Various Birds

[Loupey]

Finally saw my first bluebirds yesterday. Unlike the meadowlarks, they stand out pretty good when they land in the grass Couldn't get very close though. Still, I was happy to see them.

Killdeer are everywhere but I still don't have a good one on the ground yet

Sparrow to round out the post.

edit: egad! the colors/PP look horrible. Sorry folks, late night/no sleep make Loupey loopy.

[Copy_Kot]

Love the killdeer shots! I would really like to see a wide-angle shot of the area were you shoot, to get an idea of the habitat. As soon as you posted the image, you would probably have a hundred people there taking over your 'honey hole.'

[Sushigaijin]

all great shots Loupey.

If those cattails are an indication of vernal pools, it might be worth it to roll a few logs around the edges to see what's underneath. I'm sure you have plethodontid and ambystomid salamanders if that is a wetland. Remember to bring the tubes and put everything back when your done! (sounds like silly advice, but it is amazing how many people don't think about replacing logs.)

Depending on where you are and how warm it is now, you do run the odd chance of finding a snake or two, watch your fingers!!

[Knight]

Well I C Spring has really arrived in your neck of the woods Nice bluebirds Loupey

[Bevb]

Lovely images, especially 3 & 4, great flight shot, and the pose of the last subject really is sweet, the colours of this little bird are just ther same as the bullrush! excellent camoflage.

[terryger]

nice work loupey!

are ya gonna tell me those kildeers were captured in flight with mf :wink5:

if they were you're 2 times the man i am.

[Loupey]

Copy, I'll try to get a shot of the fields soon. I usually keep my camera bag in my truck so I'll have to remember to stuff my 28mm in my pocket.

Erik, yes - many vernal pools and large marsh areas too! Definitely will keep an eye out for salamanders. Right now, I'm trying to locate any (spring peepers?) which sing constantly all around me. Two weeks ago, the singing in the fields was so loud that I thought it was some odd construction sounds in the distance until I got close.

Knight - thanks. I am a happy camper now that I know where the bluebirds are. I hope they will get used to me hanging around so that I can get a little closer

Bev - thank you for your kind words. I'm always trying to get in-flight shots shot horizontally rather than up. These flat fields (or flat state for that matter ) doesn't make it easy to get a more pleasing angle. I must say that no bird goes unnoticed these days. Before, I used to ignore sparrows almost entirely.

Terryger- LOL, yup! Besides the location/example/instructional shots, they are all MF. Thinking back to when I started posting here in N/W last year, I can't remember an image (macro or otherwise) when I used AF.

[Sushigaijin]

spring peepers are the WORST!

I'm convinced they like to sit in the only tree that you must get wet to get to.

check for them submerged by the edge of water. At night you can find them calling with a flashlight.

For anyone who hasn't heard the spring peeper choruses, they are LOUD. Each one sounds a bit like dragging your fingernail across a plastic comb, but five times louder.

[Loupey]

For anyone who hasn't heard the spring peeper choruses, they are LOUD. Each one sounds a bit like dragging your fingernail across a plastic comb, but five times louder.

That is an excellent comparision. Like putting a sensitive microphone right up next to an Ace comb we all used to get just before they took our school yearbook photos.

I'm going to sit next to the marsh and just wait patiently to photograph one. I haven't even seen one amidst a field of millions! (at least a few thousand )