Something a little less challenging than an Eagle
- Thread starter Deka
- Start date
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I think I'm in a fairly wet area of the state.
I was once informed that there was no way I could have Scrub Jays in my area. I have proof that they are here. LOL
They are very enjoyable to watch.
Deka
thanks, Deka! if they're in the Tacoma area, i should be able to find some up this way as well... i'll have to keep an eye out!
as far as muting the shutter, if you shoot Canon, there's a special function called 'mirror lockup' that enables you to lock the mirror in the up position, which effectively makes the shutter silent (it's the mirror whacking up and down that you hear normally; the shutter itself makes no noise). the downside to mirror lockup is that it also blocks out the viewfinder, so you have to enable the live-view mode on your LCD in order to see what you're shooting at. all well and good with a tripod, but rather tricky otherwise...
i also thought they preferred drier climes, but i'm fine with having 'em here. i've seen them before, and got some photos, but they were in eastern Oregon. or was it southern Idaho... it's all a blur to me now... anyway, i'll be keeping a lookout for them!
Yes, I shoot a Canon and I have used the Mirror lock up feature before. Either I don't fully understand the concept or the shots I took really didn't need the function. I understand that the mirror lock up (MLU) is supposed to also stop the camera from vibrating prior to the shot. This may be one of those 'I need to practice!' functions so I can understand it and use it in the right situation. In my previous experiments, MLU only worked when I had the subject in focus and then turned the MLU on. I'm not sure that MLU would work with flighty birds but I've been know to be wrong before.
Deka
Uh, no, not a joke, why do you ask? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pileated_Woodpecker
Ah, after reading the description I see the problem, they're much bigger and he's a Downy (I think?). Saw the red and mistook him for the other, larger variety.
Hey, I never claimed to be a birder!
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photographmemories
New Member
Welcome to the site, Deka! You're taking some nice shots.
We have a resident pair that come to the feeder here.
Today, I came home from running a couple of errands, had the camera put away, I saw 3 flickrs working the feeders. I figured in the time I set up they'd be gone so, I stood there by the window watching them. They were turning cartwheels and juggling suet for about 15 minutes. No pictures.
Chad
We have a resident pair that come to the feeder here.
Today, I came home from running a couple of errands, had the camera put away, I saw 3 flickrs working the feeders. I figured in the time I set up they'd be gone so, I stood there by the window watching them. They were turning cartwheels and juggling suet for about 15 minutes. No pictures.
Chad
Deka
Member
Hi Joe,
Lakewood, just south of Tacoma.
They arrived last year and I saw them through the winter. I think they have a nest in the fir tree in front of the house.
Listening to them 'talk' to each other is very interesting.
This one was looking for the peanuts that I had thrown on the ground for them.
Deka
Lakewood, just south of Tacoma.
They arrived last year and I saw them through the winter. I think they have a nest in the fir tree in front of the house.
Listening to them 'talk' to each other is very interesting.
This one was looking for the peanuts that I had thrown on the ground for them.
Deka
Deka
Member
I think I'm in a fairly wet area of the state.
I was once informed that there was no way I could have Scrub Jays in my area. I have proof that they are here. LOL
They are very enjoyable to watch.
Deka
Deka
Member
Thank you for the compliment Chad. Being new to photography, it means a lot!
We have Flickers in our area as well. I've not been able to be in place at the time to get any good shots of them .... yet.
My all time wish is to be able to capture my resident Anna Hummingbirds (mated male and female).
I do have a Rufus on occasion but the visits seem to be few and far between.
I think I need to set up a blind and find a way to mute the shutter.
At any rate, patience, experimentation and more patience.
Deka
We have Flickers in our area as well. I've not been able to be in place at the time to get any good shots of them .... yet.
My all time wish is to be able to capture my resident Anna Hummingbirds (mated male and female).
I do have a Rufus on occasion but the visits seem to be few and far between.
I think I need to set up a blind and find a way to mute the shutter.
At any rate, patience, experimentation and more patience.
Deka
Joemeche
New Member
Western Scrub Jays' range expansion is one of the more dramatic in the state in several decades. First confirmed breeding pairs were in Olympia in 1990, when 3 pairs were observed. There have been increasing numbers in other sites thru the 90s and into 2014.
I've been monitoring a pair in Bellingham for the past 3 years and they've produced >10 fledglings. Consensus is that some of the young birds crossed into BC (without papers!) and are now breeding there, with more sightings all the time.
I've been monitoring a pair in Bellingham for the past 3 years and they've produced >10 fledglings. Consensus is that some of the young birds crossed into BC (without papers!) and are now breeding there, with more sightings all the time.
I think I'm in a fairly wet area of the state.
I was once informed that there was no way I could have Scrub Jays in my area. I have proof that they are here. LOL
They are very enjoyable to watch.
Deka
thanks, Deka! if they're in the Tacoma area, i should be able to find some up this way as well... i'll have to keep an eye out!
as far as muting the shutter, if you shoot Canon, there's a special function called 'mirror lockup' that enables you to lock the mirror in the up position, which effectively makes the shutter silent (it's the mirror whacking up and down that you hear normally; the shutter itself makes no noise). the downside to mirror lockup is that it also blocks out the viewfinder, so you have to enable the live-view mode on your LCD in order to see what you're shooting at. all well and good with a tripod, but rather tricky otherwise...
Hummers are not difficult to photograph with a digital SLR camera. Wesley and McIntoe, two of the resident Anna's at the Edmonds marsh, are always happy to pose for me. As long as you maintain a respectful distance, you should be able to get some good shots.
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Rocky, they should be easy to find, I've got some here as well (near Auburn). I was surprised, as I thought they were more limited to the drier areas. They apparently love bird feeders though, as I have several that are frequent visitors. They're a lovely blue, and make a nice contrast with the Stellar's Jay, both bright blue, but also different from one another.
i also thought they preferred drier climes, but i'm fine with having 'em here. i've seen them before, and got some photos, but they were in eastern Oregon. or was it southern Idaho... it's all a blur to me now... anyway, i'll be keeping a lookout for them!
I should add that photographing small birds can be much more challenging than photographing eagles. As long as an eagle is perched higher than you, it will sit and let you photograph it to your heart's content. When you are a protected species at the top of the food chain, what's there to worry about?
Deka
Member
Yes, I shoot a Canon and I have used the Mirror lock up feature before. Either I don't fully understand the concept or the shots I took really didn't need the function. I understand that the mirror lock up (MLU) is supposed to also stop the camera from vibrating prior to the shot. This may be one of those 'I need to practice!' functions so I can understand it and use it in the right situation. In my previous experiments, MLU only worked when I had the subject in focus and then turned the MLU on. I'm not sure that MLU would work with flighty birds but I've been know to be wrong before.
Deka
Bird in flight photos are typically not good subjects for mirror up. The focusing method used when the mirror is up can be less accurate. So, normally I would not recommend it. If it's an actual "bird in flight" then you probably aren't as worried about the noise, since the bird is already flying, right?
However, it could be useful when photographing a bird that is perched nearby. In that case, the slower focus wouldn't matter as much. The camera may or may no still make noise. My D800 still clicks in "live view" mode, (which is mirror up) but the noise is much softer.
However, it could be useful when photographing a bird that is perched nearby. In that case, the slower focus wouldn't matter as much. The camera may or may no still make noise. My D800 still clicks in "live view" mode, (which is mirror up) but the noise is much softer.
Pileated? Is there a bit of leg pulling going on here? Inside joke, perhaps?
Uh, no, not a joke, why do you ask? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pileated_Woodpecker
Ah, after reading the description I see the problem, they're much bigger and he's a Downy (I think?). Saw the red and mistook him for the other, larger variety.
Hey, I never claimed to be a birder!
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