Birds Show Birds

One from today - the good old Robin - I'm getting nearer and as you know Robins are a little more people friendly than other birds

Is this one a young bird just coming into winter plumage?

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Julien - that's a really good shot

The best one I could get today from the Caen to Portsmouth cross channel ferry was is below; it was quite a pleasant day, Force 7 wind, choppy seas, but good light when we got to the UK side, very windy, enough to almost blow me off deck.

cropped image and taken with my D300 - I will never be able to get near enough to any (wild) bird to get a good shot with a small camera - I always need to use the longest lens that I have, (300mm at present)

Common Gull, (Adult)
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A nice find outside my apartment. Here where I live, the only thing that usually stays for the winter are a few cardinals, sparrows, and morning doves. They rarely come out in the winter, though. I think this is a carolina chickadee. Thing was bouncing from limb to limb so I was suprised I got any decent shots. These are 75 percent crops. Taken with E-PL2 @150mm. Small little things.


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Bill, it's about 10 years old now, but one that was and probably still is highly regarded is the Collins Bird Guide by Killian Mullarney, Lars Svensson, Dan Zetterstrom and Peter J Grant. It's a black covered book and is a complete guide for Britain and Europe, so from the North Cape of Norway and northern Russia right down to North Africa and over to Turkey.

Barrie

Thanks Barrie and Paul - got the Book - impressive - good size and tons of content - Gimbal should arrive today, the one that is recommended on the bird site is made in the UK by an enthusiast - just one guy who I believe "turns them out" at home - very good price compared with the "famous make".

Narrowed down my affordable "birding" lens to a Nikon 300mm f4 AF, (NO VR and a new model is maybe due this year), plus a TC14 or the Sigma 150 500mm OS ...... the Sigma is about £750 and the Nikon set up about twice that ....... I've looked at these super zooms, the HS20 etc., ...... but no no ..... maybe I should consider a used M43 Panasonic 100 300m and use my G1 - quality seems good, has OS and with the x2 sensor will give me 600mm ..... or take a chance on a used 400mm or 500mm Nikon - but expensive and heavy and no chance to use for BIF

what do I do - the Sigma - £750 - OS - could use hand held now and again - but I'll only use it at the long, (400mm 500mm end), so I have no need for the tele,
OR the Nikon 300mm f4 with TC - twice the price - a Nikon prime - but no OS and an old design - but I can use it with or without the TC
OR stick with my Nikon 70 300mm VR for a while and keep search EBay for a good used 400mm Nikon and TC, or maybe a used AF Nikon 300mm f4

Help me decide!!

The Sigma, no the Nikon - no used - any other suggestions
 
Kathy - love the Kite...but this Frigate bird (I think? or an Albatross?) on this sculpture is fabulous! What wonderful companions they all make! You had perfect timing!
 
Kathy - love the Kite...but this Frigate bird (I think? or an Albatross?) on this sculpture is fabulous! What wonderful companions they all make! You had perfect timing!

Hi BB - you are now putting Barrie out of work with your bird naming expertise - is there any end to your skills - what next?
 
Kathy - love the Kite...but this Frigate bird (I think? or an Albatross?) on this sculpture is fabulous! What wonderful companions they all make! You had perfect timing!

BB, exactly right - Magnificent Frigatebird (juvenile)!

p.s. I believe the bird in flight is a Magnificent Frigatebird as well - adult female.
 
BillN said:
Help me decide!!

Sorry Bill, I've only ever read about this sort of slr gear, never owned any of that ilk ... so I hope others will be able to advise better .. but I have a horrible feeling you are starting on a path which leads to selling body parts as you seek to buy longer, faster, ever more exotic bits of glass ...
 
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