BIRD IN FLIGHT ONLY -- share your BIF photos here

[EricN]

Thanks, Eric! I do think these shots were post-kill of some prey. On my earlier shots, they had a nice clean beak.
A guy was walking his dog and spooked the Harrier that was behind some brush. It flew right up by my side and circled around a few times. Maybe wasn't finished eating.

That must be the reason. I hope the Harrier could comeback before the prey got stolen, but I'm sure once they become good hunters, it could find something else to eat.

 

[ISv]

Another, very nice series, Alan. I especially like the Gull. Well done.

The Gull is excellent!

Wonderful! Looking closely, I'm concerned about it's oral hygiene!

Philips are doing Sonicare (and I'm really happy with them). If you know it's address you can send one?!

 

[danfaz]

American Kestrel launching off a branch yesterday.
R7 with RF 100-500+1.4X TC.

 

[ISv]

Very disappointing day today: went to the shore for see-birds. They were there but at unreasonable distances. After ~1h packed the camera and when looked for the tripod there was something close and closing at me. Erratically unpacked the camera and when I had it in my hands that bird was going back from where it came! Took burst but the shots were from behind (no way to ID!). Put the camera on the tripod with hope for second chance from closer distance but it didn't happen ! My first shots of Laughing Gull! From ~75 meters (+/-100% crop). We don't have naturalized Gulls on Hawaii, all are vagrants. The Laughing Gull is coming on Oahu almost every year like 1-2 birds (hard to count: they are cruising "big" swats of the (usually) East cost of Oahu (nothing is really big on Oahu ) and you never know if is it the same bird or another...

 

[Del Paso]

The RF 200-800mm at 800mm on the R5 is OK at long distances. Some Lapwings flying in and a Red Kite soaring.

View attachment 214622View attachment 214623

I really miss the lapwings in Alsace. They have become so rare now...
Kites, fortunately, seem to have recovered (black and red ones).
In French, they are named "milan", like the Italian city (we skip the "o").

 

[AlanF]

I really miss the lapwings in Alsace. They have become so rare now...
Kites, fortunately, seem to have recovered (black and red ones).
In French, they are named "milan", like the Italian city (we skip the "o").

We, fortunately, have lots of Lapwings. Kites have made a welcome return. Unfortunately, we don't have any Ortolans, possibly because M. Mitterand and friends ate them all.

 

[Nemorino]

Couldn't get a lot Robins in flight but this

(R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4TC @ 420mm, 1/4000s, f/8, iso 6400 and Topaz Photo AI)


(Same gear but @ 700mm, 1/4000s, iso 3200, f/10)

 

[AlanF]

Couldn't get a lot Robins in flight but this
View attachment 215052
(R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4TC @ 420mm, 1/4000s, f/8, iso 6400 and Topaz Photo AI)
View attachment 215053
View attachment 215054
(Same gear but @ 700mm, 1/4000s, iso 3200, f/10)

He's taking off. It's about the only way you will get one of these on the wing.

 

[Click]

I really like the first one.

 

[bendilts]

View attachment 1000006354.jpg
I had never seen pelicans in Utah before. I got the entire flock in frame when they were flying pretty close together.

 

[Click]

Pretty cool shot. Well done, bendilts.

 

[docsmith]

A tern coming straight at me.

R5 RF 200-800 @800mm, 1/1250, f/9, ISO 800

 

[Click]

Beautiful shot!

 

[docsmith]

Thanks Click

A couple more of the tern that I like....
Both are RF 200-800@800 mm, 1/1250, f/9, ISO 800

 

[Nemorino]

I found this shot in my archive and I'm wondering if it is a Eurasian sparrowhawk
R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4TC

f/10, Iso 1600, 1/4000s, denoised, sharpened and 1.2x upscaled with Topaz PhotoAI

 

[AlanF]

I found this shot in my archive and I'm wondering if it is a Eurasian sparrowhawk
R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4TC
View attachment 215121
f/10, Iso 1600, 1/4000s, denoised, sharpened and 1.2x upscaled with Topaz PhotoAI

It most certainly is. Those breast markings and the eye colour nail it.

 

[Nemorino]

Thank you, Alan!
I never have seen one in that area, a local park where I spent a lot of time.
Today I had a look at these pictures of last january...

 

[docsmith]

A few pelicans from Cockroach Bay Boat Ramp
All R5 RF 200-800
@539mm, 1/1250, f/9, ISO 800


Next two @ 288 mm, 1/640, f/9, ISO 400

 

[ISv]

Few from yesterday. Pretty angry ocean and the birds were flying relatively far from the shore. The red-footed Booby (first four photos) is not small bird at ~70cm length and ~150cm wing-span and see how it looks in front of that water-walls. After that Sooty Tern and Brown Booby.

 

[ISv]

It most certainly is. Those breast markings and the eye colour nail it.

I 100% agree with the ID! I disagree of the way it was done
"Those breast markings and the eye colour nail it" - up to the three real Hawks in Europe (Accipiter)!!!
The third one, the Levant Sparrowhawk doesn't reach Germany and is rare even in East Europe. The adults (and that photo is of adult!) are easy to separate from the other two European species by the black underwing tips of the primaries.
The problem is to separate the Northern Goshawk from the Eurasian Sparrowhawk by photo (you don't know how big is the bird...). Since the bird on the photo is adult the things (and thinks) are easier: the Goshawk has lighter underwings, lighter upper head and lacks the rusty colors present in adults Sparrowhawk.
Otherwise the breast markings and the eye colors are about the same for both species...