New Here... Some Known and Two Unknown Birds(Image Intensive)

[ospreyphoto]

Hello all,
I am new here. I recently purchased a Canon Rebel XTI and am happy with it so far. I have a 200-400 Tamron lens as well as a smaller lens to go along with it. I have read the sticky on posting, and hope I have done this correctly.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/Darkarts/rubythroated.jpg The first one is the ruby throated hummingbird. He stopped by while I was trying to photograph an elusive mourning dove. I didn`t get a shot of the dove, but I took around 300 shots of this guy ( who kept coming back for three hours... haven`t seen him since) Only post processing done to this image was the sharpening tool. ( Taken on our property)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/Darkarts/brownheadedcowbird.jpg This brown headed cowbird male was relatively tame, unlike the grackles and redwings. He and the female would sit out there while you would be refilling the feeders and then swoop down. Once again, only post processing done was the sharpening tool. (Taken on our property)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/Darkarts/greycatbird.jpg This gray catbird was photographed at Mud Lake. I had seen one previously on the ridge ( rocky area) who had seemed to have been taunting me, flashing into the bushes. I then walked into the forest and this guy was sitting on a branch singing away right in front of me. Post processing done to this image was brightness and contrast adjustment and sharpening tools.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/Darkarts/noid.jpg
This is one of the birds I have been unable to identify as of yet, photographed at Mud Lake. He/she sat in the bushes singing away for me to get at least 4 shots. Post processing on this one was brightness and contrast adjustment and the sharpening tool.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/Darkarts/noidagain.jpg
This is the second bird I was unable to identify. As I was walking down the ridge at Mud Lake towards the forest, this one was sitting on a branch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/Darkarts/yellowwarbler.jpgThis final image was once again taken at Mud Lake on the ridge. The warblers are hard to photograph cause many times, you`ll hear them but be unable to see them. This guy was fond of playing hide and seek, whichever side of the tree you went on to see him, he would go to the other side and start singing again. The only post processing on this one was the sharpening tool.

Would anyone recommend purchasing a teleconverter to go along with the 200-400 lens?

-Tom

[canonloader]

Very nice shots Tom. Can't help with the ID though.

Some teleconverters work OK, but my personal experience is that they degrade the image quality enough that I almost never use them. If your shooting birds fairly close, like within 35 feet or so, then try a set of Kenko tubes. They have no glass and they have the contacts to pass info from the lens to the camera so you keep autofocus.

[rocklyons]

Nice shots. The ones in the trees would be better with some fill flash. I am just starting to try flash on bird pics and have ordered a Better Beamer to help out. If you look around this forum you will see many good exampls of where fill flash and the beamer improved shots.

[sugarzebra]

Welcome to POTN and thanks for posting these birds. Nice shot of the hummer and great detail in the cowbird. Is that Mud Lake in the Ottawa Valley you are referring to??

[exerda]

Your second unknown is I believe a female Yellow-rumped Warbler, aka the butterbutt, and is of the "Myrtle" race (vs. the "Audubon" race, which has a yellow chin, too). The tail appears a little long for the Yellow-rumped, though, so I'm not entirely sure, but everything else matches.

I just can't tell from the angle what the first unknown is.

The last photo is a Yellow Warbler; I didn't see if you'd said it was an unknown or not.

[Gary Fairhead]

Hi Tom and welcome to the forum. Nice capture of the Hummer and thats a wake up call for me to put my feeder out. I saw a Hummer at Petrie and one at Fletcher Wildlife last week. The Cowbird shot works and i agree that the 3rd to 5th images would have benifited with some flash for fill..Can't help with the ID's although I am thinking perhaps a Vireo of some sort in the 4th shot. With Yellow Warblers you are just as well to watch and see if the male is protecting an area and then place yourself in an area he visits as he will likely revisit..Move very slowly. As for extenders...I use a 1.4Xtc occasionaly , The 2X converters have a reputation of degrading the image. Extension tubes work to allow you to get closer than your minimum focusing distance but I am not sure that is your issue....I have only used them for birds like hummers who sometimes allow you to get quite close.

[Postiemon]

The fifth shot looks more like a female American Redstart than a Yellow Rump. I won't guess at the fourth shot however...Welcome to the forum and to Mud Lake.

[rrdjserv@earthlink.net]

Welcome to the forum. I will give you a warning. If you haven't already discovered this, birding is adictive. It will consume all your spare time. Hoping to see more. --Rick

[chubri777]

Photo 4 is either a Philadelphia Vireo or a Warbling Vireo. Throat looks yellow which would be good for Philadelphia and not so good for Warbling.
Hope this helps

[Stephen Stephen]

Welcome Tom. A nice start to posting here. I would definitely support the suggestion to try using fill flash, especially in the shadows. If you don't have an add-on flash even your built-in flash will help illuminate a bird in the shadows a bit.

[dancad]

The second unknown is definately an American Redstart...either a first year male or a female. Glad to see you posting some images - the Hummingbird and Cowbird are nice!

[busbyea]

Very nice intro Tom;

Humming bird get's my vote...

[johnstoy]

where are you at Tom?...in the US? welcome, the bird section is full of great photogs w lots of experience... I'm in here often, reading a lot and learning... cheers...

[Reyno]

Very nice series for a first post. Welcome to POTN Tom and BIG congrats on your gears. Looking forward to see more of your work. Enjoy and happy shooting.

[exerda]

That second unknown does look to be a female or juvvie male American Redstart, in retrospect. The tail's got the yellow strip across it (these are stunning when they spread their tails and fan them to flush insects). I hadn't realized the head and chest on females looked so much like the Yellow-rumped.

[ospreyphoto]

Thanks everyone for your comments. It`s really encouraging, and it will only help me improve in time.

Canonloader: Thanks for your advice on teleconverters. Looks like I`ll just have to sneak up even more quietly on the birds.

rocklyons: I`ll definately take your advice on fill flash. I`m still figuring out this camera so any advice helps.

sugarzebra: Thanks for your comment. Yes I am referencing Mud Lake in the Ottawa area. More info on this conservation area can be found here; http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/orwo10.htm (http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/orwo10.htm)

Gary: Thanks for your tips on the extenders. The warblers are sure fun to see flying about. Today I was quite pleased as I shot one of these guys while they were getting ready to sing in a bush.

Postiemon: Thanks for the id on the American Redstart female. Just today I was able to find the male American Redstart at a trail close to my area. Unfortunately he didn`t like the idea of posing for a nice portrait, and fluttered into the bushes.

Rick: Oh I`ve been a birder/birdwatcher for quite a few years now. It definately is addictive. Many of my friends who are not birders/birdwatchers never understand why I am so excited to see a bufflehead etc in front of our house.

Stephen, Dan, and Ted: Thank you all for the comments. I am happy to see local people here.

John, Reyno and Exerda: Thanks for your comments once again.