Trying to get shots of new bird at feeder, had to settle for a bee: Every so often at the thistle seed feeder I see a bird smaller than the Lesser Goldfinches. About the size of a...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Every so often at the thistle seed feeder I see a bird smaller than the Lesser Goldfinches. About the size of a large humming bird, slender body, short tail, smallish head and small slender pointed beak (not positive of this, head seen through mesh of feeder-might be a hummer after small bugs on seeds????). Appears to be gray but I have only seen it in heavy shade and mostly clinging to the mesh of the feeder with at least part of it's body behind the curve of the feeder.
So a couple of times I have set up in a lawn chair by the pool hidden by potted plants hoping to get some pictures.
So far no luck. But when I got bored I started to take pictures of the bees after the flowers on the milkweed. So this is with my 100-400L in it's alter ego as a macro substitute.

80D, 100-400L mk II @ 400, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 400 hand held with flash

(Download)

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Excellent result, Robert--great shot. Using a long lens is often a great alternative to a macro--in some circumstances, even better. The longer working distance doesn't faze the little critters so much, so there's less chance of getting stung, & they stay put longer, which of course is beneficial.

Earl.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Joe Blow

HAR, no birds but a great shot.

Thanks for sharing.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

DOOK wrote:

Excellent result, Robert--great shot. Using a long lens is often a great alternative to a macro--in some circumstances, even better. The longer working distance doesn't faze the little critters so much, so there's less chance of getting stung, & they stay put longer, which of course is beneficial.

Earl.

thank you
I would hate to try for these pictures with a short macro. (In fact I have tried, that is why I use a 400 mm zoom or a 180 mm macro.) The keeper rate on the bees was very low. Blurred because it moved, south end of north bound bee because it moved, flower by itself because bee left between pushing shutter and image being taken, headless bee because it stuck its head down in the cluster just as I pressed the shutter, part of a bee at the edge of the frame because it moved, totally out of focus because the wind swayed the plant with the bee on it - should have labeled a couple of those as "ART" and posted to see how many art lovers would gush over them. etc etc etc

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

rwilson1942 wrote:

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Joe Blow wrote:

HAR, no birds but a great shot.

Thanks for sharing.

thanks, you are welcome

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

It's a great shot Robert...

Ron.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

I'd certainly settle for this bee shot, Jerry! Your mystery bird could very well be a hummer. They do indeed eat tiny insects.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

SX2002 wrote:

It's a great shot Robert...

Ron.

Thank You

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Dixiegirl wrote:

I'd certainly settle for this bee shot, Jerry! Your mystery bird could very well be a hummer. They do indeed eat tiny insects.

Thanks a lot.
One hummer on line site described them as "insect eating machines that are fueled by nectar".
The park where I go to shoot water birds they will perch in the trees near the flower beds and then zoom and zip around above the water after the bugs then go back to perch on the trees for a short rest, then do it over again.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

robertjerl wrote:

Thanks a lot.
One hummer on line site described them as "insect eating machines that are fueled by nectar".
The park where I go to shoot water birds they will perch in the trees near the flower beds and then zoom and zip around above the water after the bugs then go back to perch on the trees for a short rest, then do it over again.

LOL Great description of a hummer!

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

Great shot, Jerry, and a great download!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

CathyAnn wrote:

Great shot, Jerry, and a great download!

Thanks a lot.