Post your Bird Portraits

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19126436
You asked about the 100-500, and it arrived a little over a week ago. So I've been shooting with it on the R5, and it is quite noticeably lighter than the R5 with the 100-400. There was a bit of a problem using the 100-500. The viewfinder appeared darker than I was used to, and this bothered me. I had a feeling something was wrong. Then two days ago the camera store called me, and I was informed that a firmware update had just come out that addressed this problem. And it certainly did. So now I'm back in business with the R5. Personally, I think the 100-500 is going to sell like hotcakes. It is an outstanding lens for sharpness, and for light weight.

roses75 wrote in post #19126434
Cedar Wax wing

Archibald wrote in post #19126445
That is useful info from the field on the 100-500mm. I have not decided about it yet because the 100-400 II has treated me so well for so long, but every year it gets heavier. So when I finally get my R5 and when the rumbles at my bank subside, I think I will have to go looking seriously at the 100-500.

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19126451
Very nice shot, Irene!

Jorgac wrote in post #19126319
Blue waxbills

kd_reno wrote in post #19126416
Very nice shot, but I think it's a Song Sparrow. Fox Sparrows lack the face pattern and more spotted than streaked. There are several distinct subspecies.Here are a Sooty that I took in the Marin Headlands last year, and a Thick-billed I got locally this spring.


IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …/album-72157713483834051/
Fox Sparrow (Sooty)] by Ken Drozd on Flickr

avondale87 wrote in post #19126178
(apologies - wrong name .) Matthew these Blue Wrens are not easy (for me) to capture the colours easily.
Yes you're right and it is a fascinating and beautiful colouration. Like some others, the way the light plays on the feathers affects the outcome.
Here's a crop of another that shows that purple hue. It's a tad noisy!
I guess they are not called Superb Fairy Wrens for nothing and yet there is a Splendid Fairy Wren that I think deserves the primary accolades and this called Splendid instead- a close second in beauty.
Our wrens come in a various forms and colours and are all worthy of being amongst, IMO, the most beautiful of all birds.
Their nature and antics all make them very special for me.
But that Blackburnian is gorgeous

SYS wrote in post #19126211
Lesser Goldfinch munching on Agastache Red Fortune

fotoi wrote in post #19126221
A Wigeon hen.

Tom in Arizona wrote in post #19126222
American Kestrel's enjoying each other's company...

Jorgac wrote in post #19126319
Blue waxbills

Jorgac wrote in post #19126323
Helmeted guinaefowl

roses75 wrote in post #19126434
Cedar Wax wing

Snydremark wrote in post #19126237
I believe this little one was my first Fox Sparrow:
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iZH​qM4 Sparrow; Fox, I think by Eric, on Flickr

Tom in Arizona wrote in post #19126222
American Kestrel's enjoying each other's company...

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #19126321
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2jHA​87q Most handsome in the backyard by MedicineMan4040, on Flickr

roses75 wrote in post #19126434
Cedar Wax wing

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19126436
Matt...first off, you are a very thoughtful person. Your comments are always well planned, and carefully, written. I truly value your thoughts and comments. The fire and it's impact have temporarily taken away my enthusiasm for photography. People that we know have lost their homes and all their possessions. I had planned to do a little shooting this afternoon and evening, but the sky has turned a dirty white color, and the available lighting is just lousy for serious bird shooting. So I'm going to sit out in the back yard and take some shots at local resident birds.

I had truly hoped that Canon would come out with a mirrorless crop sensor body similar to the ol' 7DII DSLR that I like so much. The best Canon mirrorless that I could find to take the place of my 7DII is the EOS M6 II. I've played with it a lot, and at first I didn't like it too much, but as time went on, I started to get better shots using my Canon 100-400 L lens. I'm not saying it's the answer, but it's small size, and the nice image quality it produces, really is nice. So then, I hooked it up with my Canon 70-300 L lens and I am pleasantly surprised how nice this small little package is working out. It's so compact, and light. I feel like I can take it anywhere with no effort at all. I used this combo last Wednesday to get shots of my neighbor's dog retrieving dove on the last day of the early season. Considering the lousy, smokey conditions, I was pleased with the results of this little combination of camera and lens. Using the 70-300, and considering the 1.6 crop factor at 300 mm...I'm shooting the equivalency of 480 mm on a full frame sensor body. And that ain't too shabby for such a little package. This could really be a keeper, but I have a lot more shooting to do before making any brash statements.

You asked about the 100-500, and it arrived a little over a week ago. So I've been shooting with it on the R5, and it is quite noticeably lighter than the R5 with the 100-400. There was a bit of a problem using the 100-500. The viewfinder appeared darker than I was used to, and this bothered me. I had a feeling something was wrong. Then two days ago the camera store called me, and I was informed that a firmware update had just come out that addressed this problem. And it certainly did. So now I'm back in business with the R5. Personally, I think the 100-500 is going to sell like hotcakes. It is an outstanding lens for sharpness, and for light weight.

txcanon wrote in post #19126509
Excellent shot Eric! A Song Sparrow as Ken said above. To add, Song Sparrows lack the unique triangular breast pattern. Also Songs have a stronger malar pattern, have a eyeline, have darker/larger beaks, and a longer tail. Your Song Sparrows are so much darker there in the Pacific Northwest than what we get here.

Super capture Tom! You really caught the moment.

Very nice portrait Medicineman!

rgfrison wrote in post #19126514
Northern Harrier

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19126499
This is a great close-up shot of one of my guys, Richard! He surely let you get pretty close. Very nicely done.

Jorgac wrote in post #19126319
Blue waxbills

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #19126527
Beautiful species imaged perfectly for this wonderful pose.