Tdgraves big year 2019

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @xelas @Dave Williams @Galana @Peter Connan @TonyQ and @michael-ibk

 

We don’t want a BY argument now do we? Anyway, now that they are on Flickr you can automatically enlarge them....

[xelas]

No argument, it was just a comment based on watching the original photos on Flickr. Indeed we all have different approaches. Zvezda and me have had many clashes before me having the last word: “Yes darling!” . Carry on, @Tdgraves, I am looking forward to see many seabirds in next weeks .

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

Oi! I won’t stand for that @Galana those birds are easily identifiable, not an EBC in sight....

I know. You need more practice!

[xelas]

11 hours ago, Galana said:

I know. You need more practice!

Motion blurr is missing, and many times front- or back focus helps  ... since your gear is too good for such, switch from AF to MF; not using reading glasses while focusing will add to the EBC factor.

 

My personal trick: leave the shutter speed at 1/2000 for early morning shots ; no motion blurr but plenty of noise .

[Tdgraves]

@xelas maybe if you remove your reading glasses my birds will be clearer?!?

[Galana]

4 hours ago, xelas said:

My personal trick: leave the shutter speed at 1/2000 for early morning shots ; no motion blurr but plenty of noise .

So that's what I am doing wrong. You mean it is possible to change the shutter speed too?

[Tdgraves]

I have been pondering over this as there were no adults around and I think I have ID'd it right (happy to be corrected), but as it's my first gull of the BY, it'll count, no matter what it is!!

 

Grafham water, Cambridgeshire, 4/4/19

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/2000, EV +1/3

 

 

201) Great black-backed gull

[Tdgraves]

I was also amazed to see one of these and just about managed a BIF, sadly it doesn't count as already seen in Sri Lanka

 

 

[Galana]

36 minutes ago, Tdgraves said:

201) Great black-backed gull

mmm! I wonder. To me I fancy juv Herring Gull. I don't see any black trailing edge to wing and the carpal patch is too pronounced. Location is a possible but more likely a HG. I enlarged the photo and saw no legs.

Why do Field guides rarely show birds from underneath which is the obvious place we get our best views from?

Play safe. HG. Or don't count it at all and wait til you go to the seaside for a better one.

[Zim Girl]

Well done on the 200 @Tdgraves, some really nice birds in there.

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on reaching 200 @Tdgraves incredible number already!

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Zim Girl and @PeterHG

[Tdgraves]

Just started my Sri Lanka TR and noticed that I had labelled this as a duplicate...

 

Hamilton canal, colombo, Sri Lanka, 19/1/19

 

Canon 7D mark iii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/1250

 

 

202) Rose-ringed parakeet

[Tdgraves]

We were in Philadelphia for a conference and I sourced a bird-related activity, the John Heinz national wildlife refuge. The first urban wildlife refuge in the USA. It is close the the airport and is wetland and woodland habitat with walking trails. There were two possible mornings for us to go, the first was beautiful blue sky and sunshine (after rain) and the OH in all of his wisdom said "the forecast is better for tomorrow" so tomorrow it was. Unfortunately, the forecast was incorrect and it was overcast for the entire time we were there 

 

We educated our Uber driver though, as he couldn't quite work out why these British tourists were going to a housing estate near the airport. He had no idea that the reserve was there! It was about 20 mins drive from downtown and only a couple from the airport (if you have a long layover....)

 

Similar to what we experienced in San Francisco, this is a well-thought out facility with accessible areas and restrooms. It was also free! As it was around a lake, I was expecting mainly water birds, but there is also woodland and it was the warbler walk through this that was most productive.

 

I should also say that most of the birds were new to us, having only been birding in California once before, last year

 

The first bird was literally outside of the reception area...

 

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 2000, f5.6, 1/1600

 

 

203) Red-bellied woodpecker

Edited May 31, 2019 by Tdgraves
typo

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 2000, f5.6, 1/500

 

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 2500, f5.6, 1/500

 

 

204) Carolina wren

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 2500, f5.6, 1/320

 

not a new one...

 

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/1000

 

 

205) American robin

[Kitsafari]

Congrats on the 200th!

 

lovely birds from Philly. are you back already?

 

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 3200, f5.6, 1/500, EV +1

 

 

 

 

206) House wren

[Tdgraves]

4 minutes ago, Kitsafari said:

Congrats on the 200th!

 

lovely birds from Philly. are you back already?

 

 

thanks @Kitsafari yes, been back two weeks...

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/640, EV +1

 

 

207) Magnolia warbler

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 3200, f5.6, 1/640

 

 

 

208) Black-and-white warbler

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/1000

 

 

209) Common yellowthroat

Edited May 31, 2019 by Tdgraves
better photo

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 2500, f5.6, 1/8000

 

 

210) American crow

Edited June 1, 2019 by Tdgraves
better photo

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 1000, f8.0, 1/2000, EV + 1 1/3

 

 

211) Common grackle

[Tdgraves]

John Heinz national wildlife refuge, Philadelphia, USA, 7/5/19

 

Canon 7D mark ii, 100-400 mm mark ii, ISO 1250, f5.6, 1/1250

 

 

212) Northern cardinal