488 replies to this topic

[lyceel]

Last weekend, I was able to get really close shots of a couple of wetland birds (at Viera Wetlands).  I thought I'd share them, as well as a few of my other close-up shots.  Who knows, it might make a good theme thread...

 

Cattle Egret, just about as colorful as they get...

 

 

This Limpkin posed for his portrait.  Not sure what made this one so friendly.  They're usually kind of skittish...

 

 

White Ibis.  Seems like they're always trying to eat something!

 

American Coot, from a couple of weeks back.

 

[lyceel]

A couple more from the Florida Keys (just after Christmas)

Great Egret (with some preening fuzz...)

 

 

Laughing Gull (doesn't seem like he's in the mood for laughing, though)

 

[Curlybird]

Fantastic shots! Can't compete with those but here's a "friendly" Black-crowned Night Heron I found the other day at a local park.

[smo4142]

WOW..these are GREAT Shots of some gorgeous birds. What kind of lens are you using. I can't seem to ever get close enough to get a nice clear close up picture.

[lyceel]

It's not so much the lens as the location.

To answer your question, all of the above shots were taken with a Tokina 400mm f/5.6 lens, but I was only able to get these shots by getting relatively close to the subjects.  Viera Wetlands is a man-made wetland consisting of several ponds separated by dikes.  It's situated next to a wastewater treatment plant and is used to further treat the water to remove excess nutrients before releasing it back into the ecosystem.  The water company was nice enough to let the public use the wetland for wildlife viewing, so you can drive your car along the dikes.  Most wildlife is far less afraid of four wheels than they are of two legs, so you tend to be able to get much closer to the birds in a car than you could on foot.

The top four photos were all taken at Viera Wetlands.  The other two were taken in the Keys at a dock.  The dock was home to a fishing boat, so the birds tend to hang out there and wait for the boat to return.  They also weren't too afraid of people.

[zoutedrop]

male Gambel's Quail

[zoutedrop]

female Gambel's Quail

[lonestranger]

I feel like this is cheating because it's a captive bird, but it's probably the closest close-up I'll ever get of these magestic birds.

[llsorbet]

Ring-necked Pheasant: Who me?

[Bird Brain]

American Bittern.

[sandylee]

RBW posing for a quick profile shot this past winter....

 

 

[smo4142]

LOL...Love this picture!

[mistermooster]

Big close-up of a tiny bird.  Young male Costa's hummingbird.

[lyceel]

Great stuff, everyone.  I especially like the Bittern and the hummer.  What did you take that shot with, a microscope?!

I don't fault you for a captive Baldie shot, lonestranger.  My own Eagle shots are all from frustrating distances as well.

 

[BirderMadeleine]

That's an impressive close up shot mistermooster! I would actually have to hold a hummingbird to get that close of a shot!

[smo4142]

llsorbet:

Ring-necked Pheasant: Who me?

LOL.. Love this picture!!

Love this

[mistermooster]

lyceel:

Great stuff, everyone.  I especially like the Bittern and the hummer.  What did you take that shot with, a microscope?!

:)  Close... Canon 100mm f/2.8L macro.  I was lucky enough to have a little subject that was very friendly and let me get as close as I wanted.  In this case, I believe the end of the lens was about 12" from him.

[T_UNIT]

Red Tailed Hawk at the Michigan Hawking Club exhibit

 

[mistermooster]

T_UNIT:

Red Tailed Hawk at the Michigan Hawking Club exhibit 

 

Sharp focus on the head; the reflections in the eye are nice.

[lyceel]

You can tell it was an indoor exhibit