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Post by Teddy Regpala on Jul 27, 2008 22:24:50 GMT
All from my backyard. All these are captured in raw (NEF), and minimal PP, crop, and converted in CaptureNX. Only resized in CS2. Nikon D300, AF-S 300mm f/4 with 1.4TC Northern Mockingbird Mimus PolyglottusWe're finally visited by a Northern Mockingbird again. And the few minutes he stayed in the backyard, I was able to get a reasonable capture. They used to be a resident of the backyard (yes, even at night you can hear them), but for some reason they found a better place to hang out. 1/500s, F/9, ISO 200 Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma CalifornicaForaging at the top-of-the-line feeder, a lid of Selecta ice cream. ;D 1/500s, F/9, ISO 320 Black-chinned Hummingbird (female) Archilochus AlexandriI didn't nail this one, it's either her head moved, or DOF is too shallow, but I digress. 1/500s, F/9, ISO 800 Black-chinned Hummingbird (male) Archilochus AlexandriShe must be looking at this handsome guy, showing off his iridiscent throat. 1/500s, F/9, ISO 720 Mourning Doves (couple) Zenaida MacrouraThis capture is in auto (shame), as I forgot to change camera settings. It turned out ok though. 1/125s, F/5.6, ISO 400 Lesser Goldfinch (male) Carduelis PsaltriaFrom last week. I think I ruffled his feathers. ;D 1/500s, F/13, ISO 400 Oak Titmouse Baeolophus InornatusFrom two weeks ago. This one rarely visits my backyard. They prefer bushy or heavily foliaged area like near the river (not that far). 1/640s, F/7.1, ISO 800 I feel guilty not including any of the House Finch that's almost always in the backyard. Comments and Critiques are welcome. Enjoy.
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Post by Romy Ocon on Jul 27, 2008 23:23:01 GMT
Brilliant captures, Ted.... wish my backyard is as populated with birds as yours!
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Post by Neon Rosell II on Jul 27, 2008 23:49:31 GMT
Great Captures - Ted!! :oWish we could attract this variety of birds in our backyard if we put feeders, almost always only the ETS shows up.
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Post by Teddy Regpala on Jul 28, 2008 0:00:01 GMT
Thanks Ka Romy and Neon. It helps that we're close to the American River, which has riparian habitat. It's protected and preserved, and now called the American Parkway. They also built a a bike/walk trails along the river. The river is vital to the valley. Sacramento being in the central valley, it's usually hot around here. We don't have the coastal birds though, seen from San Diego, LA, central coast, Bay area (SF), etc. We also have several NWS ( National Wildlife Refuge) in/near Sacramento (similar to Candaba), which is vital for the migrating birds as we're on their path come migration season (Sep to May). So, I'm practicing right now ... in the backyard. ;D NB: by the way, these birds are not migrants they're here all year.
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Post by Bob Kaufman on Jul 28, 2008 3:37:29 GMT
Nice set of backyard birds, Ted. These are birds that are all familiar to me. Mourning doves and Scrub Jays (along with House Finches and House Sparrows) are in our backyard too.
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Post by Eric Patdu on Jul 28, 2008 3:55:50 GMT
Nice shots Ted! I am still longing to see a hummer. Would love to see the House Finch from your side of the state.
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Post by Ralf Nabong on Jul 28, 2008 4:50:55 GMT
Great set Ted. You're lucky to have attracted these variety of birds in your backyard
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Post by Bob Kaufman on Jul 28, 2008 16:02:09 GMT
Nice shots Ted! I am still longing to see a hummer. Would love to see the House Finch from your side of the state. Eric, here is how a House Finch looks like in CA 30D, 400mm, 1/500, f8, ISO-400 handheld
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Post by Eric Patdu on Jul 28, 2008 18:07:16 GMT
Wow! Thanks Bob. Nice details. Seems to be as red as those from our side. But I do see a few birds that are redder than the others.
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Post by Teddy Regpala on Jul 28, 2008 18:14:43 GMT
Hey Bob, that's a nice capture. How did you blur the background at f/8? Through PP or the BG is really that far? I wish our backyard has those nice type of plants. I'm contemplating on replacing some plants we have the first time we had it landscaped.
Eric, I have several house finches, not as nice. I'm just using them for "target practice". ;D I need good light. Where I capture them are usally shaded (because of the trees), or the light is on their backs. Some nice ones are on the feeder. But I'm trying to capture ones when they're perched on the trees/shrubs/hedge. Maybe someday.
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Post by Teddy Regpala on Jul 28, 2008 18:30:15 GMT
Great set Ted. You're lucky to have attracted these variety of birds in your backyard Not sure how popular backyard birding is in Metro Manila, but over here, there's an industry on it. The first time I put the feeders on, I wasn't expecting much. They said you have to be patient and just wait. Put one, and they will come. But not for long, there's one ... then two, and three, etc. Those who knew about it will come back. And passerbys will eventually find it. Those in migration might not come back for obvious reason, but it sure will help them survive the long journey. Hopefully they will remember the path and come back next season. Due to urbanization of what used to be their habitat, their population are in danger. The best we can do is plant more trees for them to perch and rest on, and feed them to survive and thrive. Oh, and keep the feeders away from the pet's reach by the way.
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Post by tina mallari on Jul 28, 2008 22:51:40 GMT
WOW I'd surely be in seventh heaven if I had a wonderful variety of birds like those in my backyard. Maybe we should train our birds to feed on feeders too I'm sure only the Eurasian Tree Sparrows will feed on those. Congrats Ted on the wonderful variety Bob: That's an excellent capture of a house finch
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Post by Teddy Regpala on Jul 28, 2008 23:31:04 GMT
Thanks Mam Tina.
There's more by the river. But I need the expertise of the Audubon guys to look for and ID the birds. They do it by ear.
They can ID a bird by their calls. Then we wait, and sure enough after a while, we can have visuals. They also know the terrain, and habitats for each species. Even small birds in flight, they can ID them the way they fly. Hardcore birders really. And they only have binoculars, a pen, and a paper to record what's been observed for use by the society as census.
But I have to practice on my techniques and settings first before going out with them again (this coming weekend). And the best place to do it of course is in the backyard. Hopefully we'll get good light, as I'm still not getting sharp captures with low shutter speeds (see images above).
Oh by the way, I'm getting the hang of using the 393/3421. I tightened the swivel so it won't pivot while carrying the rig. I also bought neoprene covers (used as insulation for pipes), for the tripod legs so my shoulder won't hurt.
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Post by Bob Kaufman on Jul 29, 2008 18:07:28 GMT
Wow! Thanks Bob. Nice details. Seems to be as red as those from our side. But I do see a few birds that are redder than the others. Eric, the degree of redness depends on maturity, sex and season. Mature males are brighter than juveniles, more so during breeding season. Females don't have the reddish hue. Here in California there are even some males that have a yellowish color instead of red.
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Post by Bob Kaufman on Jul 29, 2008 18:09:39 GMT
Hey Bob, that's a nice capture. How did you blur the background at f/8? Through PP or the BG is really that far? I wish our backyard has those nice type of plants. I'm contemplating on replacing some plants we have the first time we had it landscaped. Actually this was taken at the arboretum and the BG is really far. ;D
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Post by Teddy Regpala on Jul 29, 2008 18:14:40 GMT
Hey Bob, that's a nice capture. How did you blur the background at f/8? Through PP or the BG is really that far? I wish our backyard has those nice type of plants. I'm contemplating on replacing some plants we have the first time we had it landscaped. Actually this was taken at the arboretum and the BG is really far. ;D Aha! ;D Thanks for the tip.
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Post by Eric Patdu on Jul 29, 2008 20:46:42 GMT
Eric, the degree of redness depends on maturity, sex and season. Mature males are brighter than juveniles, more so during breeding season. Females don't have the reddish hue. Here in California there are even some males that have a yellowish color instead of red. Thanks Bob! I just had to see a bird from your side because I've read that birds from the east are more brighter because of their diet while the paler ones are seen more in the southwest. I've also read that the males do sometimes are colored yellow (from the southwest too). Would love to see one. Maybe I should try feeding them with betacarotene. Hehehe..... ;D
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Post by Teddy Regpala on Jul 29, 2008 21:40:58 GMT
Eric, if it's yellow, must be a goldfinch??? Regarding the males as brighter in the east coast, is not so true, based on my observations. I've seen some that are really red, and some are pale. Maybe it depends on the timing in the breeding season. Or the individual bird's diet. I'll find some from my archives. Regarding the females, they all look the same. Can be mistaken for other species (just like female hummers, ugghh). Only the males can be easily ID'd. Regards. *Edit* Silly me, I should have read first the link you provided.
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Post by spidermanbryce2007 on Jul 30, 2008 5:58:24 GMT
wow some lovely shots!!!
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Post by JV Noriega on Jul 30, 2008 10:38:00 GMT
Great set Ted! you surely do capture great sharp images with your 300+1.4tc combo. Maybe i should use my 70-300vr+1.4tc more often... i'll try shooting more with that combo and maybe get sharper images..
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