Show your Bird Portraits

[ISv]

Very hot under the sun today! After walking ~a mile under bright sun and finding my primary goal (African Silver Bill) I stopped to check my photos and was very disappointed: they were not even sharp (forget the background...)! My camera/lens on touch were very warm, I would say above 45C. Stopped in one of the rare shades there for ~15-20 minutes and took a photo of Common Waxbill (the bird was also under tick shade)- much better. After that male and female House Finch: at least the male is way more colorful than the Silver bill but by far not that rare here.

 

[Nemorino]

Even on the first photo it's a Willow Tit: Merlin probably accepted that expanded at it's lower part black "bib" as a shadow. It's not a shadow. The third photo did show the lighter panel on the wing as well as the grayish color of the back

Agree! But I've been uncertain as I am no expert.

This is a nuthatch:
R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4TC

 

[AlanF]

Very hot under the sun today! After walking ~a mile under bright sun and finding my primary goal (African Silver Bill) I stopped to check my photos and was very disappointed: they were not even sharp (forget the background...)! My camera/lens on touch were very warm, I would say above 45C. Stopped in one of the rare shades there for ~15-20 minutes and took a photo of Common Waxbill (the bird was also under tick shade)- much better. After that male and female House Finch: at least the male is way more colorful than the Silver bill but by far not that rare here.

View attachment 222954View attachment 222955View attachment 222956View attachment 222957View attachment 222958

I wonder if a mirrorless would have been affected by heat in the same way as perhaps the softening due to the AFMA being affected by heat?

 

[docsmith]

Very hot under the sun today! After walking ~a mile under bright sun and finding my primary goal (African Silver Bill) I stopped to check my photos and was very disappointed: they were not even sharp (forget the background...)! My camera/lens on touch were very warm, I would say above 45C. Stopped in one of the rare shades there for ~15-20 minutes and took a photo of Common Waxbill (the bird was also under tick shade)- much better. After that male and female House Finch: at least the male is way more colorful than the Silver bill but by far not that rare here.

Any chance of heat haze/distortion interfering with the IQ of the Silver Bill?

I’ve seen examples of water, pavement, sand (mirage), etc interfere with IQ. I sometimes get IQ issues even at my feeder if I shout from inside the house rather than having the front element out the window.

 

[josephandrews222]

I was given a rather expensive Maven filter and it ruined the IQ of my RF 200-800. So, I would strongly advise against the use of these filters on the 800mm lenses without careful testing first. I have never had any problems with Marumi or B&W filters on my RF 100-500, EF 100-400mm or other lenses.

R5II + 200-800 @800 + K&F Concept filter [SOOC jpegs; cropped to 2000]

Northern Mockingbirds Boundary Dance



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...a voyeur



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...the exit

 

[josephandrews222]

Northern Mockingbird Boundary Dance gif

 

[Click]

Agree! But I've been uncertain as I am no expert.

This is a nuthatch:
R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4TC
View attachment 222963View attachment 222964View attachment 222965

Exactly, it's a Red-breasted Nuthatch to be more specific.

This one is a White-breasted Nuthatch.

ISv and Nemorino,

Very nice series, guys.

 

[ISv]

I wonder if a mirrorless would have been affected by heat in the same way as perhaps the softening due to the AFMA being affected by heat?

Or the subjects too bright... I don't know.

 

[ISv]

Any chance of heat haze/distortion interfering with the IQ of the Silver Bill?

I’ve seen examples of water, pavement, sand (mirage), etc interfere with IQ. I sometimes get IQ issues even at my feeder if I shout from inside the house rather than having the front element out the window.

The Silver Bill is on significantly high branches. The Common Waxbill and the House Finch are low to the ground. If you look at the numbers of the photos you will notice that the second photo of the Silver Bill was taken after the Waxbill - after my camera got some relieve under the shade and this photo looks somewhat better.

 

[ISv]

Or the subjects too bright... I don't know.

Exactly, it's a Red-breasted Nuthatch to be more specific.

This one is a White-breasted Nuthatch.

ISv and Nemorino,

Very nice series, guys.

The only problem is that Nemorino is shooting in Europe... There is no Red-breasted Nuthatch there (neither a White-breasted - both species are North Amarican).
In Germany (and almost all Europe) the Eurasian Nuthach has rusty breast and belly (S. europea ssp. caesia) but in Scandinavia and the western part of Russia it has white breast and belly (S. europea ssp. europea). The second species in Europe is the Rock Nuthatch (but it's a South-East European species, I have seen it in Bulgaria) and it has just a faint rusty-red tint on the flanks and white breast.

 

[Click]

You're absolutely right, ISv. Sorry for misleading people.

 

[josephandrews222]

The only problem is that Nemorino is shooting in Europe... There is no Red-breasted Nuthatch there (neither a White-breasted - both species are North Amarican).
In Germany (and almost all Europe) the Eurasian Nuthach has rusty breast and belly (S. europea ssp. caesia) but in Scandinavia and the western part of Russia it has white breast and belly (S. europea ssp. europea). The second species in Europe is the Rock Nuthatch (but it's a South-East European species, I have seen it in Bulgaria) and it has just a faint rusty-red tint on the flanks and white breast.

For what it is worth, responses like these are part of the reason I read and post here at CR. Thanks.

Now if I can only remember these details!

 

[AlanF]

The only problem is that Nemorino is shooting in Europe... There is no Red-breasted Nuthatch there (neither a White-breasted - both species are North Amarican).
In Germany (and almost all Europe) the Eurasian Nuthach has rusty breast and belly (S. europea ssp. caesia) but in Scandinavia and the western part of Russia it has white breast and belly (S. europea ssp. europea). The second species in Europe is the Rock Nuthatch (but it's a South-East European species, I have seen it in Bulgaria) and it has just a faint rusty-red tint on the flanks and white breast.

That's right. To illustrate, here is a shot this month of a Eurasian Nuthatch, locally, close up. The only time I have seen Rock Nuthatch was 5 or 6 years ago in Israel, and they were very far away and backlit. It looks better reprocessed with new software.

 

[Noreaster]

Today on the lake

 

[ISv]

You're absolutely right, ISv. Sorry for misleading people.

Do not be sorry! We all are learning something here! Me too!!!
BTW if you want to go level up (at least for the Nuthatches ) pay attention to the feathering around the base of the tail of the Red-breasted and the Eurasian. Alan's photo is demonstrating this good (despite of the light: in less light it would be noticeable better!): there are only 2 (? at least what I know!) Nuthatches in the WORLD that will show you the white/paler spots there. Nemorino's photos despite of the "wrong (for the ID)" angle are good enough too!
The spot where the bird is photographed is very good beginning to start an ID but it's not the real ID - it just helps!

 

[ISv]

After that long writing my contribution for today: White-rumped Shama that landed in front of me when I was sitting to rest/drink water - sorry for the framing: no time to "zoom" back. And the Red-whiskered Bulbul eating nothing less than a fruit of real Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) tree...

 

[ISv]

For what it is worth, responses like these are part of the reason I read and post here at CR. Thanks.

Now if I can only remember these details!

These are not the details : it's just the summary!

 

[ISv]

That's right. To illustrate, here is a shot this month of a Eurasian Nuthatch, locally, close up. The only time I have seen Rock Nuthatch was 5 or 6 years ago in Israel, and they were very far away and backlit. It looks better reprocessed with new software.

View attachment 222982View attachment 222983

The Eurasian is perfect! I wish the Stone was as good (BTW I have seen it few times but I have no photo - you are way in front of me!!!).

 

[Click]

Do not be sorry! We all are learning something here! Me too!!!
BTW if you want to go level up (at least for the Nuthatches ) pay attention to the feathering around the base of the tail of the Red-breasted and the Eurasian. Alan's photo is demonstrating this good (despite of the light: in less light it would be noticeable better!): there are only 2 (? at least what I know!) Nuthatches in the WORLD that will show you the white/paler spots there. Nemorino's photos despite of the "wrong (for the ID)" angle are good enough too!
The spot were the bird is photographed is very good beginning to start an ID but it's not the real ID - it just helps!

Thanks ISv. You know me, I've already read about the difference between the two.
In addition to the tail details, the difference in beak size and the crown on the head are good clues.

I always appreciate your contributions to this forum. Thank you again.

 

[bendilts]

Run, little guy, run!