ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Saturday 27 December 2014

ALMOST THERE. (27/12/14)

There hasn’t been much going on today. It’s cold and dry with plenty of sunshine. I’ve been messing around in Blender with a conspicuous lack of success. I have managed to get some more little birds. I have only a Siskin to snap and then it’s onto the ground feeders and ducks. I am putting them off as it’s a recipe for getting frozen.

_MG_1228     Greenfinch, it’s a bit twiggy but it may have to do.

_MG_1235       Great Tit., again a bit cluttered but it is very shy.

_MG_1239        Female Chaffinch, she was good and used my perch.

The feeders have taken a real hammering today as they have been found by half a dozen Starlings.

_MG_1221          They are pretty, noisy and very entertaining but they can eat like nothing else. I wouldn’t mind if most of it didn’t end up on the floor.

Enjoy what is left of the weekend.

33 comments:

  1. Another one on your list should be the golden eagle. You will need to haul yourself up to the top of the Cairgorms with a newly killed rabbit but watch out for Goldie's talons or you may get carried off to his eyrie for some sweet eagle loving.

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    1. YP, it is on the list but they fly too high. I'll have to go to a bird of prey centre.
      I would be happy with a Buzzard.

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  2. I love the golden sunlight in these beauties. And yes, starlings can make very short work of a suet.. but they also help the ground feeders. :)

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    1. Hilary, I have enjoyed a few days of perfect light.

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  3. I can imagine getting very cold while waiting for these little fellows to appear. Great results though!

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  4. Todas son buenas Adrian. La 3 y la 4 me gustan más ;))
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Laura, # 4 es mi favorito. Es hermosa si travieso.

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  5. gorgeous. I wish I saw that many different species in the city.

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  6. Great images Adrian. Both starlings and the Goldfinch that visit my garden are mucky eaters. I ended up attaching tupperware lids to the base of the feeders to catch the spillage

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    1. Douglas, Collared Doves Chaffinch and Pheasants seem to enjoy hoovering up.

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  7. I'm chuckling--are you in a "he who shoots the most birds wins" contest? Are you expecting any more to your feeders, some elusive recluse on the endangered species list. I think you are just too comfortable and don't want to move.
    You have amassed quite a repertoire so far.
    I must confess I don't like starlings and put the dark seeds they love to shovel to the ground in small feeders that close if they try to alight. They throw so much to the ground I figure they can just go down there and eat. And, no suet from me. I'm not that nice.
    Waiting for the ducks.

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    1. Joanne, there is only one more and that is the Siskin.
      I don't really mind what comes to the feeders. The crows are bad as they lift them off and chuck the whole caboodle on the ground.

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  8. I guess that starlings look and act the same on both sides of the ocean.

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  9. Twiggy is good. You get a much more natural photo as it puts the birds in the normal environment.

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    1. Red, twiggy is fine but not when I get them in front of the bird.

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  10. Adriaan feder you get very good use .they know how to find good.

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    1. Bas, they are not very grateful. Beautiful but naughty birds.

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  11. Beautiful photos, Adrian. How close do you actually get to birds when taking them?

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    1. Frances. I moved the van window about eight feet away. I crop in after that. The Starling being a big bird didn't need cropping. The tiny ones can stand it. I have full frame Canon gear or what Canon say is full frame.It is nothing like, it is what you would know as 35mm. Full frame is 120mm but the digital bit costs £60K and a camera body another 10K. A daft amount of money to spend for T'internet.

      I discard most of the image the camera collects. I do edit first. These images will print at 220dpi. They will come out perfect at a foot or two square on shiny paper.

      Ten to fifteen feet is the answer. Sorry to make a meal out of a simple question.

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  12. Have you tried a siskin feeder with the niger seeds so that the other birds can't get at them?

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    1. Graham, I have a Niger seed feeder. It isn't doing very much business. Fat balls are the favourite followed by peanuts.

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  13. Just caught up with this and your previous 'birdie' posts Adrian and you've captured some great images. Setting up a photogenic perch certainly helps to make an image. I can see the bird photographer coming out in you at last!... and your doing it in the warm.. can't be bad?...[;o)

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    1. Trevor, this is a good place for birds. The site has only been open for a year and a half but they are getting used to campers feeding them. Birding in the warm has much to recommend it. I had to be careful during the summer as the Sparrowhawks had also realised but I haven't seen one this visit.

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  14. Terrific bird photos, Adrian ~ wonderful to see that you've captured the twinkle in their eyes. Great idea about cutting the branch for a perch. May have to do that here! All the best in 2015 ~

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    1. Glo, thanks. The eyes make a picture. The sun is perfect at this time of year.

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  15. Hi Adrian Some more great shots from your warm hide.

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    1. Thanks Margaret, I've about done it to death. It was freezing out this morning and I didn't get a shot of anything.

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  16. Beautiful birds, especially the Starling, they have been number 1.

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  17. I'm glad you put feeders up wherever you go. That sound birding along the trek:) And the areas you are visiting probably will have some surprises:)

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