This spring has brought more starlings to my garden than ever, they really are the backyard bullies, but they are also great subjects to photograph when they are getting feisty with each other over the feeders.

All taken with the 1D MKllN - 70-200L.

Superb as usual Bev , love them all :) Starling`s are about the only bird around my neck of the woods i have never photographed. I think i will start :)

I know only a few people with the ability of being able to keep both birds in the first two images sharply in focus at the same time. Very nice!

The feisty action in the last shot can be easily seen.

Did I say before that I was glad you're back :)

Many thanks Knight and Loupey, your comments/critique is always appreciated.

They are a common, mostly unliked bird but i just look on them as any other photographic subject and get what i can from them, have a go Knight and look forward to seeing some postings!

Yes you did Loupey, and thanks, its great to be back, a bit like returning home after being on a long trip away!!

Bev, those first two shots are stunning. Loupey is dead right, how you captured that with both birds in focus is beyond me....

Thanks Scott-devon, probably more luck than judgment, but i do make sure the S. Speed is near 1/1000 and aperature @2.8 or 3.5 with the 70-200L wide open.

I would have never even considered shooting starling with anything other than a gun. :p
However, these are some excellent action shots. Thanks for showing us how drab birds can actually look awesome in a photograph, when shot properly.

Thanks Mike, you have hit the nail on the head! starlings are a real pain here, but i cant be too picky with my bird subjects as they are far and few between re species, so if these bully birds want food they have to earn it! Lol!

Those are outstanding shots Bev, I especially love the first and last one. Wow.

Bev, great images. :thumbsup:

In our part of the world starlings are not a problem - very few and far between, in fact, I can't remember the last time I saw one. Our problem is magpies. Slightly smaller than a crow and just as smart, they are noisy and chase all the other birds, except robins, away. They don't like the crows and vice versa, so it is not uncommon to see 4 to 6 magpies chasing a crow, or a couple of crows chasing a magpie. Very hard to get decent pictures of either of them because as soon as they see you the watchbird (there is always one high on a roof top watching out for the others) sounds an alarm. Maybe I'll get a camouflage suit and see if that works (LOL) :D

Cheers,

WesternGuy

Bev,

These are simply fantastic, wonderful shots. I love them all. I know nothing of starlings so can't comment on their behavior but as photographic subjects, you have portrayed them superbly. I am in awe and can only hope to capture something like this someday.

CF

Quetzal, Westernguy and CF many thanks for your kind comments.
Westernguy we too have Magpies here and they are quite prown to raiding nests and stealing egss and young, they are like the refuse collectors in the bird world here!
CF i dont think there can be a harder subject to catch than your hummingbird shots, which have always been an inspiration to me here.