up to date software .. it would be hard to tell  without exif data .. the secret is simply getting close to your target where possible 










Posted by Iain: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 11:10 1180th Post
A few from a week away.
DSC_6282-2 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr

DSC_7139-2 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr

DSC_6771-2 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by jk: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 12:13 1181st Post
Nice shots.  Going to have to help me with some names Iain.
:applause:



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Posted by Iain: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 12:50 1182nd Post
From top to bottom,
Bearded Tit male,
Red spot Blue throat male,
Juvenile Stonechat.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 13:29 1183rd Post
Ian super shots thanks for sharing them with us good to see you posting again.
Jeff Puffin shots are spot on and great quality, I agree about older Nikons images still look good a lower ISOs but new models can be pushed a lot more and produce serious high def very big prints.



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Posted by jk: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 15:48 1184th Post
Never seen a Red spot Blue throat before.  Are reed beds their normal habitat?



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Posted by Iain: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 16:23 1185th Post
Yes but you don't get many here. This one was in Norfolk.



Posted by blackfox: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 16:51 1186th Post
Super set Iain love the bluethroat and the bearded tit



Posted by blackfox: Sun Jun 2nd, 2019 16:54 1187th Post
Back off to East Yorkshire next Sunday for a week ,hopefully get some more shots weather permitting we are also hoping to get in a boat trip under the cliffs for some sea level shots.. at least the tides are right for it



Posted by Iain: Sat Jun 8th, 2019 10:20 1188th Post
Hope the weather clears for you.



Posted by blackfox: Sat Jun 8th, 2019 11:49 1189th Post
Unfortunately doesn't look that way Iain ,but we shall just have to work around it Sod's law when you book early to ensure a pitch ..and a price



Posted by blackfox: Mon Jun 17th, 2019 07:55 1190th Post
a few back edits from earlier this year playing catch up while house-bound 










Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 27th, 2019 04:59 1191st Post
While Jeff is recuperating, here's a white wagtail...
.






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Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 27th, 2019 05:24 1192nd Post
...and a one legged Avocet juvenile...
.



...Ignoring what his parents are doing...
.




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Posted by blackfox: Fri Jun 28th, 2019 05:15 1193rd Post
nice shots Eric



Posted by blackfox: Fri Jun 28th, 2019 05:19 1194th Post
a few from yesterday couple sat in the garden soaking up the sun then the yellowhammers late evening when my lad took me out for a drive . recovering a bit better now its a day to day improvement 










Posted by blackfox: Tue Jul 16th, 2019 05:00 1195th Post
couple more from yesterday better shots of these hard to find yellowhammers 




Posted by blackfox: Fri Aug 2nd, 2019 18:18 1196th Post
couple from today cormorants over high tide at high noon . this is one of the places I took rob in the spring .right beside the motorway but you have to know how to access it 







Posted by blackfox: Tue Aug 13th, 2019 07:03 1197th Post
and another cormorant shot , been away for a few days so nothing new to show 



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Aug 15th, 2019 18:19 1198th Post
Auper detailed pixs well done!



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Posted by Iain: Fri Aug 16th, 2019 14:56 1199th Post
One from yesterday.


DSC_8190 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by jk: Fri Aug 16th, 2019 15:24 1200th Post
Fine catch Iain.



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Aug 16th, 2019 15:48 1201st Post
Very nice indeed iaian



Posted by Robert: Fri Aug 16th, 2019 18:49 1202nd Post
Nice one Iain!



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Aug 17th, 2019 11:57 1203rd Post
Well done Ian not easy to get that!



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Posted by Eric: Tue Aug 20th, 2019 16:33 1204th Post
Had a Willow Warbler drop in for a wash and brush up on my bird bath yesterday. Went to get my camera, found the batteries were flat, went to find fresh batteries, returned to find the little beastie was in too much of a rush to wait.  So I got a 'wet look' photo as it left.




4



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Aug 21st, 2019 03:55 1205th Post
Nice shot Eric



Posted by blackfox: Wed Aug 21st, 2019 04:38 1206th Post
a few from the beach yesterday dunlin and ringed plover







Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Aug 27th, 2019 06:19 1207th Post
You are very lucky with all those birds so close to home. Titchfield Haven our local reserve has been very poor last two years, too many black headed gull nesting there.Last week for a change there were about 20 redshanks.

Attachment: 3 Redshanks1682.jpg (Downloaded 193 times)



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Aug 29th, 2019 15:12 1208th Post
nice graham



Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Sep 10th, 2019 16:21 1209th Post
We are in Thieves France on holiday in a 1700c villa in quite a remote wooded area. Very few birds I thik to locals shoot a lot took me all afternoon to get in range of this very shy Spotted Flycatcher. They are on way S for winter now. Long time since I have seen one. D500 with my 80-400mm AF-S plus x1.4 quite a big blow up and at f8 sorry not much DOF.

Attachment: _DSC1774.jpg (Downloaded 180 times)



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 16:56 1210th Post
30c today!

Attachment: Pool1711.jpg (Downloaded 162 times)



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 16:56 1211th Post
Our holiday home for two weeks in quite remote countryside. Good weather and heated swimming pool and good food from the French supermarket 5 ks down the road in Thivirs.Sadly hardly any bird to be seen apart from the few Flycatchers getting ready to move to Africa for the Winter.

Attachment: House1710.jpg (Downloaded 167 times)



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 04:52 1212th Post
have a good holiday graham



Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 11:23 1213th Post
Out agin after birds plenty of noise in the woods but too shy to come to camera. Weather here very hot 34C. This is our local chateau at the end of our little road. Very harsh light but D500 spot on exposure just a little lower contrast in Photoshop.

Attachment: Jumilhac-Le-Grand1796.jpg (Downloaded 139 times)



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Posted by jk: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 17:50 1214th Post
What is the name of that Chateau?
I visited many of the Loire chateaux about 25 years ago.
I think you are in Masif Central area near Clermont-Ferrand.  It looks very fine there.  It gets very cold there in the winter.



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Posted by Eric: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 05:07 1215th Post
jk wrote:
What is the name of that Chateau?
I visited many of the Loire chateaux about 25 years ago.
I think you are in Masif Central area near Clermont-Ferrand.  It looks very fine there.  It gets very cold there in the winter.
Ch¢teau de Jumilhac



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 05:09 1216th Post
Chateau-de-Jumihac it is about 8 miles due East from our place. Eric tells me there is a series of lakes 5 miles due north from us about with possible birds stopping off on the way S so hope to go there before we go home this Sat.



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Posted by Eric: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 05:42 1217th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Chateau-de-Jumihac it is about 8 miles due East from our place. Eric tells me there is a series of lakes 5 miles due north from us about with possible birds stopping off on the way S so hope to go there before we go home this Sat. That looks like a nice chateau to visit and an interesting area that we haven't seen. Maybe next year!  

Don't hold your breath about the lakes. In my experience France is so big the birds are spread wider than in UK ...and are as a result far less approachable. Like many of the large lakes in the UK,  the birds tend to stay at a distance from any people. Ok for binoculars but not so for photography. The French are also not very good at positioning observation hides .....except for shooting the birds!  One of the (supposedly) best places for birds, just south of the Loire, is La Brenne,  west of  Chateauroux. It's a huge area of lakes and surrounding woodland where the French have done a better job of hide positioning. We hope to take a look next May....Boris permitting.

One thing that has struck me on this thread and seeing Jeff's wonderful images....most 'birding' locations for the general public are only adequate for birdwatching with binoculars etc. If you want to photograph birds well...generally speaking you need to be able to get much closer than most public places allow.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 11:37 1218th Post
Eric you are dead right about birds in France. Wendy and I drove up to the lake today it is great big dam but lake behind is 2/3 empty. Mostly brown dry mud sloping down all round to what little remains. Not a bird in sight! Locals say there has been very little rain this year, all the fields round here only short brown grass! Another 35 c today almost too hot to sit in the garden. Will swim later when sun goes down.
Sory all this is way off topic!!!



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Posted by Iain: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 16:26 1219th Post
And more to the point making us that are in 15c here in the UK very jealous.
:lol:



Posted by jk: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 16:42 1220th Post
If you want green and pleasant then stay out of sunny climes unless you want tropical with high humidity.
There is no perfect place on this Earth only a great place to be at that moment!



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Posted by chrisbet: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 17:59 1221st Post
Lol - disagree - there is a perfect place and I shall be back there in Tuscany next Saturday :thumbs:



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Posted by jk: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 18:34 1222nd Post
chrisbet wrote:
Lol - disagree - there is a perfect place and I shall be back there in Tuscany next Saturday :thumbs: But it is outside Boris-land so it cannot be perfect! 
:lol:



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Posted by chrisbet: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 19:22 1223rd Post
I'll raise a glass ( or several ) of chianti to being outside boring boris land :wine:



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Sep 18th, 2019 04:46 1224th Post
Thought of you this morning Chris two ladies rode up our little lane as I was trying to spot a bird to photograph. Even at 7.30 this morning 25c plenty of bird song all round me in the trees.



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Posted by Eric: Wed Sep 18th, 2019 07:20 1225th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Thought of you this morning Chris two ladies rode up our little lane as I was trying to spot a bird to photograph. Even at 7.30 this morning 25c plenty of bird song all round me in the trees. Hope you weren't in your camouflage 'tent'....that would have spooked the horses and the riders. :lol:

If it's any consolation, it's 15deg here and I am soaking wet, due to pressure washing the patio....in a forlorn hope I can convince senior management we don't need new paving. :needsahug:



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Posted by chrisbet: Wed Sep 18th, 2019 10:14 1226th Post
Early morning rides are the best - as the mist lies in the valleys and the hills float like islands. I hope you said "beaux chevaux" as they passed :smilesmall:



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Sep 19th, 2019 04:56 1227th Post
a few kingfisher shots from earlier this week at the reserve that rob likes 







Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 19th, 2019 05:07 1228th Post
Thoses are outstanding well done. Nearly two weeks in France and only one shot as posted of a bird!!!! In fact have now put my big lens away.



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Posted by Robert: Thu Sep 19th, 2019 07:28 1229th Post
blackfox wrote:
a few kingfisher shots from earlier this week at the reserve that rob likes 
Wow! Jeff, that's wonderful, as soon as I feel better (still suffering the after effects of the shingles episode I think) I must get down there, spend a day in the hide. The only Kingfisher I have actually seen was travelling so fast that it was just a bright flash of blue.  To have one pose is almost unbelievable.



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Sep 19th, 2019 13:38 1230th Post
it landed in bout six different places rob , and performed for over a hour .. stunning display with over 500 shots taken. I went yesterday again but as expected publishing photos of a wanted species brings every knob head and his wife out waving massive lenses and two or three cameras to boot . the bird landed for at least 3 seconds and was gone



Posted by blackfox: Thu Sep 19th, 2019 13:43 1231st Post
another one mirrorless silent shutter helps . hand held at iso 6400



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Sep 20th, 2019 04:58 1232nd Post
Very well controlled noise for 6400 ISO. Super set of Kingfisher pixs!



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Posted by jk: Fri Sep 20th, 2019 08:08 1233rd Post
Have you seen this image?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-49742285

Superb capture.



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Posted by Robert: Fri Sep 20th, 2019 16:18 1234th Post
Perhaps inspired by Graham and Jeff's superb photo's.

Does anyone know if Kingfishers have a season, like they up-sticks and fly off to Iceland or South Africa for the winter or are they here all year round?



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Posted by Eric: Fri Sep 20th, 2019 16:49 1235th Post
Robert wrote:
Perhaps inspired by Graham and Jeff's superb photo's.

Does anyone know if Kingfishers have a season, like they up-sticks and fly off to Iceland or South Africa for the winter or are they here all year round?
No. UK Kingfishers stay put in winter unless really harsh when they may leave their patch of river. Juveniles don't go very far from their 'birth' site. c.  5-10miles. In contrast mainland European kingfishers DO  migrate to the Med. Suspect that's the colder mainland conditions.



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Posted by Robert: Fri Sep 20th, 2019 17:07 1236th Post
Eric, that reduces the urgency to visit N Wales...  I am in dereliction of my duty to at least try to photograph the Ospreys on a nearby reservoir were they have been reported to be catching fish and heading back to Foulshaw to feed their chicks.  I really should be struck off.



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Posted by Eric: Fri Sep 20th, 2019 17:13 1237th Post
Robert wrote:
Eric, that reduces the urgency to visit N Wales...  I am in dereliction of my duty to at least try to photograph the Ospreys on a nearby reservoir were they have been reported to be catching fish and heading back to Foulshaw to feed their chicks.  I really should be struck off. THEY will have gone now. Huge migration on going here in Norfolk. Thousands of pink foot geese already here. Graham is joining me at the end of the month for another early morning high tide spectacular. Hopefully a little warmer than January.....only just thawed out. :lol:



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Posted by jk: Fri Sep 20th, 2019 18:04 1238th Post
Robert wrote:
Perhaps inspired by Graham and Jeff's superb photo's.

Does anyone know if Kingfishers have a season, like they up-sticks and fly off to Iceland or South Africa for the winter or are they here all year round?
Kingfishers do not migrate but remain in UK all year.  They tend to stay in distinct territories and as such should not be disturbed.  They are a protected species and disturbing them can lead to prosecution.   Since Police are even rarer species there is little chance of this happening, of course.



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Posted by blackfox: Sun Sep 22nd, 2019 12:02 1239th Post
this has been a particuarly good year for them so far .. but last Monday was the best day I have ever had at this reserve in 4 years and its been absent for the rest of the week .it really is pot luck other species there is week include chiffchaff ,reed warblers , blue tits ,great tits,long tailed tits . goldfinch , thrushes , gold crests,nuthatch , massive flock of linnets . lots and lots of dragonflies, butterflies etc .. not bad for a reserve you can walk round in 15 minutes .
  anyway I was messing with one of the K/F images this morning to see how far I could crop in as obviously the Olympus MFT sensor is smaller than a aps-c sensor . so below is a very large 


 cropped image .quite impressed me and at 5000iso to



Posted by blackfox: Sun Sep 22nd, 2019 12:07 1240th Post
and the cropped one NOT WORKING SEE FOLLOWING POST DIRECT LINK TO FLICKR 



Posted by blackfox: Sun Sep 22nd, 2019 12:09 1241st Post
not sure what's going on its not allowing me to post a cropped version so heres a direct link to Flickr 
up and away by jeff and jan  cohen, on Flickr



Posted by Iain: Sun Sep 22nd, 2019 14:09 1242nd Post
Great capture Jeff but the crop has brought out the noise in the bird.



Posted by Eric: Sun Sep 22nd, 2019 17:40 1243rd Post
I am not sure what we are supposed to be looking at, Jeff?

These latest images are the same crop as the one you posted earlier (in post 1227) and the noise level on the bird is the same in all of them to my eyes.
I can see you've softened noise in the area around the bird but at ISOs over 5000 you can't avoid it without touching up, even on APS sensors.o.O



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Sep 23rd, 2019 18:28 1244th Post
Put this through PS noise reduction but the noice is beyond repair.It has been shot at far too high ISO. A high end Nikon would do better but I would never push beyond 3200 ISO. It looks soft as I do not know how to make blue cross work.There is just no detail in the bird.

Attachment: Noise.jpg (Downloaded 199 times)



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Posted by blackfox: Tue Sep 24th, 2019 12:10 1245th Post
o.k now altered in camera settings as it was obviously choosing to high a i.s.o so how's this one 



Posted by Iain: Tue Sep 24th, 2019 12:55 1246th Post
That looks better to me.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Sep 24th, 2019 13:01 1247th Post
Thats much better, good detail!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Sep 28th, 2019 04:44 1248th Post
pigeon on the beach mid week 



Posted by Eric: Sat Sep 28th, 2019 14:32 1249th Post
blackfox wrote:
pigeon on the beach mid week 
What a handsome fellow!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Sep 28th, 2019 15:50 1250th Post
a flock of incoming redshanks this morning .. really starting to gel with this camera now . it's not been easy but feel that it's starting to fall into place 




Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Sep 28th, 2019 18:48 1251st Post
Spot on what more can I say!!
Eric and I are hoping to get the high tides in the Wash next week, lets hope the weather holds and the mass waders come in.



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Posted by blackfox: Sun Sep 29th, 2019 14:48 1252nd Post
another shot from yesterdays high tides . today was a total loss with everything too distant + rain 



Posted by blackfox: Mon Sep 30th, 2019 13:50 1253rd Post
couple from todays high tide 




Posted by Robert: Tue Oct 1st, 2019 14:37 1254th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Eric and I are hoping to get the high tides in the Wash next week, lets hope the weather holds and the mass waders come in. How is it going?  I've been watching the weather it must have been a bit damp...  Waders would be mandatory I would have thought.



____________________
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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 11:34 1255th Post
Dawn today Eric and I were in the Wash (N Norfolk) for the extra high tide that bring in large numbers of waders. These are Knots and no way you could count them! Nikon D500 with 18-140mm lens.

Attachment: _DSCASmall1823.jpg (Downloaded 121 times)



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Posted by jk: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 13:53 1256th Post
Wow, whole lotta birds!



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 15:12 1257th Post
Zoom in a bit with the 500mm lens on D850

Attachment: _DSCSmall4164.jpg (Downloaded 107 times)



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 15:13 1258th Post
And closer

Attachment: _DSCSmall4150.jpg (Downloaded 106 times)



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Posted by Eric: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 15:16 1259th Post
jk wrote:
Wow, whole lotta birds! Around 100,000 Knot (plus other waders) come off the sea to sit out high tide in the adjacent gravel pits. There were nearly that number of photographers there as well. The heavy rain had flooded some of the islands and the northerly winds had held in the tide for 24 hours causing almost tidal flooding conditions. Graham and I braved the elements for a reccie the day before but with today's forecast for sunshine we hoped we could get a seat in the hide .....no such luck. So all photos handheld in staring winds. :'(




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Posted by Robert: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 16:07 1260th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Dawn today Eric and I were in the Wash (N Norfolk) for the extra high tide that bring in large numbers of waders. These are Knots and no way you could count them! Nikon D500 with 18-140mm lens. Amazing!

How do you count 100,000 birds? ...very quickly???



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Posted by chrisbet: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 16:50 1261st Post
Robert wrote:
Amazing!

How do you count 100,000 birds? ...very quickly???
Just get one per pixel ... :lol:



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Posted by jk: Wed Oct 2nd, 2019 17:27 1262nd Post
Which bird did you focus on?
:lol:



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 05:03 1263rd Post
jk beat me to it . we were wondering on the weekend where all the waders were ,now I know ..



Posted by blackfox: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 05:06 1264th Post
woke this little starling up yesterday also sheltering from the high tide and winds , taken from my mobile portable hide . engine off 



Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 12:50 1265th Post
jk wrote:
Which bird did you focus on?
:lol:
Actually that's a very good question. It's impossible in this sort of setting, to single out a bird, in the hope it will strike a perfect pose for you to take a decisive moment photo. It's very much a case of taking a photo to record the mass spectical, different to taking a solitary bird photograph.

I did contemplate playing a peregrine call on the iPhone....to see if they all looked in my direction. I think the other hide occupants may have objected. :lol:



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Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 13:11 1266th Post
I have a question....

In Graham's first (wide angle) photo of the gathered host, there is a distinct gap in the crowd leaving an area of shingle empty of birds. Why?






When the birds did their usual shuffle about, no birds transgressed onto this area. No new arrivals filled in that area. It was weird. As if something nasty had been spilt there...yet nothing was visible.



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 13:19 1267th Post
probably where king johns treasure lies buried , protected by evil spirits :devil:



Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 13:25 1268th Post
Robert wrote:
Amazing!

How do you count 100,000 birds? ...very quickly???
The RSPB have people who are very good at accurate number counting.
For my part if you take my approx photo area....superimposed on the hoard on the north side of the pits, I can actually count 30 across and 40 deep. So that tiny area is over 1000birds.



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 13:39 1269th Post
blackfox wrote:
probably where king johns treasure lies buried , protected by evil spirits :devil: I've always thought that story to be implausible. 'Sorry your majesty, we looked everywhere and couldn't find anything”

Assuming he actually DID cross the marsh and lose his treasure chests. The local wildfowlers and bait diggers even now know these marshes like the back of their hands. Back then it would have been no different. They would have been out there on the next low tide to recover it for themselves. Gone in 60 seconds, like the film. :lol:



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Posted by chrisbet: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 14:19 1270th Post
I wondered about the gap too - maybe it is the landing strip - authorised birds only?



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Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 15:48 1271st Post
Eric wrote:
I have a question....

In Graham's first (wide angle) photo of the gathered host, there is a distinct gap in the crowd leaving an area of shingle empty of birds. Why?






When the birds did their usual shuffle about, no birds transgressed onto this area. No new arrivals filled in that area. It was weird. As if something nasty had been spilt there...yet nothing was visible.
One of them probably farted and the rest got out of the way.:sick:



Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 16:36 1272nd Post
Iain wrote:
One of them probably farted and the rest got out of the way.:sick: Well it must have been strong ...the gap was still there an hour later.:praying:



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Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 3rd, 2019 16:40 1273rd Post
I know a few people that would clear that gap and it still be there an hour later. :lol:



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Oct 4th, 2019 03:18 1274th Post
Ian that was very rude!!! Even when they were shifting about none went into that space. All very interseting.



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Posted by jk: Fri Oct 4th, 2019 04:01 1275th Post
This link may answer your question.

http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/275/Publications/PDF_Archive/Africa_Birdlife/Volume_Index/Vol2/AB02%282%2932-38.pdf

They do it for warmth!
I think there is a protection element as well, a potential predator would be 'confused' by the choice.  Fish do the same when stressed.

(Link edited to remove excess http - Chris)



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Posted by Robert: Fri Oct 4th, 2019 04:07 1276th Post
The link doesn't work JK...



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Posted by chrisbet: Fri Oct 4th, 2019 04:33 1277th Post
Robert wrote:
The link doesn't work JK... Does now - edited!



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Posted by jk: Fri Oct 4th, 2019 04:51 1278th Post
Thanks Chris.



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Posted by chrisbet: Fri Oct 4th, 2019 04:58 1279th Post
jk wrote:
Fish do the same when stressed. Hmm - yes, when herded by dolphins & whales - then they all get eaten .....



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Oct 4th, 2019 11:28 1280th Post
It could be that as they are not too good at landing on water they leave a space for their mates to land. Looking at other pictures with more birds arriving they all land there. Also look at the pointed spur of water at right perhaps they think rising water may come up there.
Yesterday the Telegraph Paper published a full page spread picture taken there by a Paul Marriott. It showed a mass of birds no doubt taken by a very long lens (must be Canon) apart from a thin band of sharpness across centre pix it was all very unsharp!! Same birds when we were there.
I have sent an e-mail to the picture editor complaining about a very bad picture and photographer not taking note of depth of field problems and stopping lens down more or using a wider angle lens like I did when I was having same problem with my 500mm lens. I also enclosed several pictures for him to see it will be interesting to see if they respond.
Sorry I dare not put the pix up or Robert will kill me for copright issues. But see Telegraph Thursday 3 Oct 2019.



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Posted by Robert: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 04:58 1281st Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Sorry I dare not put the pix up or Robert will kill me for copright issues. But see Telegraph Thursday 3 Oct 2019.
Who Me! LOL  Don't think so but the telegraph might and sue us too, so maybe better not.

I wondered about the landing strip and the mirroring of the pointed inlet which will likely flood first if the tide rose further, that said they were right up to the waters edge elsewhere so landing strip seems to come out top.

Any chance of some pix of the birds landing on the 'landing strip' please, sounds interesting?

The link JK posted was very interesting, pointing out the causes, reasons and consequences of bird behaviour.  It made a lot of sense.

As for poor journalistic images, I don't think the Telegraph will bat an eyelid, it wouldn't get through the door at an exhibition but once the punter has paid for the paper, any interest in the DoF evaporates in the editors eye.  I tried to find the image but all I could find was their idea of 'pictures of the day', the birds didn't make it...

I am currently doing battle with the BBC about their website video's auto-playing when auto-play is turned off in my Safari preferences AND my BBC preferences, yet it still auto-plays and cancels my setting of 'No auto-play'.  I don't think they are too bothered.



____________________
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Posted by jk: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 05:29 1282nd Post
Robert wrote:
I am currently doing battle with the BBC about their website video's auto-playing when auto-play is turned off in my Safari preferences AND my BBC preferences, yet it still auto-plays and cancels my setting of 'No auto-play'.  I don't think they are too bothered. Interesting.  
I have had the same problem with YouTube, and other sites.
I think it must be something that is intrinsic to the way the files are presented or read by the browsers.

Back on Topic -  Bird photos!



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Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 05:34 1283rd Post
I understand the herding for warmth but the gap never closed, changed shape or moved as they did. We have video and they ran round the space almost as though there was an invisible brick wall. Very odd.

Having seen the Telegraph photo I must agree that it was poor. Especially as the guy was sat centre hide with his massive lens hanging on a gimbal head and tripod for over an hour. (We know this because we were stood at the back fighting to poke our lenses past people's heads for nearly an hour). We all know how hard it is to photograph birds, so it's not the fact he missed a shot, it's that he had a loooong time to review, check and try different options ...and he apparently didn't, if that's the best he got.

On a sobering point, my friend Mike, who accompanied Graham and I, spent a few moments totting up the equipment value in the hide. He estimated there was at least £100,000 on show. ( including several 800mm lenses!) Poor old photographers. :sssshh:



____________________
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Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 05:42 1284th Post
Robert wrote:
Who Me! LOL  Don't think so but the telegraph might and sue us too, so maybe better not.

I wondered about the landing strip and the mirroring of the pointed inlet which will likely flood first if the tide rose further, that said they were right up to the waters edge elsewhere so landing strip seems to come out top.

Any chance of some pix of the birds landing on the 'landing strip' please, sounds interesting?

The link JK posted was very interesting, pointing out the causes, reasons and consequences of bird behaviour.  It made a lot of sense.

As for poor journalistic images, I don't think the Telegraph will bat an eyelid, it wouldn't get through the door at an exhibition but once the punter has paid for the paper, any interest in the DoF evaporates in the editors eye.  I tried to find the image but all I could find was their idea of 'pictures of the day', the birds didn't make it...

I am currently doing battle with the BBC about their website video's auto-playing when auto-play is turned off in my Safari preferences AND my BBC preferences, yet it still auto-plays and cancels my setting of 'No auto-play'.  I don't think they are too bothered.
I confess I didn't see birds using it as a landing strip. There were many who simply dropped into the pack. It's a pity we can't add video to this site you would see the fantastic wave moments as they inexplicably shuffle....like cereal in the breeze.

Here's some birds dropping in....



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Posted by jk: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 06:12 1285th Post
You can upload video to YouTube and link to here if you want to show video.

One thought regarding the triangular area is that it could be the river/stream outflow through the gravel to the sea.  Maybe the birds dont like it for this reason.



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Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 11:52 1286th Post
jk wrote:
You can upload video to YouTube and link to here if you want to show video.

One thought regarding the triangular area is that it could be the river/stream outflow through the gravel to the sea.  Maybe the birds dont like it for this reason.
Well I've added the video to youtube but it's come out very low quality...not sure why?  Anyway it shows the flow I was talking about....

https://youtu.be/17QDnCuADwk

Looking at the video I noticed that there is something large bobbing in the water edge of that empty space area. Can't make out what it is. Dead goose? Polythene bag?  It may be its movement is putting them off using that shoreline...or it's somehow 'tainting' the shingle area?

(Link edited - Chris)



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Posted by jk: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 13:08 1287th Post
Eric, that url does not go to your video.
What is the name of the video?



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Posted by chrisbet: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 13:17 1288th Post
jk wrote:
Eric, that url does not go to your video.
What is the name of the video?
Lol - link fixed .... :lol:

Maybe a seal lying in wait for an easy meal?



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Posted by jk: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 13:19 1289th Post
Thanks Chris.
What was the issue?


I can see the black thingy at the water's edge.  I cant zoom in to see more detail on my iPad.



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Posted by chrisbet: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 13:27 1290th Post
Extraneous ' at the end of the link.

Video quality can be improved by selecting HD 1080 on the youtube settings - bottom right corner.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Oct 7th, 2019 18:01 1291st Post
The Telegraph E-Mailed me I quote:

> Dear Graham,
> > Thank you for your email concerning the the images of Snettersham.
>
> We are grateful for you to take the time and trouble to write and
> share these with us. Your comments and images will be shared with our
> Picture team for their future reference.
>
Yours sincerely,
>
> Andy King
> Editorial Compliance
> ref:_00D2093Wf._5000J1bbpe1:ref



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Posted by Robert: Tue Oct 8th, 2019 03:04 1292nd Post
In other words a brush off.  No more than I expected, at least they replied.


The BBC have replied in a similar fashion to my complaint about BBC News videos auto playing.  At least they suggested a workaround, which I haven't tried yet, haven't had time.



____________________
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Posted by blackfox: Tue Oct 8th, 2019 17:38 1293rd Post
talking about the BBC here's one of mine from the spring watch website tonight 
https://www.facebook.com/BBCSpringwatch/photos/a.101567969936720/2512706988822794/?type=3&theater



Posted by Eric: Fri Oct 11th, 2019 15:02 1294th Post
My take on the outing..



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Oct 12th, 2019 12:56 1295th Post
One the first day on my recent trip to see Eric it was very wet but we went for a very interesting walk in a wood. This is hand held from the hide D850 with the 500mm f5.6 PF lens 1/200sec at f5.6 3200 ISO.
Not a prize winner but very happy with the quality and low noise level in such low light 3200 ISO

Attachment: Chaffinch 4091inch.jpg (Downloaded 146 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 05:19 1296th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
One the first day on my recent trip to see Eric it was very wet but we went for a very interesting walk in a wood. This is hand held from the hide D850 with the 500mm f5.6 PF lens  1/200sec at f5.6 3200 ISO.
Not a prize winner but very happy with the quality and low noise level in such low light  3200 ISO
That's interesting Graham, because the version of this image you emailed to me is significantly sharper and brighter.
Methinks your down sampling for the forum is really downgrading the image...or the old enemy of software degradation is at work?



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 07:17 1297th Post
I have alway said this quality on forum is poor. Compar this with your similar image above. Sorry can not get it as big as yours as I can not get the blue cross thing to work, must be thick. This pix on my computer is pin sharp and it is on Facebook.

Attachment: Lots of Kots.jpg (Downloaded 128 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 09:53 1298th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
I have alway said this quality on forum is poor. Compar this with your similar image above. Sorry can not get it as big as yours as I can not get the blue cross thing to work, must be thick. This pix on my computer is pin sharp and it is on Facebook. I think part of the answer must be the blue cross problem you are having.



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 09:53 1299th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
I have alway said this quality on forum is poor. Compar this with your similar image above. Sorry can not get it as big as yours as I can not get the blue cross thing to work, must be thick. This pix on my computer is pin sharp and it is on Facebook. I've just downloaded your knot image and it's 300kb.    My knot landing image is 3mb. 
Either you are downsampling the image too much or the upload route you are using is resulting in a very small = lower quality file.

Need to get the blue cross working to see if that makes the difference.



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 10:18 1300th Post
Just to recap how I use the blue cross.

When I click on the cross I get this window....






First to click on Choose Files... which opens a window into your folder system enabling you to select the photo to be loaded.

The selected photo then appears as a small thumbnail next to Choose Files...





Then hit the Submit button. 

But this isn't the end of the loading!

You then get a final screen where you have to hit ..Paste to the Editor.




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Eric


Posted by jk: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 13:03 1301st Post
Eric there is a tutorial in the forum help if you are having difficulties.
https://nikondslr.uk/view_topic.php?id=1709&forum_id=27&jump_to=21231#p21231



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Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 13:16 1302nd Post
Sorry JK didn't realise. I don't have a problem. It is Graham that's having issues and I was trying to explain the sequence by showing screen grabs.



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Eric


Posted by jk: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 13:35 1303rd Post
Eric wrote:
Sorry JK didn't realise. I don't have a problem. It is Graham that's having issues and I was trying to explain the sequence by showing screen grabs. Not a problem.  I hope that you find it intelligible!



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Posted by Robert: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 16:49 1304th Post
jk wrote:
I hope that you find it intelligible! Reasonably, I wasn't aware of that tutorial, perhaps there should be a link to it in the upload window?

It's the most complex image upload I have ever seen except perhaps for the Flicker one...  If such a tech savvy chap as Graham is having difficulty, what chance do I stand?   Usually you just browse for the image and select it, the forum software does the rest, which I suspect is where Graham is missing a step, I frequently forget to check the box to stop the image from going into the splash screen (if that's appropriate), then I have to delve into the gallery to make my mark!  I think there are still a few in the gallery which need marking.

While we are on the subject of uploading images, is there any way of setting the size of the uploaded image, I looked at the code which accompanies the image and there was a number 4 in the series of parameters, if that number was altered does that set the size of the image? If so is there some way of providing that control to the members?



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Robert.



Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 18:33 1305th Post
Robert wrote:
Reasonably, I wasn't aware of that tutorial, perhaps there should be a link to it in the upload window?

It's the most complex image upload I have ever seen except perhaps for the Flicker one...  If such a tech savvy chap as Graham is having difficulty, what chance do I stand?   Usually you just browse for the image and select it, the forum software does the rest, which I suspect is where Graham is missing a step, I frequently forget to check the box to stop the image from going into the splash screen (if that's appropriate), then I have to delve into the gallery to make my mark!  I think there are still a few in the gallery which need marking.

While we are on the subject of uploading images, is there any way of setting the size of the uploaded image, I looked at the code which accompanies the image and there was a number 4 in the series of parameters, if that number was altered does that set the size of the image? If so is there some way of providing that control to the members?
I have to agree. Even though I know how to do it, the second Paste to editor stage seems an unnecessary step which can be overlooked. I also forget to tick the no splash box preference and have to get rid of images out of my gallery that were merely informative examples in posts.



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 19:01 1306th Post
There is no way I can see any screen that looks like anything on the demo page, perhaps it is Windows 10. No sign of a blue cross.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 19:15 1307th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
There is no way I can see any screen that looks like anything on the demo page, perhaps it is Windows 10. No sign of a blue cross. I do wonder if you havent switched to the the new editor?

I am sure Jonathan will have a slick FAQ on this but....

If you go into My Account on the Home screen and select Preferences, is the Board Theme set to Modern Editor??




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Eric


Posted by jk: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 19:27 1308th Post
Eric wrote:
I do wonder if you havent switched to the the new editor? He was still Ultra theme, but he is now on Modern Editor.


Please can you try now Graham.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 13th, 2019 19:31 1309th Post
jk wrote:
He was still Ultra theme, but he is now on Modern Editor.


Please can you try now Graham.
The power of the administrator. :lol: 
Lets hope he doesn't get lost when he logs on and finds he's been remotely adjusted :lol: 

I think we are the only ones still up Jonathan.......and I am off to bed now. :thumbs:



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Eric


Posted by Robert: Mon Oct 14th, 2019 03:14 1310th Post
I think it's time we retired the 'old' editor.

Once members are used to it it's OK.  We all need to be on the same page to avoid confusion.



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Robert.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Oct 14th, 2019 05:26 1311th Post



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Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Mon Oct 14th, 2019 05:46 1312th Post
Eric wrote:
I do wonder if you havent switched to the the new editor?

I am sure Jonathan will have a slick FAQ on this but....

If you go into My Account on the Home screen and select Preferences, is the Board Theme set to Modern Editor??
It is here.
https://nikondslr.uk/view_topic.php?id=1709&forum_id=27&jump_to=21231#p21231



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Oct 14th, 2019 06:11 1313th Post



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Posted by Eric: Mon Oct 14th, 2019 08:36 1314th Post
Robert wrote:
I think it's time we retired the 'old' editor.

Once members are used to it it's OK.  We all need to be on the same page to avoid confusion.
Totally agree:thumbs:



____________________
Eric


Posted by jk: Mon Oct 14th, 2019 09:27 1315th Post
I have now set the Default Editor to Modern Editor for new members.  Prior members can change if they want or ask me to change it for them.



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Oct 18th, 2019 04:41 1316th Post
a black headed gull and rat , large crop 



Posted by jk: Fri Oct 18th, 2019 04:43 1317th Post
Good capture Jeff.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Oct 22nd, 2019 12:16 1318th Post
Titchfield Haven this afternoon Turnstones at low tide, Nikon D850 500mm f5.6 PF lens 1/640 sec f9 1600 ISO



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Oct 22nd, 2019 12:17 1319th Post



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Posted by Robert: Tue Oct 22nd, 2019 18:57 1320th Post
Very good graham, nice to see such close up pictures of subjects in their natural habitat.



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Posted by jk: Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 05:14 1321st Post
Those are very fine and detailed images Graham.
Well done, you must have been fairly close.



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 12:23 1322nd Post
excellent work there graham . super feather detail



Posted by Eric: Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 13:44 1323rd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Graham...are these full frame or crops? Perhaps a personal thing but I prefer a bit more habitat space around the birds.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 19:06 1324th Post
This is privious shot with no crop. I think crop is far better remove some of right. 



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Posted by Robert: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 02:36 1325th Post
I can see Eric's point about habitat but once you seen one rock, you seen them all!

I think there is room for a fine detail image, particularly when the bird is well situated on the focal plane, allowing very fine detail to be seen pretty well all over the bird.  These would be superb images in a bird recognition book.

I prefer the first example...



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Robert.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 05:05 1326th Post
As you say Robert 1st pix is the best. Problem was they were very active and moving all time and almost too close  with f9 DPF was problem and keeping single point focus spot on head and composing not too good with tail too near to the left. Bird photography is not easy and I was very lucky to get so near to these very active little chaps, I was looking down on them from the path round the harbour wall at low tide. The 500mm F5.6  PF lens with x1.4 is 700mm and  wide open at F8, the low sun was also in my face.



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Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 05:44 1327th Post
Robert wrote:
I can see Eric's point about habitat but once you seen one rock, you seen them all!

I think there is room for a fine detail image, particularly when the bird is well situated on the focal plane, allowing very fine detail to be seen pretty well all over the bird.  These would be superb images in a bird recognition book.

I prefer the first example...

Believe it or not, many successful wildlife photographers subscribe to the view that the birds or creatures should be only 1/3 of the frame. When it comes to bird identification then a full frame ('postage stamp' shot I understand they are called) is obviously more of an advantage but I like plenty of space round my birds. Which also saves me having to buy an 800mm lens. :lol:

And anyway I like rocks...they aren't all the same. ;-)



____________________
Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 09:00 1328th Post
Trouble was if I had paused to remove the x1.4 extender they would have seen me messing about and taken off!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 09:08 1329th Post
Eric wrote:
And anyway I like rocks...they aren't all the same. ;-)
I probably seen way too many rocks! :lol:

Is that 1/3 linear or area?  By area I would guess it's about 1/6th?



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Robert.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 09:12 1330th Post
More rocks less birds almost full frame tech bits all same just a few seconds bofore above pixs.



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Posted by chrisbet: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 11:02 1331st Post
I prefer less background and more subject ... after all the whole point of the image is to please the viewer or to recapture a memory and if it does that successfully then who cares what other "professionals" think about the proportions and composition.

If you are trying to win competitions it is a different matter ....



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Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:06 1332nd Post
Robert wrote:
I probably seen way too many rocks! :lol:

Is that 1/3 linear or area?  By area I would guess it's about 1/6th?
To be honest I'm not sure, Robert.  I don't, myself, subscribe to that sort of black and white view on framing. For me the image has always got to say something....even if it's a bird photograph. So I need to include more of the surroundings sometimes to help get the message across....or if nothing else somewhere to stick an even more helpful explanatory caption for my obscure thinking (according to Jan). :lol:

Without something different....it's just a close up photo of a bird on a stick. Which is fine as a technical execution or record...I just want more fun with my images. 

This is what I mean, using the humble long tailed tit....

The basic shot...could be tighter cropped, could have background stick removed from its head etc to make it stand out as a shot of a long tailed tit.






But my preference is for more interesting unusual situations with more space around the subject to enhance the story....








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Eric


Posted by blackfox: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:12 1333rd Post
those all work for me Eric ,nice



Posted by blackfox: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:15 1334th Post
couple of mine from yesterday grey wagtail in early morning sun , and a goldfinch through double glazing on my front garden feeder




Posted by blackfox: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:15 1335th Post
couple of mine from yesterday grey wagtail in early morning sun , and a goldfinch through double glazing on my front garden feeder




Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:21 1336th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
More rocks less birds almost full frame tech bits all same just a few seconds bofore above pixs.
I prefer the other shots to this one. Somehow the stones look more like shingle, where as the greyer chunkier ones in the previous shots seem to enhance the image rather than distract. It emphasises a strong contrast between the delicacy of the bird and the hard rock.
And after all it's a Turnstone not a Turnshingle. :lol:

I am being very picky though Graham.



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:28 1337th Post
blackfox wrote:
couple of mine from yesterday grey wagtail in early morning sun , and a goldfinch through double glazing on my front garden feeder


Lovely Greywag there Jeff. You always seem to get strong lighting on your outings. Maybe the North West is more blessed. o.O



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:31 1338th Post
I am going to be even more picky - shingle is small ROUND stones - those are not round ... I'll get my hat :wine:



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Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:41 1339th Post
chrisbet wrote:
I am going to be even more picky - shingle is small ROUND stones - those are not round ... I'll get my hat :wine: Would you prefer a Turngravel then?:lol:



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 13:50 1340th Post
Robert wrote:


I prefer the first example...



Me too 



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Eric


Posted by Robert: Thu Oct 24th, 2019 15:03 1341st Post
Robert wrote:
I probably seen way too many rocks! :lol:
I mean generally... Not meaning there are too many rocks in picture.  I have been digging the stuff (rocks) all summer and it's responsible for my left arm almost hanging off, I have been to the doctors today and she told me I have probably torn a tendom with all my activity. :thumbsdown:  it's certainly very tender.



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Robert.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 05:07 1342nd Post
To all our friends on the forum please watch this film about Albatross. Is it too late for all of us I ask?

https://player.vimeo.com/video/218502282?app_id=122963&wmode=opaque



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Posted by Robert: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 05:20 1343rd Post
A powerful story.  Thanks for posting.

I don't know the answer.



____________________
Robert.



Posted by jk: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 09:42 1344th Post
Thanks for posting Graham.
Very powerful video.

Unfortunately we are top of food and intelligence pyramid but cant see we are destroying the planet.  
If we tackle the problem it must be done on two fronts.  Population and pollution.

Pollution is easier but it is still difficult as it requires changes in behaviour.
Population is much more difficult unless we (all countries) ALL adopt a  - one child per pairing concept.  This means each couple is only allowed 1 child, if you divorce and remarry (no more kids)!  This is hugely difficult socially.  We need to reduce population from 7.7B to <2B people. 
It would take 60 years for this to effect world population in a positive way and 100 years to achieve the necessary <2B level.   
I have strategies but no answer.  The alternatives are not good, i.e. War, over-population and food and water shortages.
Oh happy day!



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Posted by Eric: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 09:54 1345th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
To all our friends on the forum please watch this film about Albatross. Is it too late for all of us I ask?

https://player.vimeo.com/video/218502282?app_id=122963&wmode=opaque
Yes that's very sad tale.

I am a bit surprised though.

When I throw out of date meat and pies onto the lawn the hoards of gulls swoop down from no where and gobble it up. If I throw out other stuff, for example apple and pears (or parts thereof), they won't touch them.
If I throw corn out ...some birds eat it, some wont go near it. 
My point is ....they seem to know what not to eat....so how come these sea birds are eating plastic tops?  I can understand them accidentally scooping stuff up as they skim the waves but then actually swallowing it seems strange. I can equally understand them ingesting small plastic particles swallowed by fish or scooped up with the food ....that they subsequently eat. I can understand open mouthed plankton feeders scooping up floating plastic tops by mistake. But can't quite get my head round the amount and frequency these birds are 'getting it wrong'. The finches and blue tits even 'spit out' less than perfect sunflower seeds and peanuts. I can't imaging them even contemplating eating plastic seeds and peanuts in a container??

The same applies to fish. The whole art of rod fishing revolves around presenting them with the best artificial mimic of their normal food to fool them...and by all accounts it's a difficult skill to master. Fish won't bite for plastic flies.

Maybe I am missing a point. But I don't understand why these birds have suspended all their knowledge/experience on what's edible in the oceans.



____________________
Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 13:57 1346th Post
I find it odd too and the cinic in me wonders whether it is somewhat staged...



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Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 15:12 1347th Post
One form today taken with the Olympus set up.

PA250104-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Robert: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 17:26 1348th Post
Eric wrote:
Yes that's very sad tale.

I am a bit surprised though.

When I throw out of date meat and pies onto the lawn the hoards of gulls swoop down from no where and gobble it up. If I throw out other stuff, for example apple and pears (or parts thereof), they won't touch them.
If I throw corn out ...some birds eat it, some wont go near it. 
My point is ....they seem to know what not to eat....so how come these sea birds are eating plastic tops?  I can understand them accidentally scooping stuff up as they skim the waves but then actually swallowing it seems strange. I can equally understand them ingesting small plastic particles swallowed by fish or scooped up with the food ....that they subsequently eat. I can understand open mouthed plankton feeders scooping up floating plastic tops by mistake. But can't quite get my head round the amount and frequency these birds are 'getting it wrong'. The finches and blue tits even 'spit out' less than perfect sunflower seeds and peanuts. I can't imaging them even contemplating eating plastic seeds and peanuts in a container??

The same applies to fish. The whole art of rod fishing revolves around presenting them with the best artificial mimic of their normal food to fool them...and by all accounts it's a difficult skill to master. Fish won't bite for plastic flies.

Maybe I am missing a point. But I don't understand why these birds have suspended all their knowledge/experience on what's edible in the oceans.
I agree Eric, my (limited) Darwinian knowledge suggest that the ones (species) who devour damaging non-food won't reproduce offspring with the same tendencies, if they do then they will suffer the same fate.  Millions of species, large and small, have come and gone over countless millennia, which is a factor which will never end, least not while the earth spins.  our tenure will be brief by comparison.



____________________
Robert.



Posted by Robert: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 17:28 1349th Post
Very nice Iain, it looks as though someone has carved smilies or hieroglyphics on the branch!



____________________
Robert.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Oct 25th, 2019 18:12 1350th Post
Super picture Ian.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 26th, 2019 05:05 1351st Post
Robert wrote:
I agree Eric, my (limited) Darwinian knowledge suggest that the ones (species) who devour damaging non-food won't reproduce offspring with the same tendencies, if they do then they will suffer the same fate.  Millions of species, large and small, have come and gone over countless millennia, which is a factor which will never end, least not while the earth spins.  our tenure will be brief by comparison. Well I stand corrected...to some extent.

Just read this explanation:

“They are attracted by sense of smell, the plastic gets covered in algae which emits a chemical called dimethyl sulphite. This acts as an olfactory signal that ordinarily alerts the bird to the presence of krill”



____________________
Eric


Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 26th, 2019 05:06 1352nd Post
Iain wrote:
One form today taken with the Olympus set up.

PA250104-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
Have you changed equipment Iain??



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Oct 26th, 2019 06:40 1353rd Post
Evening Flight from last Autumn in the downs N of Chichester



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Oct 29th, 2019 09:55 1354th Post
This from my recent trip to see Eric, very wet dull day in the woods. Nikon D850 500mm f5.6 PF lens hand held 1/400 sec f5.6 2000 ISO 1/3 of the full frame NEF processed in Photoshop CC RAW with mild noise reduction and sharpening.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Oct 29th, 2019 11:59 1355th Post
Titchfield Havcen Black Tailed Godwits  Nikon D500 500mm Lens 1000 ISO 1/1250 sec f18



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Graham Whistler


Posted by blackfox: Tue Oct 29th, 2019 14:41 1356th Post
nice set of shots there graham



Posted by Iain: Wed Oct 30th, 2019 14:48 1357th Post
Eric wrote:
Have you changed equipment Iain?? Yes. Arthritis in my left shoulder and neck has got to the point that using the Nikon gear just caused pain and was spoiling my enjoyment of photography. So I've gone Olympus M1 and 300mm f4.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Oct 30th, 2019 18:57 1358th Post
Ian good luck with the new camera but please do not depart our forum!



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Posted by jk: Thu Oct 31st, 2019 04:19 1359th Post
Iain I hope your shoulder improves but I guess it is a long term problem that we will all face in time.
Please continue to post here as you use the Olympus.  
I am camera neutral and we need to remember it is a tool not an item of jewellery.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Oct 31st, 2019 06:50 1360th Post
This is the same day as above and the Black Tailed Godwits take to the air. (For those who fdo not know the very similar Bart Tailed Godwits do not have the white bands on the wings.) This is also with a Nikon 500mm lens.



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Posted by jk: Thu Oct 31st, 2019 10:16 1361st Post
Nice shot Graham.
How much of a crop of the full frame?
What are your D850 AF settings?



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Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 31st, 2019 13:47 1362nd Post
jk wrote:
Iain I hope your shoulder improves but I guess it is a long term problem that we will all face in time.
Please continue to post here as you use the Olympus.  
I am camera neutral and we need to remember it is a tool not an item of jewellery.
I have no intention of going anywhere any time soon.

you can't get rid of me that easy. :lol:



Posted by jk: Thu Oct 31st, 2019 14:34 1363rd Post
Iain wrote:
I have no intention of going anywhere any time soon.

you can't get rid of me that easy. :lol:
That is good.  :applause::thumbs:



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Oct 31st, 2019 19:23 1364th Post
Godwits: The flight shot was using 25 focus spots and tracking AFC perhaps 25% crop.  Group shot single spot focus 1/3 in and stop down to F18 for DOF most of shot used perhaps 10% off to tidy up. Both shots D500 not D850.



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Posted by jk: Fri Nov 1st, 2019 05:11 1365th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Godwits: The flight shot was using 25 focus spots and tracking AFC perhaps 25% crop.  Group shot single spot focus 1/3 in and stop down to F18 for DOF most of shot used perhaps 10% off to tidy up. Both shots D500 not D850. Thanks Graham.
Thought that it was the D850 rather than D500.  The D500 is ace for BIF.



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Nov 1st, 2019 06:35 1366th Post
a couple from yesterday using olympus omd1-mkii plus a 50-200SWD f2.8 +1.4 TC this is a older four thirds lens and useable via a adaptor a extremely cheap way into pro lenses on olympus .. due to the latest firmware camera updates there is no difference in focus speeds etc .




Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Nov 1st, 2019 09:29 1367th Post
Good quality shots, well done!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Nov 2nd, 2019 18:08 1368th Post
thanks graham



Posted by Iain: Sat Nov 9th, 2019 10:10 1369th Post
Two form the new set up, still getting all the settings sorted. Soooo many menu's. :hair:

PB

060031 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr

PB060015 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Nov 9th, 2019 11:42 1370th Post
an those look spot on to me! What were ISO and exposure settings?



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Sat Nov 9th, 2019 12:06 1371st Post
ISO was 1250 and 5.6 320sec Olympus 300 f4 with 1.4tc so wide open.



Posted by jk: Sat Nov 9th, 2019 12:07 1372nd Post
As Graham says they look PDG to me!
Just shows it is the user, not the tool, that makes the difference!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Nov 9th, 2019 17:30 1373rd Post
couple more of mine from last week with the olympus 




Posted by Iain: Tue Nov 12th, 2019 11:05 1374th Post
One more from me. I think I have managed to get the colours about right and not too saturated as Olympus seems to like them.

PB110024 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by jk: Tue Nov 12th, 2019 15:00 1375th Post
Very fine rendering and so sharp.



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Posted by Robert: Tue Nov 12th, 2019 16:44 1376th Post
These superb bird photographs just amaze me, I don't comment on every one, I run out of superlatives.  The standard from you all is really good, I scarcely see any of these species, yet I guess there are some around me here and seabirds almost on my doorstep.  There are almost certainly Kingfishers in the Duddon Valley and Woodpeckers I know are regular visitors to my friends garden, I HAVE seen them, I see the flocks of seabirds following the ebb and flow of the tide, I wish I had the fieldcraft and interest to get engaged with this branch of photography, it's very challenging both technically and from the fieldcraft point of view.

While I appreciate the world of nature and have always had a keen interest, I find it difficult to immerse myself is the world of nature photography.  Too many years of building rally cars and the like I guess! o.O


Do you find this easier to read?  I have selected size 3 text, I find the standard text almost impossibly small to read even with glasses.



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Robert.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Nov 15th, 2019 06:21 1377th Post
I am off to Kenya on a bird photography quest next week will be with my friend Bob who lives there and is serious watcher of birds (with over 140 types in his garden!) and a Nikon D300 user I have posted some of his woodpecker pixs here in the past. Weather there at present bit wet so hope it clears. If I get some good material I will start a new Kenya Bird topic. I am travelling light with my D500, Nikon AF-S 80-400mm lens with x1.4 extender and for normal photography my very good and compact 18-140mm lens. So if I see elephants I will also be able to cope. Oyster Catchers below in Titchfield Haven 1/1600 sec f8 400 ISO with same 80-400 Nikon Lens and x1.4 extender.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Fri Nov 15th, 2019 06:46 1378th Post
Super close!


Hope your Kenya pictures are as close and good.



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Posted by Iain: Fri Nov 15th, 2019 10:50 1379th Post
Have a good trip Graham. Hope you get plenty of pics.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Nov 23rd, 2019 06:47 1380th Post
I am in Kenya for two weeks photographing wild birds with a friend Bob who is a local expert. This is a Crowned Crane and yesterday I took over 300 images of birds from Bob's Landrover and we were able to get very close a lot of the time. It has been very wet and thank goodness Bob knows how to get through some very rough wet places. All pixs on this trip will be in my new topic Graham in Kenya. All with Nikon D500 80-400 mm AF-S x1.4 or Nikon 18-140mm AF-S' Bob uses D300 with 18-200. We are off to Mt Kenya area in morning. No promises on getting intert but will do my best.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Sat Nov 23rd, 2019 07:36 1381st Post
What a wonderful picture Graham!

Have fun near Mt. Kenya.



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Robert.



Posted by blackfox: Mon Nov 25th, 2019 05:44 1382nd Post
wow that's superb Graham ,enjoy the rest of the trip



Posted by Iain: Thu Dec 12th, 2019 10:59 1383rd Post
Been playing with the higher ISO on the Olympus. Taken at 3200iso

PB260042 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by chrisbet: Thu Dec 12th, 2019 11:08 1384th Post
Iain that looks a bit fuzzy to me - the flickr image has obviously been resized, you might be better off uploading the image to the forum.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Dec 13th, 2019 10:20 1385th Post
Looks good to me Ian and I am impressed with low noise levels at ISO 3200.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Sat Dec 14th, 2019 17:03 1386th Post
It's not too bad Graham, not up to FF standard but acceptable.

Chris, it's sharp enough on my monitor and on my iPad. o.O



Posted by blackfox: Fri Dec 20th, 2019 06:36 1387th Post
a few skylark on the beach shots from the start of the week 







Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Dec 20th, 2019 07:00 1388th Post
Nice pictures Jeff this is the Kenya pix of The Pink Breasted Lark it is on the Kenya post but thought it would be interesting to compare with your Lark? D500 with 80-400mm lens plus x1.4



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Dec 20th, 2019 07:02 1389th Post



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Graham Whistler


Posted by blackfox: Mon Dec 30th, 2019 04:15 1390th Post
returned to the beach on xmas eve (despite the flu) with my lad ,walked on to the beach and the snow bunting was a few feet away camouflaged in the stones 







Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 31st, 2019 16:41 1391st Post
Stacking over Norfolk...






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Eric


Posted by Robert: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 00:51 1392nd Post
Wonderful Eric!  What a spectacular image.

This thread has many wonderful images, from so many members, the hit count is currently almost 100,000 views.  Remarkable work, priceless thread, thanks to everyone who has posted, not just the images but also in many cases something about the images too, that is what makes it for me, almost a story.



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Robert.



Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 05:18 1393rd Post
Robert wrote:
Wonderful Eric!  What a spectacular image.

This thread has many wonderful images, from so many members, the hit count is currently almost 100,000 views.  Remarkable work, priceless thread, thanks to everyone who has posted, not just the images but also in many cases something about the images too, that is what makes it for me, almost a story.
Thanks...but it would have been a lot better if the settings had been correct.



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Eric


Posted by jk: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 05:28 1394th Post
Eric wrote:
Stacking over Norfolk...




Great set.  
Is this a composite or all one shot.



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Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 05:53 1395th Post
jk wrote:
Great set.  
Is this a composite or all one shot.
Straight shot ....but other geese cropped off left and right;-)

These might have made it harder to isolate a pattern.  




LH413 Hamburg to Chicago...




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Eric


Posted by jk: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 07:28 1396th Post
Great shots both.

That LH413 image is super sharp.



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Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 12:39 1397th Post
jk wrote:
Great shots both.

That LH413 image is super sharp.
Maybe I should take up plane photography instead? :lol:



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Eric


Posted by jk: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 13:01 1398th Post
Eric wrote:
Maybe I should take up plane photography instead? :lol: Well there are probably just as many people who do plane watching as bird watching, but they dont all take photos.
:lol:



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jan 1st, 2020 14:36 1399th Post
Very dramatic LH413 thanks Eric



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Graham Whistler


Posted by blackfox: Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 06:06 1400th Post
a good start to 2020 even if I did set my shutter speed to low ,all hand held some even single hand due to sun in my eyes 







Posted by Iain: Sun Jan 12th, 2020 12:30 1401st Post
Another experiment with high ISO on the olympus. Taken @ 6400


P1070079-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Robert: Sun Jan 12th, 2020 12:31 1402nd Post
Perfect natural framing there Iain.  :applause:



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Posted by Iain: Sun Jan 12th, 2020 12:35 1403rd Post
It was a pain to get Robert as I think they have springs in there legs.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jan 13th, 2020 13:05 1404th Post
Ian that is very good perhaps I too should sell my Nikon kit? No  I do like my D850 and the 500mm f5.6 PF lens focus is spot on I wish I had taken that to Kenya as I had too many focus failures on small birds with the D500 and 80-400 mm lens but I need that for the normal game pictures and two camera and two sets of lenses is too much to carry.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Mon Jan 13th, 2020 16:36 1405th Post
That's the problem Graham, to take it all is too much weight.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jan 15th, 2020 10:12 1406th Post
Jack and Dora our local pair of Jackdaws nest in local chimneys every year but the house next door has upset Jack's plans for this year today! They use our garden for feeding but I only hope they show no interest in our chimney now. Nikon D850 and 500mm f5.6  AF-S PF Lens plus x1.4, 1/500 sec at f8 800 ISO blow-up of about 25% of total image. NEF processed in Photoshop CC with some USM.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Wed Jan 15th, 2020 13:29 1407th Post
It's not going to get in that one. The houses over the back from me started a number of years ago with 4 Jackdaws. Now there must be twenty nesting in various chimneys.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Jan 21st, 2020 12:03 1408th Post
Better weather today -3C but sun, so had first walk for the year in local reserve Titchfield Haven. Water frozen first thing so only a few Oystercatchers (also spot the 2 Redshanks) on an island waiting for the tide to go out. Nikon D850 with Nikon 500mm  f5.6 PF lens plus x1.4 extender = 700mm  ISO 1000 1/1000 sec f14



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Graham Whistler


Posted by blackfox: Tue Jan 21st, 2020 12:21 1409th Post
some chough shots from yesterday , only the second time I have ever seen them 







Posted by jk: Tue Jan 21st, 2020 12:53 1410th Post
blackfox wrote:
some chough shots from yesterday , only the second time I have ever seen them 





Cornish bid or county bird of Cornwall.
Great shots.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Jan 21st, 2020 19:15 1411th Post
This is a Spanish Alpine Chough, Nikon D850



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Posted by jk: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 03:17 1412th Post
In the hills around me in the Valencia region we have choughs that live in the steep faces of the hills.  They seem to live in large groups.



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 04:35 1413th Post
still a rare bird up here though , this is only the second time I have ever seen one in about 15 years



Posted by blackfox: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 04:37 1414th Post
a couple of snow buntings from the same trip on Monday 




Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 05:15 1415th Post
Alpine Choughs are quite approachable and love cheese.:lol:



Trouble is the message goes out when cheese is about.




Fortune favours the bravest


Late for Lunch......




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Posted by jk: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 06:51 1416th Post
Eric wrote:
Alpine Choughs are quite approachable and love cheese.:lol:



Trouble is the message goes out when cheese is about.




Fortune favours the bravest


Late for Lunch......


The Spanish ones look like this.



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Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 07:33 1417th Post
I refrained from saying they were 'chuffed to bits' with the attention.:lol:


 AT LEAST FOR A FEW MINUTES. :lol:



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 07:45 1418th Post
Interesting pixs Eric. The ones I saw in Spain knew the cable car came up with tourists and food as did the many Long Tailed Fiscal Shrikes in Niarobi Game Park have a serious likeing to marmalade sandwiches!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 08:33 1419th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Interesting pixs Eric. The ones I saw in Spain knew the cable car came up with tourists and food as did the many Long Tailed Fiscal Shrikes in Niarobi Game Park have a serious likeing to marmalade sandwiches!
And why not? I like them too!  Lovely bird. Almost a cross between a magpie and a shrike with that tail.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jan 24th, 2020 11:43 1420th Post
Was looking at some D3X with Nikon 300mm lens images from S Africa trip 2010 this is not big blow up so 80% of image 1600 ISO 1/160 sec at f5.6: Quite a lot of noise compared with what we can do now with D500 and even better with D850. 



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Posted by jk: Fri Jan 24th, 2020 12:58 1421st Post
That is still a very pleasing image and not really showing a lot of noise.  I think we are being spoilt by the latest set of cameras.



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Posted by Eric: Fri Jan 24th, 2020 15:42 1422nd Post
jk wrote:
That is still a very pleasing image and not really showing a lot of noise.  I thnk we are being spoilt by the latest set of cameras. It's showing the amount of noise at iso1600, we now only accept at iso 6400+.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jan 24th, 2020 18:16 1423rd Post
At the time I was very pleased with the D3X after my D2X it was a major improvement. I never went for the D3 but did get it's little brother the D300 still rated as one of Nikon's best DX cameras. My friend in Kenya Bob is still very happy with his as is my daughter Clare. At normal ISOs the D300 still takes super quality pixs. 

I agree JK they do all most photographers would ever need. I know if I was still working I would not be replacing them with Hasselblads latest 100 MP offering at £25,00 plus VAT for body only. A few years ago I  used the 50 MP Hasselblad when I was doing an RPS workshop and at the time the finished A3+ prints looked softer then the same subject I took with my then Nikon D810. Too be fair the owner may not have set it up very well and we did put his camera images into my laptop in rather a hurry. I would like to have a go with the new Hasselblad but would need more than the 1/2 hour had using the 50 MP model.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jan 27th, 2020 07:11 1424th Post
Little Owls with D850



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Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Mon Jan 27th, 2020 07:50 1425th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Little Owls with D850
Great photo.  
I am looking at it on my 30" monitor and it looks like they are actually sitting on my desk!



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Posted by Eric: Mon Jan 27th, 2020 08:43 1426th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Little Owls with D850
Excellent....quality image.



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Eric


Posted by Bob Bowen: Mon Jan 27th, 2020 10:11 1427th Post
Cracking image Graham.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Jan 28th, 2020 10:13 1428th Post
Later same day poor light still D850 400-80mm AF-S at 400mm ISO 3200 1/250 sec f6.3



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Graham Whistler


Posted by blackfox: Wed Jan 29th, 2020 09:38 1429th Post
super graham



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jan 30th, 2020 06:26 1430th Post
I think this may be of interest I will let you into some inside info. This is the pix as shot at my friend Pete's place on the river Ichin N of Southampton, he keeps Owls and other birds. He is a very good photographer and lets other photographers (for a very reasonable fee) photograph his nearly tame birds in his wonderful wild wood. The jessies on they legs need to be retouched out. Pix is as stated with D850 and 80-400mm AF-S lens without x4 extender but at full 400mm and VR. This was towards end of our session with my late photographer friend Malcolm, light was fading so ISO 3200 1/250 sec at f6.3



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jan 30th, 2020 06:34 1431st Post
This is the final image with slight crop and levels in Photoshop CC. Also cloning work to cover the bindings on the legs. Final work in Photoshop RAW to correct some of the noise and small amount of Un-sharp Mask. Final mounted A3+ print made on Epson Photo R3000 printer with Fotospeed Injk flow System and fine art 300gsm Fotospeed paper.
I any of you are interested and would like more info about Pete's super set-up including his Kingfisher hide follow this link: https://www.petewhieldonphotography.co.uk/



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jan 30th, 2020 12:37 1432nd Post
Eric found two faults that I have now corrected, thank you Eric. Pink still showing on baby Owl in centre and raise log slightly on right side.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Tue Mar 10th, 2020 03:46 1433rd Post
What has happened to Grahams images?



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Robert.



Posted by chrisbet: Tue Mar 10th, 2020 04:12 1434th Post
Robert wrote:
What has happened to Grahams images? They got deleted from his gallery somehow ... I have restored them from the backup.



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Posted by Robert: Tue Mar 10th, 2020 15:36 1435th Post
Thank you Chris!

:thumbs:



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