Birds Show Birds

A falcon and an eagle hanging togeather

Found this falcon hanging out atop a flag pole

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Good for you, Dave - I think I'll always have a special place in my heart due to Wile E. Coyote.;)

Sorry that I'd somehow missed your falcon! Good for you for seeing both of these wonderful birds!
 
I love birds, so I am going to be paying more attention to this thread, and posting in it more frequently as well.

Today was a bird day for me, there was a magpie resting in the Tuckeroo tree at the front of my house. The Tuckeroo produces quite tasty fruits (for birds, not people) at this time of year, and I get visits from all kinds. At first, I was trying to shoot with my Panasonic FZ100.. it just was not up to the task so I switched to the K-5. Anyway, without further ado, here is Mr Magpie, who is still resting in the tree as I type.

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Australian Magpie by kyte50, on Flickr

The second bird for today is one I photographed a couple of weeks back, when down at the Newcastle (AU) ocean baths. He looked for all the world as if he was daring me to come closer... I did...and he got quite cranky with me :) Also, I just wish one did not also have to photograph bird poo at times like this... but oh well, thats life.

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A Defiant Gull by kyte50, on Flickr

Last but not least, a Koel. Also known as a rainbird, it belongs to the cuckoo family and does the same antisocial thing that cuckoos do worldwide, laying its eggs in the nest of some other bird which is then forced to bring it up to fledging. Its a big bird, about 18" from beak to tip of tail and I have seen them even larger. Somewhere I have a photograph of a male, which is even more shy than the female, but not on this computer...

I shot this with the FZ100, and am surprised that this actually worked out (lots of heavy processing though).

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Female Rainbird by kyte50, on Flickr
 
Sue, I'm so glad you've posted these! Forget about being a great cook;) - I'm very impressed and appreciate your adding these three beauties to this thread. I used to spend a lot of time with local birders and miss the fantastic views I'd get through their spotting scopes and seeing your pictures reminds me of all of those times. Great detail and color!
 
thanks

Love the shots. A lot more color than the birds we have around here.

I love birds, so I am going to be paying more attention to this thread, and posting in it more frequently as well.

Today was a bird day for me, there was a magpie resting in the Tuckeroo tree at the front of my house. The Tuckeroo produces quite tasty fruits (for birds, not people) at this time of year, and I get visits from all kinds. At first, I was trying to shoot with my Panasonic FZ100.. it just was not up to the task so I switched to the K-5. Anyway, without further ado, here is Mr Magpie, who is still resting in the tree as I type.


The second bird for today is one I photographed a couple of weeks back, when down at the Newcastle (AU) ocean baths. He looked for all the world as if he was daring me to come closer... I did...and he got quite cranky with me :) Also, I just wish one did not also have to photograph bird poo at times like this... but oh well, thats life.



Last but not least, a Koel. Also known as a rainbird, it belongs to the cuckoo family and does the same antisocial thing that cuckoos do worldwide, laying its eggs in the nest of some other bird which is then forced to bring it up to fledging. Its a big bird, about 18" from beak to tip of tail and I have seen them even larger. Somewhere I have a photograph of a male, which is even more shy than the female, but not on this computer...

I shot this with the FZ100, and am surprised that this actually worked out (lots of heavy processing though).
 
These three stand alone beautifully, yet it's also interesting to see them together. Where were you when you took these, retow? I know I saw them or I think I did, earlier. Are they Ravens?

The stop motion in your first is very powerful - the shallow depth of field worked out extremely well to give one the feeling of being right there, almost as though we're flying side by side. For me your second image has a timeless quality...I'm probably reading that into the picture due to the monochromatic tones. The bird's evolved aerodynamic design is gorgeous, especially in this second one. Yet, this last one the soaring image against that fabulous blue sky with the sunburst showing up just enough, is the one that gives me flight - maybe it's some kind of deeply innate human need...or desire that this one has tapped into for me, I don't know, but I do know what I feel when I look at your third - and it's freedom.

Many thanks for all of these, retow and if you do feel like it, I'd love to hear the backstory of these photographs. You certainly were high above sea level!
 
Thanks, BB. These are from mount Pilatus in Switzerland, about 7000 feet above seal level and the birds are called Alpine Choughs, great air artists. the pictures you are referring to were from a different place, higher up, at about 10000 feet.
 
Sue, I'm so glad you've posted these! Forget about being a great cook;) - I'm very impressed and appreciate your adding these three beauties to this thread. I used to spend a lot of time with local birders and miss the fantastic views I'd get through their spotting scopes and seeing your pictures reminds me of all of those times. Great detail and color!

Thanks for your kind words, BB. I'm determined now to make more time for the local birds. There are a couple of ponds nearby where families of wrens live, Fairy Wrens and Superb Blue Wrens. They are delightful little creatures but awfully shy. I'll need to take coffee and a chair, I think :) When the weather improves again :)

Love the shots. A lot more color than the birds we have around here.
Thanks, Dave. Aussie birds do tend to be quite colourful. There used to be a lot of really colourful parrots living around here but suburbia has all but destroyed their habitat.. I dont know if they moved or just died out in this area. They used to come to eat my callistemon, and the passionfruit I once had growing down the back. Havent seen anything but cockatoos for about 5 years now.
 
Here's a couple more. The Male Rainbird was shot a couple of years ago, a Fuji S8000fd, and so was the Red Wattlebird.

Male Rainbird... with those evil red eyes.
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Male Rainbird by kyte50, on Flickr
He wasnt so shy back then.

Red Wattlebird
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Red Wattlebird by kyte50, on Flickr
I was sure this fellow must have some other name than this, but he doesnt (apart from the generic name Anthochaera carunculata). He's a honey eater. I get them in my garden all the time when the callistemon is in bloom. This one is from a couple of years ago.
 
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