Gone to the Birds - DPChallenge Forums

04/24/2007 02:08:11 PM · #1

I'm seeing lots of nice bird shots in the forums. How about a thread just for the birds?

I'll start:

Went to the beach yesterday and saw some birds I'd never seen before. They were performing some amazing maneuvers and diving from a great height into the water. Of course, I couldn't even dream of capturing a shot with my equipment. I can't even seem to get a closeup in focus!

A ways farther down I found one of these birds sitting on the beach. I walked right up to it and it just opened its long (very pointy) beak at me. I'm a big softy for injured animals and know of a wildlife rehabilitator who handles seabirds.

Hurried back to the car and grabbed a jacket and in few minutes was carrying the unhappy creature back to the car. I dumped a computer printer out of it's box and the bird fit inside perfectly. I got the number for the rehabilitator and called her while I headed her way. Over the phone she identified the bird and told me that there have been numerous beachings recently.

It was a Northern Gannet and probably exhausted from it's migration. Apparently, they don't walk very well; which is why I thought it was injured. She told me that they don't do well in cages and that the best thing would be to let it go in the calmer waters of the lagoon, since the ocean was very rough.

About this time I felt something crawling on my face, and looked in the rear-view mirror to discover that I was covered with little crawly black bugs. LICE! This was unnerving; and I hurried to get to a safe place to release the bird. The rehabilitator assured me that the lice are host-specific and have no interest in biting humans. However, they are very creepy and like to get in your hair. Sure enough, I could see them walking around on my head!

I put the bird in the water and it seemed happy to float around. The poor thing must have been miserable because it left hundreds of lice all over the inside of my car. Yuck! I spent an hour fumigating the car, and everything in it, when I got home. And even after a long shower, I still had the sensation of creepy crawlies.

I wasn't going to let this ruin my day, so I went to the jetties to look for some tame birds at the fish cleaning station. Sure enough, there was a group of pelicans ready to pose for me. I got my camera out and began snapping away. All the sudden one of them came after me! This has never happened before; and I was concerned because they have a sharp tip on their beak and can really hurt you. He chased after me flapping his wings and opening his huge beak. I'm not sure if he was asking for a handout or protecting his family, but it was a funny sight. He did finally settle down and let me get a few shots.

After all that excitement I didn't manage to get anything great; but the story makes up for the lousy pictures.

Northern Gannet (blurry)

"Grumpy" the Brown Pelican

"Grumpy's" Pals

Anybody Else?

Message edited by author 2007-04-24 21:20:02.

KarenNfld

04/24/2007 02:15:51 PM · #2

Ewwww, lice! What a story! I've never seen a brown Northern Gannet before. I am a bit of a birdwatcher. I just got back from seeing a Great Egret at a pond in the middle of the city. They are very uncommon here, it must have got blown over from the mainland. We usually see one every year although the last 2 years they have been here in the fall after the hurricanes blew them off course. I don't have my pics uploaded yet, will post one here when I do, although I was a ways away from it, it was out on a marshy area in the pond.

So, I will share a few bird pics from my portfolio.

Spotted Sandpiper

Sharp Shinned Hawk in my back garden

another Sharp Shinned Hawk in my back garden

I also have a bird gallery on my website if anyone is interested:
//www.bitstop.ca/birdphotos.htm

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

04/24/2007 02:23:29 PM · #3

Originally posted by KarenNfld:

Ewwww, lice! What a story! I've never seen a brown Northern Gannet before.

I guess it takes them 4 years to get their adult plumage.

You shots are beautiful, and I really enjoyed your recent thread about the Sharp Shinned Hawk.

What I wouldn't give to get such crisp images! Nice work.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

04/24/2007 02:35:59 PM · #4

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

04/24/2007 02:58:44 PM · #5

I love photographing birds.

Pelicans:

Hawks/Falcons/Osprey:

Egrets/Herons:

Plus a mix of many others in my Bird folder:

Message edited by author 2007-04-24 15:09:43.

vtruan

Nikon D5100

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

04/24/2007 03:07:28 PM · #6

2007 birds Here are a few wild ones that I have taken this year.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/24/2007 03:15:57 PM · #7

scottwilson

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8

04/24/2007 03:23:32 PM · #8

Here is a pretty bird.

Well maybe this one looks a bit better

One more

Scott

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

04/24/2007 03:31:58 PM · #9

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

04/24/2007 03:38:47 PM · #10

Just a few rather common British Birds:

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/24/2007 04:06:39 PM · #11

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/24/2007 04:51:17 PM · #12

Had fun on the back deck with the hummingbirds yesterday. I used my kid's play tent as a blind and set up the 180mm macro 2 meters from the feeder. Here is a straight from the camera 100% crop of one of the little guys.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/24/2007 05:03:03 PM · #13

I've been spending my early mornings in a fresh-water estuary system, stalking herons, eagles, woodpeckers and, well, this shy Cormorant. I've got a burst of him flying off, too. His take-offs are quite powerful, and he leaves a nice track of fountainous water, which blow out all too easily unless it's overcast.

I can't tell if this is a Double-Crested and A Great Cormorant. Perhaps, someone else can?

vtruan

Nikon D5100

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

04/24/2007 05:06:00 PM · #14

Originally posted by zeuszen:

I can't tell if this is a Double-Crested and A Great Cormorant. Perhaps, someone else can?

Double-crested, Greats are an Atlantic Ocean Species, But B.C. does have Brant's and Pelagic Cormonants on the coast.

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

04/24/2007 05:11:25 PM · #15

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Cormorant take-offs are cool. I try to capture it each time I go out on the water.

Do you have a picture of it's throat? Here's an ID tip if you do.

Edit: Oops, too slow.

Message edited by author 2007-04-24 17:15:40.

KarenNfld

04/24/2007 05:39:25 PM · #16

Here are 2 shots of the Great Egret from this afternoon. Did not have my 300mm zoom lens with me.

vtruan

Nikon D5100

04/24/2007 08:23:38 PM · #17

Wonderful threat. And love all the shots. Here are my latest shots. While my kids and wife were riding our horse, I was horsing around in a wind row and flushed this barn owl. It flew toward the riders and returned toward and over my head.

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

04/24/2007 09:17:32 PM · #18

Awesome shots, everyone!

Here's one from my walk this afternoon.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

04/24/2007 09:49:24 PM · #19

"from my walk this afternoon"...

Sheesh - my walk consisted of walking across the shop, chasing out a couple of sparrows trying to nest in the metal roll-up doors. As much as I's love to see them nest, I can just see the motion detectors having fits during their flights after the alarm is set at night.