jak86094

Sounds like life is normal in Corona. So far I would say the warbler count in Orange County where I do most of my birding is down this year. If I were willing to drive quickly after a species is seen, I would probably have seen more, but I can't always jump in the car and chase the birds. Like you, we definitely have a plethora of squirrels in the area. Don't think we need so many, but Nature does what she will do. They make good food for raptors. Don't know if you saw that we had a Wood Warbler (the species, not the family) here in Long Beach a couple of weeks ago. I got out and was lucky to see it. Only the third recorded sighting in the 49 states for this bird that breeds in Russia and winters in Africa. All were seen in October...in 1978 and 2004 in Alaska and then this bird in Long Beach. There was lots of activity for about 10 days as birders came from all over to see it. I got some decent photos for a small bird at a distance, the bird being way up in a tall eucalyptus tree. Thanks again for writing. jak

jak86094

Ricardo, thanks for viewing and commenting. With the Kestrel-in-flight pictures, I just had time to lift and shoot, but the slower shutter speed might be an interesting alternative. Thanks for the suggestion. As for the Osprey, I was shooting as it hovered overhead then tried to follow it down to the water. I lost focus in the transition and didn't get it back until after it hit the water. Lots of motion blur. On the second dive, I missed the bird before it hit the water so I have two shots of the wings only above the water and then sinking deeper under the splash. I was able to require the bird and get focused shots as it left the water. Getting good shots of birds diving like that takes lots of practice and I haven't had that much following the bird down until it hits the water. Thanks again. jak

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Beautiful set! Don't stop taking shots like these, jak! And, of course, keep sharing them!

ricardo00

Yep you have to lower the shutter speed before the kestrel takes off, there would be no time to do it after. One of the reasons for getting a prime lens (like the 500mm PF) is that it focusses faster than the 200-500mm and may have kept the focus on the osprey. Lots of diving birds to practice on, like seagulls, terns, pelicans in addition to the ospreys. But one loses the ability to zoom out. An example of motion blur:

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robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Sounds like a bird with poor geography and map reading skills. But it provided some excitement for bird lovers.

hettmoe Loc: Rural ND

I agree wholeheartedly! I really like your photos!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Well, dog, here's one from the peanut gallery. If your posted photo is an example of your oh so great prime, I'm not impressed. Maybe in more capable hands. I've got photos posted here from a 200~500 Nikon zoom, that will blow your prime out of the water!! Just saying...my peanut's worth!!
Nice photos, BTW Jak!
By the way, dog. If you don't know the difference between an Osprey and an American Kestral, you shouldn't be playing with the big dogs!

alphadog

your NAME SAYS it all ...ZERO

alphadog

THAT my ZERO unfriend is an AMERICAN OSPREY not a KESTREL and you can find it published in B&W mag some time ago .... funny about the PEANUT gallery

jak86094

Thanks, Mike. It's always nice to hear from you. I hope to take many more shots and improve on these, but sometimes they should be improved. I'm fine with that. I always try to make them better. Have a great weekend. jak

jak86094

Ricardo, that cardinal photo is a great example of what you suggested to me. I'm sure I'd love the 500 PF but find that sometimes I get very nice photos with the 200-500, which is what I can afford now. Keep taking interesting, sharp photos and I'm sure you'll be happy. jak

jak86094

Thank you, hettmoe. That's very kind and very encouraging. I hope I can share photos you continue to appreciate. Meanwhile, stay healthy and have a good weekend. jak

jak86094

Hi folks. I'm very appreciative of your nice comments and support. They stimulate my efforts to find and record better photographs. I'm somewhat concerned about the response to Ricardo00 in suggesting that he doesn't know the difference between an American Kestrel and an Osprey. If you go back and look at the 10 photos attached to my original posting you will note that I have photographs of both, including a head-on photo of an American Kestrel in flight, just as he mentions. Admittedly the original was not tack sharp and didn't apply the sharp head/blurred wings in motion options he suggested, but maybe another time I'll try that. So he correctly ID'd the Kestrel. I also included several Osprey photos and discussed how I'd missed the bird's first impact with the water before it took flight a second time and caught a fish on the second dive. So thanks again everyone for your support and very kind comments. Hope I can continue bringing you some enjoyable photographs of my favorite subjects. jak

ricardo00

Hmm, if someone was suggesting that I (Ricardo00) don't know the difference between an osprey and the American kestrel, I missed that (since I know the difference and often photograph both). I thought that some people were talking about the picture in black and white of an osprey that was labeled as an American kestrel in alpha dog's post. However I was confused about the reference to Zero. Was that to my post?
To me, the only photo that you (jak86094) posted of a bird flying head-on was the kestrel, not the osprey. And both the osprey and kestrel shots were great in my view, just thought that for the kestrel one might make it a bit more interesting to have some wing blur (there are lots of posts by others much more expert than me including Steve Perry of doing slower shutter speed bird panning).
And for the record, having shot the 200-500mm for several years, it is plenty sharp enough. As sharp as my 500mm f/4 or my 500mm f/5.6. Many of my favorite photos that I have taken were with the 200-500mm lens. For me, the main advantage of the 200-500mm is the ability to zoom out, so for a large animal that can get close, that is an important feature. The 500mm PF can focus a bit faster but does come with a price. And if funds are limited, one is better off using those funds to get to interesting places (like Alaska). So jak86094, keep shooting and enjoying the 200-500mm lens. A great lens in my opinion. A couple of mine where it was invaluable:

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jak86094

Ricardo, you are, of course, right that it was your B&W photo of the Osprey that was labelled American Kestrel...my error. Thanks for the clarification. Good luck and keep shooting. You have some very nice photos there. jak