Introducing my backyard bullies:
They're not exotic or exciting, by any stretch, but they've done a good job chasing out all the feral invaders, so I'll give them some credit.
On a whim, my partner planted some sunflowers last spring. They developed into 6 foot tall monstrosities and she was ecstatic at the time. They're wilting now, but the saucer-sized flower heads are the perfect landing- and launchpads for the New Holland Honeyeaters.
I sat out in the late afternoon sun with a beer this afternoon to catch them in the act. It's nice to grab that "fish in a barrel" type experience when it pops up. Giving my "new" teleconverter a proper test was the real aim of the exercise. Looks like it still gives crazy good detail if the conditions suit! (only one of these three was shot with it, mind)
Great work ... love the bright colours of bird sunflower and blue sky.
I think the NH honeyeaters are a fancy looking bird with those white whiskers and white tufts. Very entertaining with their antics too when there is a group of them.
Pretty little birds, alright. Just spoiled a bit by their excessive numbers. They're good fun to watch, but surprisingly aggressive for such little guys; they harrass the heck out of any other bird in the garden.
Luckily the late afternoon sun comes in at a decent angle in the backyard. Getting the white and black to look right in a photo is too damn hard most of the day!
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Mike
https://flic.kr/ps/aF4bq
Nice photos detritus. We get them here in Brissy but don't seem to get the numbers that you do. I've only ever seen the odd one here and there. They are nice looking bird and you are right, the contrast of the black and whites are hard to get right. Thanks for sharing
Great detail! Same here in Canberra, other than about 2 locations, only an occasional sighting
Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera
Great shots! They might not be exotic or exciting for you guys living in the Southern states but quite unusual here and very photogenic!
Samford Valley Qld.
Cheers! Glad I could show them off a bit for those more Northern. Photogenic is a good word for them. Right little posers, but never still for more than a fraction of a second. Not sure I'll top these shots in a hurry, but I'm sure I'll be waving a lens at them next time the light is good.
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Mike
https://flic.kr/ps/aF4bq
Great shots Mike,
I would not say any bird is "not exciting" they all have there own photogenic quality's.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
True.. although some moreso than others, perhaps..
Here's a couple from an hour or two ago... showing off their ruthless bug-destroying skills. Sadly I hit the camera's buffer limit right before the toss & chomp manouevre and missed it entirely. The second shot shows some of the goopy goodness from within that tasty little morsel. (Or maybe it's a wing cover or some other bit of insect anatomy).
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Mike
https://flic.kr/ps/aF4bq
Nice work Mike.
Detail to spare and lovely colour in the birds.