robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Taking a break from the focus stacking, besides the next dandelion head is just about ready to become my model.
I have a birdbath, hummingbird feeders and seed feeders plus a bunch of potted plants I can move, including a little avocado tree and a little mandarin orange tree.
#1 overview of the birdbath with plants (slide needs to go, needs refinished or replaced and California has made that expensive and/or nearly impossible to get permits because some idiots go down them head first into the shallow end of the pool) surprise a dove was hiding in there
#2 Closer in on the dove
#3 final version/crop with PP - until I decide to change it
#4 one hour ago I added a popup camo "Doghouse" blind, need to tweak the position and drive in the stakes and tie downs

Doves already coming back, finches doing touch and goes to test it, squirrels come to that upper terrace wall and then go back to the tree. Maybe the name "doghouse" blind makes them nervous. Terror (aka Tara-my little Jack Russell mix) might be in that "doghouse" reading recipes for fresh squirrel.

Now to tweak the position of the blind, rearrange the plants for shooting from the other side and give them a day or two to get used to it. Then bird pictures much closer. Well except the hummers, they have always let me just sit in a lawn chair and shoot from 6-8 feet. The others not so much, though some of this year's fledglings aren't scared of humans too much and seem to associate me with food I have gotten less than 8 feet from a couple of young doves and about 4-5 from a flinch that was busy eating from the hanging feeder.

Overall setup

(Download)

there is a dove in there

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With crop and PP

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Doghouse blind added

(Download)

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Nice setup!!
Pat

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks
Just before sundown at the final feeding the birds were back.
Tomorrow I will stake it down with a sheet of plywood for a floor and put in an old office chair. Then by the afternoon feeding I will be ready to try some shots.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Very nice Robert and appears that we are using identical blinds; matter of fact I just purchased a new one today as I got a little to close to it with the weed eater. :-)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Well our local winds are roaring so I had to fold mine up and put it in the family room today. Winds and heavy gusts for the next few days. I finally stop procrastinating and now the weather won't cooperate.

Mine is an Ameristep "Doghouse" I got at BassPro.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

I upgraded the tent stakes to some much longer and more sturdy.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Yes those heavy wire things are cra*. Same thing with the ones for my drip irrigation line. Big Five Sporting goods has good heavy ones. Guess I will go there.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Yep, that's where we came from today with the same model, but guess I will have to upgrade my interior to keep up with you! I have only a dirt floor with a five gallon plastic bucket turned upside and a boat cushion place over it for a seat!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Well I found out the plywood was reserved for a kitchen project. But I do have the office chair. I saved that from the curb where it was waiting for the trash pickup. It won't go up and down, the tilt controls are all frozen in place but by luck they are in positions that are pretty comfortable and it does still swivel so I can look out different sides of the blind.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Robert, my old blind is set up close to the edge of the water but unfortunately the only suitable location is facing south and the land has quite a downward slope toward the water so I have to place several brick under the front edge of the inverted bucket to somewhat level my improvised seat! Also by facing south, many times I'm dealing with backlit conditions, but because of other obstructions just not possible to position the tent in any other direction, but can occasionally take a few land images from the west facing window. Good luck and looking forward to viewing some of your close ups!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Well, I am near the water also, my pool does count doesn't it? My house is on a north facing slope and I am on the south side of the street so my back yard is a south looking view also, looking uphill. The yard is terraced; street, about 1' up to the level with the front yard, house and pool; aprx 3' up to a 17' deep yard area where the feeders,swing set and blind are; aprx 3' up to a 3' wide flower bed and a bit less than 5' up to an 11' deep upper terrace with grass, wildflowers and a small tree by the power pole.
So I am on level ground and in some cases can set up on the lower area and thus be able to get at almost eye level with the higher area plants and birds. If I sit up the blind right against the flower bed wall with the zipper door right up against the flower bed I can have my camera level with the top of the wall looking down it from the edge of the door. Put food on the blocks of the wall and I might be able to get birds level with the lens and up very close. Set up, sit quietly reading my e-reader and wait for birds to come to the food.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Sounds great, Robert, and know that you will get many good shots with this setup. I should be in mine now , as I just went into the kitchen to refill my coffee cup and there were seven Wood Ducks within about ten feet of the blind, but trying to do a little catch up, and at this location I can keep an eye on the feeders hanging on the dogwood tree in our front yard, and hoping that the Baltimore Oriole, will make an appearance. Take care!

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

I really like the closeup in #3; very nice!!!!