2015 Wisconsin Bird Count

[Obelix]

I signed up for 2015 Wisconsin bird species count, just a bragging rights competition with my birding friends.
My first two entries.
Mourning Dove


Mourning Dove by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Dark-eyed Junco


Dark-eyed Junco by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Sony A57, Tamron SP 70-300 f4/5.6 USD

[Jay]

Fantastic work Obelix and these really are top quality all the way! #1 with the nice head tilt and #2 for the composition and open mouth. The lighting and exposure are killer as well

Thanks for sharing,

Jay

[Pitter]

Beautifully exposed and very sharp. A nice trick with all that snow around.

[Obelix]

Thanks guys!
I always expose for the birds. I don't care if snow is little bit overexposed, it suppose to be white anyway

[antony]

Nice photos of birds. Do the birds feel cold on top of snow?

[Obelix]

Mourning Doves stay around these parts year round, so I guess not.
Juncos are here for winter season, usually they are further up north, so for them this is warm climate

[Obelix]

Overcast day today, so I used Sony HVL-F58AM flash with Better Beamer for these shots

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Morning Dove, on camera flash

Dove by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Sony A57, Tamron SP 70-300mm f4/5.6 USD

[Cinjith]

Great shots Obelix. How did you manage to use flash without overexposing the background which is snow in the 1st pic ?

[Obelix]

I use flash in TTL mode, and I control output with shutter speed.
Flash will show you recommended range for setting in meters, something like 1.5 to 5 meters for this shot. So I just keep that range short, bird at 7-8 meters and flash is showing 1.5 to 5 m range.

[Gramps]

All if these are really good shots and I know leave me for dead, but this is a good thing as I know where I must aim for.
The Dove in your shot have to be very closely related to our Crested Pigeon we have here.
Your next shot of the Dark-eyed Junco again looks very close to the common Sparrow which was introduced a long time ago.
The next shot is for me your best shot, I just love the detail you have manage to get in it.
The what looks to be a cheeky little bird by the way of the Black-capped Chickadee is really good because its not the normal way we see bird shots.
Now to your roosting Dive is a nice peaceful shot.
Well done and thanks for sharing with us.

[Obelix]

Thanks!
Dark-eyed Junco is part of American Sparrow genus. They are closer to buntings than Old World Sparrows, like House Sparrow that was introduced to Americas and Australia.
Black-capped Chickadees are cheeky, they will land on your hand if you have some seeds.

[Obelix]

Red-bellied Woodpecker, male

3_5_15-12 by Dalibor M, on Flickr



3_5_15-11 by Dalibor M, on Flickr



3_5_15-10 by Dalibor M, on Flickr



3_5_15-9 by Dalibor M, on Flickr


Sony A57, Tamron SP 70-300mm f4/5.6 USD at 300mm

[Cinjith]

Loved the 1st & last shot. Very crisp & excellent DOF

[BrianC]

Gorgeous bird shots, Obelix. Thanks for sharing them! I especially like the dove and woodpecker shots.

[Gramps]

Thanks for showing really nice looking birds that I may never get the chance to see.
I think the Wood Pecker is so bright you almost need to wear your sunny's to look at it.
You have got them so clear and crisp and you are setting the bar high to try to keep up with you.
Really like your photo's.

[Obelix]

Thank you guys!

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Sony A57, Tamron SP70-300mm f4/5.6 USD

[Obelix]

Cedar Waxwing


Cedar Waxwing by Dalibor M, on Flickr


Cedar Waxwing-2 by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Sony A57, Tamron SP 70-300mm f4/5.6 USD

[Gramps]

Even more great examples of bird shots.
Well done really like each shot you have posted.

[Jay]

I totally agree with Badhands. Excellent work and killer examples of what Bird Photography is all about! Have you put together a calendar or anything yet?

Thanks for sharing,
Jay

[Obelix]

Thank you guys!
No calendar, yet. I printed bunch of postcards for personal use.

Downy Woodpecker

3_5_15-3 by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Sony A57, Tamron SP 70-300mm f4/5.6 USD

[leuius]

Totally marvelous thread... great technique and a very sharp lens.

I really envy taking bird pictures half as good as those.

Tripod or hand-held?

[Obelix]

Thanks!
Hand-held, no time for tripod with small fast birds. Some of the shots are taken from the car, I use it as a blind.

[Tikcus]

those are all brilliant, so how many birds have you counted? do you need photo proof of every bird you count?
Reminds me of The Big Year Film (Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson).

If I get some photos half as good as yours tomorrow, i'll be happy

[Obelix]

Thanks Tikcus, I don't keep count.
This is more off the showcase of bird pictures, not proof.
I loved that movie.

[wilmeland]

Really amazing captures - particularly like the shots of the woodpecker.

Willie

[Pitter]

Terrific shots all!

[Obelix]

Thanks guys!

American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow-2 by Dalibor M, on Flickr


American Tree Sparrow by Dalibor M, on Flickr

Sony A57, Tamron SP 70-300mm f4/5.6 USD

[BrianC]

Thanks!
Hand-held, no time for tripod with small fast birds. Some of the shots are taken from the car, I use it as a blind.

Egads. I'm at a loss for words, contemplating your over the top excellence and ability here. I can barely manage a crappy shot of the road runners and Gambel quail that live in my yard. Get the calendar out!

[jimep]

Wonder pictures.

Talk a little about your technique for getting them to pose or catching them. I see seeds in some of the shots, so are you enticing some of them into your "photo trap?"

[Obelix]

Tanks guys!
I don't feed them, but I will use regular spots where people bring seeds. Most important thing is patience, and letting birds get close to you.
Took me around 1.5 hrs of standing still for these hummingbirds http://sonyalphalab.com/forums/showt...ed-Hummingbird
And warbler season is starting soon http://sonyalphalab.com/forums/showt...p?533-Warblers