OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Inspired by a post this morning by Vicksart and her California hummers.

Hummers at the feeder (especially perched) are getting to be like shooting fish in a barrel and I like my birds au naturale. After having pursued this guy for seven months, I know his approach routes from the north and west and where he perches to scout the area before coming to the feeder.

I went out for a smoke break this morning and this guy showed up, so I told him, "Just wait there." Then I went 50 feet back to the house for a camera and back out pointing a big lens (Nikon 200-500) and walked straight up to about 10 feet away. Remember the rules? Don't make eye contact, no sudden movements, move perpendicular, etc.

But I've learned that as long as he's above head level he doesn't really give a damn what I'm doing. :-D

So here they are, D800 with 1.4X TC, f/8, 1/3000, ISO 3200 from 10 feet. These are minimally processed JPEG's, cropped and sized down for posting, but the 36MP RAW images are awesome! Enjoy.

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robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I went out to fill the bird feeders between rains last week. I went and put some of the feed for the ground feeders under the swingset/fort where they could eat out of the rain. I turned around and below my eye level only about 5 feet away a hummer was at the feeder. I had an empty bowl, not a camera. I talked to him and told him what a pretty bird he was. He looked at me like I "What the hell are you? Took a few sips and left. From now on I will at least have my little compact zoom in my shirt pocket when I go to fill the feeders.

cucharared Loc: Texas, Colorado

Absolutely fantastic shots. The bird would have to be in my hand to be any clearer. You obviously know what you're doing.

ron

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

See, Robert, you didn't tell him to wait! :lol:

Kuzano

This caught my eye.

Fellow owns a very colorful, well feathered African Parrot. The parrot knows a few word. When he first gets the parrot home all is well.

He notes the parrot begins to get a bit droopy and his color fades. A few feathers fall away.

He goes back to the shop where he bought the parrot and talks to the owner. The owner raises an eyebrow and mentions that the fellows new parrot seemed to have a bit of a relationship with a very nice looking African Grey female in the store. Lots of flirting and chatter going on. Perhaps your Parrot is depressed. Maybe you should take the African Grey home.

The fellow asks how much for the African Grey. The storekeeper tells him $2000.

YIKES! $2000. I'm gonna shop around.

Well, you can, but frankly:

That's the parrot yours is smitten with.
They seem to have bonded
That's a pretty good price for a talking African Grey female.

OK>>> OK, I'll take her.

He gets home and sets up the African Grey cage next to his parrot who immediately perks up. The chatter starts. He tell the Colorful Parrot to enjoy himself because he just paid $2000 for the female....I'll leave you two alone. He opens both cages and leaves the room.

In a matter of minutes, he hears all kinds of squawking and swearing and ruckus.

The first parrot is in the Grey's cage and tearing her feathers out with his beak and claws. The noise is considerable.

The guy shouts, "HEY!... what the hell are you doing?"

The first parrot screaches out... "Hell Man, for $2000 I WANT HER NAKED!"

au Naturale? Please :shock:

Now, those would be pictures!

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Great shots, especially the third one.

Mike

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Thanks for the generous comments, Ron.
Knowing what I was doing consisted of grabbing the closest camera with whatever lens was mounted and hoping the settings from last use would be good. Maybe some luck involved? :D

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Thanks, Mike. All 3 shots are the same bird. What a difference a change in angle makes on the reflectance!

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

:thumbup: :lol:

cmc65

That 3rd one is perfect!!

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Fantastic set, Larry--way to go!!

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Thank you but not perfect.
Monday morning quarterbacking I can see that ISO 1600 gave more noise than I like and I could have increased the f number to get the tail and beak in focus and didn't need 1/3000th for a sitting bird.

But next time will be the "perfect" shot. :XD:

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

And thank you too, Swamp. :)

cmc65

Perfect from where I"m sitting...my first 2000 shots at shooting a hummer didn't even look like a bird :cry:

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Great images!!!
In most Photo Club competitions birds at feeders are culled at the first run thru, "The hand of Man" is not acceptable in Nature photography.