Whatbird.com

Seattle:

We saw this bittern as it wallked out from it's thick cover.  Even when you have a clear picture it still seems a little blured. I zoomed in on the picture to see if it was me or the bird - this time it was the bird.

Nice shot, Seattle! 

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

Also not a bird... but I had to throw this one in anyhow! Apparently this Grizzly though it was hidden as it peeked out at us in Teton National Park last July. Kinda like an elephant hiding behind a telephone pole!!

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We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

"They'll never see me here..(hee-hee),,,,,,..UH-OH!!...... I forgot to put on my makeup to cover my eye-ring...!!!!!

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We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

I'll just pretend I'm asleep, then they'll leave me alone!

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

OK, lets count together the good things about this shot

1) life bird

2) excellent posture showing all the field diagnostics

3) bird's face looking at the camera

4) excellent lighting

5) beautiful setting.... natural, fruit, tree color

6) focus

7) #%&*@+?>!

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Latest Birds: Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Rufous-backed Robin, Crissal Thrasher

On the bright side, I think you've just about covered all of the ways that shot could have been worse, Matt 

Case in point, my first (and only, so far) Yellow Warbler...

Nobody will find me here!!!! 

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

Arghhh!   Bird on a "hot wood roof"!!!!   Ouch Ouch...hot feet...hot feet....

lyceel:

On the bright side, I think you've just about covered all of the ways that shot could have been worse, Matt 

Case in point, my first (and only, so far) Yellow Warbler...

 

Yikes, were you taking a break from driving the porcelein tractor around the bathroom when you shot these, Lyceel?  EEEK!

sandylee:

Arghhh!   Bird on a "hot wood roof"!!!!   Ouch Ouch...hot feet...hot feet....

I found it amusing to find a Great Egret on a roof, and especially because the area is not near any water, except maybe a park or two a few miles away.

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

sandylee:

Yikes, were you taking a break from driving the porcelein tractor around the bathroom when you shot these, Lyceel?  EEEK!

No, just a fidgety bird on an overcast day.  Not enough light, not enough time to adjust the settings. 

C'est la vie.

Maybe I am just warped, but it alway gives me hope to see photos that "aren't quite right" from excellent photographers like Lyceel and Matt. Thanks for sharing those guys-and I for one, share your pain!!

Susan

Susan, I am trying but.... every time someone posts a Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, and Cedar Waxwing, I get jealous.  Not life birds but to me the most photogenic.  I don't have a good shot of any of them using the list of rules I set for the waxwing I posted above.  I only see them when I travel away from home so my opportunities are limited.  Will keep trying.  This guy flew off and dashed my hopes.  

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Latest Birds: Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Rufous-backed Robin, Crissal Thrasher

I'm with you.  I have Cardinals year round here, but I only have a few passable photos, and no really good ones.  Same for Blue Jays.  I don't know why, but that's the way it is.

After playing hide and seek for a few minutes, I was fortunate enough to be able to restart the car and drive past the tree to get an unobstructed shot from a different angle.

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My unorganized pictures can be viewed at

http://picasaweb.google.com/lonestranger102