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[Peter Connan]

Magnificent kite series Nathan!

[TonyQ]

@@offshorebirder

A wonderful series of photos - very enjoyable to see

[offshorebirder]

Thanks @@Peter Connan and @@TonyQ. I imagine y'all would have produced better photos than I was able to.

 

I might post a few more shots if tomorrow's visit goes well.

[offshorebirder]

I just returned from another Swallow-tailed Kite extravaganza. Here are a couple of additional shots, including one showing the gorgeous coloraton on their upperside.

 

Edited July 30, 2016 by offshorebirder

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful!

 

I very much doubt I could have done as well!

[The_Norwegian]

Kestrel by asgeir westgård, on Flickr

 

Commen kestrel, beautiful raptor! Eye-contact..

[The_Norwegian]

Almost like a good old dogfight between fighter-planes, although the one on your six is just playing with you and can take you down at any time.. Did i mention, this is the very place that they filmed the sparrowhawk-scenes for the bbc-series "the hunt", ?

 

hawk vs. jay by asgeir westgård, on Flickr

[wilddog]

@@The_Norwegian Superb!

[KaingU Lodge]

@@The_Norwegian Superb!

@@The_Norwegian X 2. Brilliant.

[Peter Connan]

@@The_Norwegian i agree!

 

I would love to know what AF settings you used in those two shots.

[The_Norwegian]

thank you for the comments! Af used is D51 and af-c, both shots with my now ancient D4s :-D

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @@The_Norwegian

[Soukous]

Verreaux's Eagle soaring over the Batuka Gorge, near Vic Falls

 

The sky is horrible due to a lot of dust in the air combined with smoke from the annual burn.

 

 

[Soukous]

Egyptian goose flying low over the Save river, Chilo Gorge

 

 

[Treepol]

Magpie Geese, Lake Argyle, Western Australia

 

 

 

Brolgas, Lake Argyle, Western Australia

 

 

 

Black-necked Stork, Lake Argyle, Western Australia

 

 

Brahminy Kite, Territory Wildlife Park, Darwin

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KaingU Lodge]

White fronted bee-eater. These guys are now creating their nesting burrrows in the usual spot, so if I am up with a boat waiting for guests then that is where I head to for a half hour fix!

 

[Peter Connan]

Followers of the Big Year threads will be forgiven for thinking that I have no idea how to use a camera.

This is defence...

 

White-throated Swallow:

 

 

 

Reed Cormorant:

 

 

[michael-ibk]

The Swallows are outstanding - especially the second one.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @@michael-ibk

[KaingU Lodge]

The Swallows are outstanding - especially the second one.

@@Peter Connan. Absolutely super.

 

Can I ask what SS you are using?

[KaingU Lodge]

Couple from the last few days. I have taken to doing the 6am drop-off for guests doing a game drive so I can spend half an hour before the staff meeting doing this.

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Love these @@KaingU Lodge! One day I would love to get some skimmers in action too.

 

EXIF from top to bottom:

 

500mm, f4, 1/640, ISO160

500mm, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO400

700mm, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO450

500mm, f4, 1/100, ISO800

500mm, f4, 1/100, ISO800

[Dave Williams]

Pied Kingfisher by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Still a favourite shot of mine, perhaps my best ever, despite spending a small fortune on "better' gear since I took it nearly 6 years ago. Good light, luck and being in the right place at the right time are the best elements to have in your favour.

 

I used a Nikon D300s, combined with a 1.4 TC on a 300mm f2.8 lens. f5.6 1/3200 sec ISO 800.

[Dave Williams]

Red Kite Gigrin Farm by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Red Kite at Gigrin Farm where they feed them daily and offer the opportunity to photograph them. In the early 1960's there were only 20 pairs in the whole of the UK,all in Wales. They have been brought back from the edge of extinction and they would be classed by some as habituated. Still as wild as wild can be though and the food provided is an extra to their normal diet.

The story of Gigrin can be found here:-

http://www.gigrin.co.uk/about-gigrin-farm/

 

The photo details are Canon 1DX2, 600mm f4 at f5.6, 1/1250sec ISO 640

[Dave Williams]

Bee Hummingbird endemic to Cuba by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest bird on the planet and endemic to Cuba. I was delighted to find somewhere to see one, it was at the top of my wanted list, but photographing one was an altogether more difficult task. The male bird, El Macho , was particularly non co-operative! I tried on 4 separate occasions but for one reason or another things didn't go quite to plan. They are very fast, the shutter speed needed to get anywhere close to freezing the action was 1/8000th sec and it still didn't manage it. To get that shutter speed I had to use ISO 16000 so noise was inevitable.

Still, what a fabulous little bird whose colours change depending on the direction of the light.