I rented a 500 mm Sigma telephoto lens. So, here are some pictures. Please click on each photo to see the larger version. The lens is so heavy, weighs as much as I am :-P, and the camera really shakes. Very fast shutter speed is the key if taking pictures without a tripod; however that can make the pictures appear dark. All these are taken without a tripod and the subjects are really far away, more than 200 feet away. My neck, hand and shoulder were aching from trying to hold the camera and steadily. All these pictures are taken of all the birds that appear in our backyard, bird-feeder. This post is linking with
Rambling Wood's Nature Post. If anyone not seen her blog, please go and visit it -- her blog is a treat with beautiful pictures and information about nature. I am also linking it with Hootin Annie's
I'd rather be birding .
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The female and male cardinals. The male and female can be distinguished from the color of their feathers -- the males look gorgeous with beautiful orangish red feathers. The females do not have that color but grayish yellow with some reddish streak. The song of the male bird, at least to my ears, is absolutely beautiful. They sit perched on tree tops and sing, signalling the coming of spring.
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Some kind of finch or sparrow in the first picture. Sparrows in the second and third picture. It seems that there are lots of different kinds of sparrows in the US. I do not know which kind these are.
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The above three pictures are not taken with the telephoto lens. Thus, they are not that clear. All the various kinds of birds -- juncos, chickadees, sparrows, finch, titmouse, nuthatch, bluejays, cardinals, sterling and woodpeckers -- that come to our feeder throughout the day. In the second and third picture, one sees the Red-Bellied Woodpecker.
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Nuthatch in the first and second picture. I think these birds spend upside-down throughout their lives. Whenever I have observed them in nature, they are always upside down. Tufted titmouse in the third picture in the first row. Chickadees in the first and second picture in the second row. Junco in the the last picture -- these are migratory birds. They are seen in NJ only during winter. They will go away with the coming of spring. Apparently they come from farther north in the US and Canada.
Hello KL, these are marvelous photos, such a great variety and I have enjoyed them immensely. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteLots of great visitors at your feeders. We only have the red-breasted nuthatches here. The white are very pretty.
ReplyDeleteThese are superb photos KL! It was worth carrying all that weight :)
ReplyDeleteEach picture is beautiful and the whole thing so perfectly put together! Loving this. Really like the title you have given yourself 'novice naturalist'....based on your pictures, you may have gone a bit beyond that. I always say I'm an amateur birder, amateur blogger, amateur photographer. But the people who really know what they're doing are always nice to me!
ReplyDeleteOh, what wonderful birds! Yes, I live in Highland Park, NJ. Thanks for the visit. I'm glad you discovered Michelle and her blog ... she is a gem of the blogging world! I like the idea of renting a lens.
ReplyDeleteNicely done! They are wonderful little gems! Renting is a great idea--I never thought of it.
ReplyDeleteI think you captured some ordinary pigeons, put red and blue food coloring on them, and then told them to pose.
ReplyDeleteLovely variety of birds. They do love to visit the feeders when the snow is around! The Nuthatches are one of my favorite birds. Have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful series!
ReplyDeleteI have used that 500ml lens and it truly IS heavy! But look at the photos you took!
ReplyDeleteDeep and sincere thanks for displaying my Goodwill Seeds link. How glorious to have all those birds in your backyard. KL I can tell we are birds of a feather. I am in the process of creating a native plant garden to provide food and shelter for the indigenous birds, insects and small creatures in our area. I love your bee image, Could I use it with a link back to you? I will get your link up in the members box ASAP. I've been away for a week for my son's wedding. Lots of love and goodwill but no time for blogging.
ReplyDeleteOh lucky well fed birds in your yard KL. it is such a hard winter for them. I have a nice Canon Rebel with a couple of nice lenses and it is so heavy that I use my small lumix.... Michelle
ReplyDeleteGreat post! That finch is a goldfinch.
ReplyDeleteMeant to add: goldfinches love purple coneflower and all sunflower, and agastache.
ReplyDeleteWow...I am an avid birder so this post was so very enjoyable! Beautiful photos. AND if you'd like...you could take this post link and add it to my Birding Photo Blog this coming Saturday [the linking opens each Saturday with a new link-up and new post...at NOON USA Texas time zone] You can find the link to my bird photo blog on my right sidebar at Hootin' Anni's. Look for "I'd Rather B Birdin'" and click on the graphic.
ReplyDeleteOh and the black birds with the orange/red colored beak are called Black Skimmers.
Such beautiful shots you captured here! I am so glad that you came by my blog so that I can journey along with you! All the best this weekend...Nicole
ReplyDeleteHow'd I miss this????
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are enjoying all that camera experimenting KL and of course grateful for sharing with us some of the super wildlife that visits your garden. It's amazing how slight the variation is on some species is. Your chickadees are very similar to our Coaltits.
Love these pictures! It's not easy to photograph birds, but you did a great job!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you could rent a camera! That's pretty cool. :o) Great shots!
ReplyDeleteI liked seeing all your birds. And I can imagine how fun it was to take photos with that camera! I've been seeing more birds around lately - maybe spring is near!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, the right kind of photo equipment can make such a difference. I use a tripod at times as it is difficult to take photos when on crutches, but sometimes a tripod is more of a nuisance than a help when you want to move around quickly. I find that sitting down makes it easier to keep a steady camera, and I also try to lean towards something, like a wall or garden furniture or anything available. But I still don’t have a telephoto lens, it is high on my wish list! Thanks for sharing the birds in your garden, loved them all :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots....if my birds aren't in the trees off the porch, and the day is gray, I will not get good shots. The juncos seem to stay most of the year here. The birds are checking out the birdhouses too which is interesting. Warm up into the 40s coming later next week.
ReplyDeleteHi, KL! You've got a nice variety of birds! Love the cardinals. We've had a lot of them this winter. With regards to your question on my blog, I also used a Sigma 500mm for those shots. If I'm using it at home, I almost always use a tripod. When I'm out shooting at other locations, I always use a monopod. Very rarely do I handhold the lens. It's capable of excellent photos, but because it's a rather slow lens, you need good lighting or you'll have to increase the ISO. Thank you for visiting my blog!
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