[Theme] Show Birds

[Nasos Kosmas]

Not sure about the spices
Z 50 200-500 plus 1.4x

[Brute]

.

[Tom Hook]

More male and female ducks in their nuptial plumages - Ring-necked and Mallard Ducks.

Tis the season.

[ColinM]

Cowbird....!

The hulk is impressively sharp & moody, the bird less so,
but you get bonus points for lateral thinking Brute 

[Nasos Kosmas]

Nice cowbirds and ducks
Here is a  black redstart like my last previous shot, same setup

[chris dees]

Went back to the nest of the Kingfishers.
It looks like they are breading now. There's always one in/on the nest.
Normally the change is in a fraction of a second, but this time I was lucky and the female stayed 1-2 seconds at the opening. 

Z6II + 500PF
ISO2200, F5.6, 1/2000

[Nasos Kosmas]

Chris very nice you are quick and lucky
Speaking for Kingfishers here is my try in this very suspicious bird, I was behind a bush trying to hide myshelf but not lucky for a good shoot
First two is the same bird With 200-500 plus 1.4e, third is another I  used TC 20e III for this it was more far for my usual set up
I see some change in color and shape can you help me identify male or female?
Thanks

[Brute]

The hulk is impressively sharp & moody, the bird less so,
but you get bonus points for lateral thinking Brute 

lol Thanks Colin
Maybe this Mule Deer and Magpies are a little better.

[Randy Stout]

Bejeweled king of the Northern Lakes

This common loon had just surfaced and was adorned with delicate strands of water drops.   I am so looking forward to them returning to Michigan.

D4. 600 f/4. Taken from my boat.

Cheers

Randy

[Kim Pilegaard]

Great portrait! It must have surfaced pretty close to your boat.

[Birna Rørslett]

A personal loon - now, that is unusually nice.

[Hugh_3170]

Just love this shot - especially the eyes.

[Nasos Kosmas]

That’s a great shot Randy, as usual
You do a great job with your setup on the boat and that’s 100% for that kind of shooting in the lake!
Keep on raise the bar and give us great shots and shooting inshights

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone.

I am really looking forward to using the Z9 this season.  Most of the time loons don't require a high frame rate, but when you get the relatively  rare chance to capture a take off or landing, or a territorial battle, 20 fps sounds like a great option.  Plus I am curious to see how the TCs will work with the Z9 on my 600 VR.

Randy

[beryllium10]

Randy - another superb loon picture! 

Herons here have mostly paired up and are busy with nest repairs and renovation.  Here, some impressive - and unimpressive - timber en route to the treetops.  The second heron (carrying the small stick) obliged by flying past a backdrop of rhododendron/azalea colours.  I quite like the way they're rendered by the 500 mm PF, but I think they'd have been magical at f/4 on the conventional 500. 

Our local ospreys are due back from winter holidays on the 12th - lots of work ahead for them to get their nest back in shape.  They're as industrious as the herons and have some quirky tastes in nest material - always amusing to watch.

Cheers,  John