Since the cold weather has started up with the sunny days I have been noticing that the catbirds are getting out of bed later and until the sun starts to warm the garden up they don't make their usual tsk-ing sound.
I have been watching and waiting (and using up some old grapes) and today was my best catch yet. Done through a glass window but it was that or nothing with this bird! i think he is a juv from the last clutch.
oops...just a second too slow...
SHould I go down for them...I am feeling shy but hungry ..and I love grapes LOL
Wow what a catch! Great photos. You are lucky to have catbirds in your garden.
Awesome shots Birdie. I have never seen this bird before so it is great to see lots of good pics of them.
Cheers, Owen.
Thanks Wanda and Owen. I am really happy to share these with everyone as I know it is an unusual thing for most people to have one their garden!!
Owen I was hoping you would drop in as I took a few yesterday with flash that were not very successful (to say the least) but I set up a kind of hide with a green sheet under my patio and used the monopod to get any results at all. Today I realised that it was easier through the window ( after a quick window clean LOL) the flash really spooked them so the trouble was I only got one chance and then had to wait for them to return!! I will post a couple to show the difference. also notice that at 1600 ISO the noise ( grainy effect) is pretty bad. These above were shot at 400 ISO.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
what a stunning bird,some great shots well worth the wait,i find the harder they make me work the the the bigger the buzz when it all comes together!
Im happy just to have sparrows and NH honeyeaters in my yard to have birds like these must be just,well,.... awesome!
Thanks Sparrow...yes you are right , the challenge is a real buzz, plus just having the chance to interact with such a beautiful creature is just amazing. It was topped for me today only by watching dolphins herding fish down at the beach while the Sea Eagle and the Gannets soared above!!!!! NO camera but a sight to see just the same :')
Here is one to show what happens when you get it wrong LOL
greedy thing grabbed two and flew before I could get the stupid camera to charge the flash and focus again!
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Anyway.... so I set up a better perch and filled it with a few grapes.... so he stretched his neck and stayed on the damn fence!!!
ALso forgot to say Owen, that shot number 4 was at 1600 ISO too.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Yes I have noticed that high ISO means grainy photo Birdie. Well done on that last shot of the Catbird. Looks great.
I really could do with a strong flash and a mono.
Cheers, Owen.
Your shots do this bird justice Birdie.......Good to get shots of a bird that is usually in the darkness of the rainforest.
Thank you Tassie, but it is costing me a fortune in grapes..they were both down on my fence this afternoon looking around to see where the grape tree went .
Sunshine Coast Queensland
never seen one , great looking bird , great pics
Neil