Pipits and such

[dadas115]

The weather was rather crummy this morning so I decided to only do a brief stop at a local neighborhood park to see if I could find some American Pipits that I saw there a couple of weeks ago. When I arrived it was sort of drizzling and at ISO 800 and f/4.5 the best shutter speed I was getting was 1/50 sec. I went ahead and did my brief bird walk and it paid off.

All photos were taken using a Canon Digital Rebel XTi and Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX APO HSM lens hand-held.

First was a Mourning Dove
ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/50 sec

Second was the American Pipit
ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/60 sec

Third was an amazingly cooperative Brown Thrasher
ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/160 sec

Finally a Northern Mockingbird
ISO 400, f/4.5, 1/125 sec

Greg

[payn817]

Nice images. My fav is the thrasher, mostly because the eyes and markings. :thumbsup:

[Loupey]

Greg, now I thought I had steady hands but, you're shooting 1/50s with a 500mm hand-held! Holy crap! You must be a brain surgeon in real life!

I like the thrasher too.

[Copy_Kot]

Another vote for the thrasher

[OBie]

That thrasher looks so nice being a light bird with a dark background.

Loupey is right - steady hands like that can only mean a brain surgeon! I'm having trouble hand holding my new 70-200 Sigma at any speed.

[Bevb]

Love em all! would love to see any of these species in my local park.
Well done on the handheld, excellent.

[Knight]

All are good for sure Thrasher stands out the most

[paulnj]

As a bird nerd, my vote is the pipit because I can't get within 50 feet of one!!!!