It's for the birds...

[Aubrisita]

Gorgeous pictures.

 

[MikeScone]

I bought the new Nikon 18-300mm zoom, and I really like it. It's the same size and weight as the 18-200mm, but half again longer, which means that it will replace both the 18-200 and the 70-300mm zoom, a big savings in total weight and bulk (not to mention convenience). Here are some pictures I took with it at my porch bird feeder:

Brown-Headed Cowbird:

Goldfinch - notice the olive winter plumage being replaced by summer gold:

Rose-breasted Grosbeak:

Hairy Woodpecker:

 

[Azerane]

Fantastic images Mike, I didn't know you did bird photography, I do too Recently I got a Canon 100-400mm which has been very exciting to use after surviving on a 55-250mm kit lens for the last four years. You seem to be enjoying the new lens so far, I hope it continues to go well for you.

Woodpeckers were definitely some of my favourite USA birds when I've visited

 

[pani]

I love the picture of the rose-breasted grosbeak, like he's peeking around the corner to see if anyone's there.

 

[MikeScone]

I stopped off at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at the north end of Cayuga Lake on the way back from visiting a client today, and took some pictures (of course).

I like the way the necks of these Canada Geese reflect each other:

The Redwing Blackbirds were nesting all over the Reserve - there was one nearly every few yards.

I like to try to catch birds calling - this is a Tree Swallow on a birdhouse at the Reserve Visitor Center.

 

[Azerane]

Lovely photos, seeing them reminds me of being in the states, I miss seeing the many varieties of new birds there, it's so fascinating and like a whole other world. Love the photo of the red-winged blackbird, I never did get to see one of those up close.

 

[MikeScone]

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures. Nature's helicopters, they hover and dart here and there at great speed.

They also have long memories. I never got around to putting out my hummingbird feeder last year. A month ago I spotted a hummingbird hovering exactly where the feeder had been, two years earlier. Of course, I put the feeder right out, and it's been busy with little birds ever since.

Here's a male ruby-throated hummingbird, hovering next to the feeder:

This is a female, coming in for a landing:

The female, again, ready to start sipping nectar:

Mission accomplished, maximum effort climb out!

 

[Azerane]

Hummingbirds are so gorgeous. I only ever got to see a single bird and it was perched at the time, so I've never actually seen the amazing hovering behaviour. That's so amazing that they hovered in the exact spot of the feeder two years on. I knew they had good memories so they didn't revisit flowers, but that's amazing

 

[MikeScone]

The hummingbirds have just about all flown South for the year - but here's one more picture before they go.

I heard what sounded like a bird constantly cheeping on my porch - but it turned out to be this little guy...

... and about six more of his family...

 

[Azerane]

Oh my goodness! They're chipmunks right? I never got to see one when I was in the states, super disappointing. Such adorable little things, great photos

 

[MikeScone]

Oh my goodness! They're chipmunks right?

Yes, they're chipmunks. They love to clean up the spilled birdseed under the feeders on my porch. One lookout sits on the woodpile and goes "cheep... cheep... cheep..." continuously - when he stops and runs away that's the signal for the other chipmunks to watch out.

 

[MikeScone]

I don't often use flash in bird photography, but sometimes fill flash can help on a dull, cloudy day. Here it does a good job bringing out the shine on the blue jay's feathers.

 

[missyscove]

How close did you get to that jay to be able to use flash? I don't think my bird friends will let me get that close unless it's through a window.

 

[MikeScone]

How close did you get to that jay to be able to use flash? I don't think my bird friends will let me get that close unless it's through a window.

It was through a window, and I was on the other side of the room, maybe ten feet away.

 

[MikeScone]

I caught this Red-bellied Woodpecker on the feeder this morning - it's a new one for me. Quite a pretty bird. This is a female - in the male, the red coloring covers most of the top of the head, instead of only the nape of the neck.

A Common Junco, or snowbird, as they're known here.

 

[MikeScone]

We've had a pair of cardinals on the feeder for the last few weeks. What spectacularly colored birds! The male will perch on a tree across the street before he comes to the feeder, and he stands out against the winter grey tree bark like a beacon.

The cardinal and a chickadee. At least the cardinal is willing to share the feeder - blue jays always chase everything else away (and then dump most of the seed on the ground).

 

[MikeScone]

Playing with the new Nikon D7200 this morning - here are two birds on the feeder.

Blue Jay

Chickadee

 

[stevesmum]

Beautiful! Love the action shot of the chickadee!

 

[MikeScone]

Spring has finally arrived in Harford, New York, after a really tough Winter and cold rainy Spring. Yesterday I saw a hummingbird hovering on the porch where I hang my hummingbird feeder. I rushed it out, and they're out in force slurping up the nectar.

The morning sun gave enough light to let me use a high shutter speed for these pictures today. At 1/500th the wings are not quite frozen, there's just enough blur to give an idea of their speed.

Caught the hummingbird's tongue on this shot...

 

[MikeScone]

I've upgraded my camera to a Nikon D500 and recently acquired a 200-500mm Nikkor lens for bird and airplane photography. The combination is really great - sharp and fast and, if heavy, a pleasure to operate. Here are a few sample pictures I've taken over the last few weeks.

Cardinal

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Common Junco - a/k/a "Snowbird"

Canada Goose landing at Cornell's Sapsucker Woods Lab of Ornithology

Another Canada Goose at Sapsucker Woods

Mallard Duck

Hairy Woodpecker

Nuthatch

Finally, a very furry bird - a Red Squirrel who frequents my feeder...