Spring has Sprung

[Loupey]

Yeah right!

I thought it might be fun to post some past "spring-ish" type photos to get ya-all (is that how you spell it?) thinking about warmer times to come and the photo ops that will follow. Not that winter is without good photo ops either.

How about it? Do you want to play?



The first one is titled "Two Fishermen"

[AgingEyes]

All nice shot. Particularly like the first flower shot. It's just amazing!

And I can see you already have the sequel to "How the ducks are made"

[mjs1973]

You're photos are making me think of warm weather. STOP it! I have a few more miles to put on my snowshoes before I'm ready to close the door on old man winter.

It has been kind of springish here the last 2 days. It was in the 30's yesterday, and the 40's today. Yesterday I was shocked to find a spider crawling across the snow! No camera tho.

[scott-devon]

I love that last shot of the ducklings. Spring? geez it was -38 cel when I went out to start the car...windchill well down below -45. Spring....yes please!

[Cassie1]

I just love that last image Loupey, those little ducklings are so cute.

I can't wait for spring to come so I can get some good macro shots of fresh new buds and leaves.

Cassie.

[WesternGuy]

Great images Loupey, but I can't think that far ahead. We had 15 cm (6 inches??) of snow a few days ago and then the bottom fell out of the thermometer, - 35C last night and it might get to -25C today, and it is windy, giving us a wind chill equivalent of somewhere around -40C, but wait, they say it will be back up to -10C by Thursday (yah right).

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[Loupey]

Thanks for looking and commenting, everyone. I meant for this thread to be an interactive, "what does spring mean to you?" type thread. A good way to review some past shots and techniques before the game starts.

So please feel free to add your shots here.


Continuing, spring to me brings the massive flocks of red-winged blackbirds in search of their perfect mates. It will also bring relief to those hardy sparrows that can somehow withstand the harsh winter months...

[Cassie1]

Loupey, I love the last set of your images.

To me spring means all the flowers coming into bloom like Daffodils and Bluebells.

Cassie.

[Loupey]

Thanks for playing along, Cassie! Your last shot looks like a fairy tale scene - very dreamy.


Once the spring birds arrive and find their mates, the arrival of hatchlings can be deduced by the quantities of food gathered by the parents...

[Cassie1]

Wonderful images again Loupey, I love them all.

#1 is so sharp, #2 & 3 are amazing, #4 is a great shot, especially with the insect in it's beak.

Did you use your 300mm lens to take these images. I went out with my new 300mm +
1.4xII yesterday hoping to take a few birds, but came home very disappointed. As soon as I got near enough to take any, the little beggers flew away. In the end all I got was a couple of sheep

Cassie.

[scott-devon]

Wonderful images again Loupey, I love them all.

#1 is so sharp, #2 & 3 are amazing, #4 is a great shot, especially with the insect in it's beak.

Did you use your 300mm lens to take these images. I went out with my new 300mm +
1.4xII yesterday hoping to take a few birds, but came home very disappointed. As soon as I got near enough to take any, the little beggers flew away. In the end all I got was a couple of sheep

Cassie.

Which is another reason to be glad sheep can't fly.....

Loupey, that last shot of the swallow is super. Love the colours and clarity of it.

[Cassie1]

Which is another reason to be glad sheep can't fly.....

LOL

Cassie.

[Loupey]

scott-devon - thanks for looking!

Did you use your 300mm lens to take these images.
Cassie.

The lens combinations I used in these 4 images are:
#1: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS + 2x TC
#2: 300mm f/4L IS + 2x TC
#3: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
#4: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS

All 4 were taken with the Canon 10D - using the One Shot mode (the Continuous mode at 3 fps is too slow).

[Cassie1]

Thanks for the info Loupey. The combo of your 70-200mm f/2.8L IS + 2x TC is amazing, I know lots of people don't like the 2x TC but yours is so sharp. Plus your amazing skill of course!

Cassie.

[big baldo]

Ahhh spring......the time for love!

[Loupey]

Nice one, big baldo! Great subject too We should start a new Procreation Thread like the one we had a year (or two?) ago come spring.

Thanks for posting!

[Loupey]

Of course, when the babies do finally arrive (even if they aren't even the real babies as the case with the 3rd image of the yellow warbler and brown-headed cowbird)...

These three were shot in three completely different manner and techniques:

#1) 70-200mm f/2.8L IS + 2x TC (at 400mm) - army crawled into position with handheld combo
#2) 17-40mm f/4L (at 17mm) - tripod mounted, remote release at about 11" from the birds
#3) 300mm f/4L IS + 2x TC - chasing a feeding pair via monopod mounted combo

All three with the 10D.

[mjs1973]

I was thinking about spring the other day, and it made me think of a short trip to Kentucky the wife and I took last March. This was a shot I got on that trip.

[paulnj]

That yellow warbler feeding a cowbird is sad. That cowbird pushed every yellow warbler from the nest to get all the food:cryin:

[mjs1973]

I saw my first robin of the year today and it made me think of spring. Hard to tell if it's an early migrant, or one that overwintered here.

[mjs1973]

Ok, I'm officially ready for spring. I love the winter, and the snow, but I'm starting to thing that enough is enough already. It seems like if it's not snowing here, it's so cold you don't want to be outside for more than a few minutes at a time. I think the birds are ready for spring as well. I watched a cardinal singing in the predawn light this morning, right outside my bedroom window.



I can't help but think of my bluebird houses. I long for the warm spring mornings when I can start to stake out a safe place to watch the birds build their nests and raise the next generation of bluebirds.

[Loupey]

Ok, I'm officially ready for spring. I love the winter, and the snow, but I'm starting to thing that enough is enough already...

LOL I know the feeling. At least if it would just be consistent - no 30 degree swings every few days - there would be less stress on the animals, bugs, and plants.

I saw a small flock of robins about 2 weeks ago (when it was 45 degrees or so), and I saw my second woolly worm today. I also happened across 3 pairs of bluebirds. I'm sure they all are very confused.

Nice pics, btw!

[mjs1973]

Thanks Loupey.

Maybe I spoke too soon. Days like today are the reason I love the winter!

After I posted this, I drove past the place where my nest boxes are and I saw a pair of bluebirds. The sun is shining, the sky is blue and it's not that cold. This is the kind of winter day I love. I went home and dropped the wife and dogs off, and headed out to play in the snow for the first time in a couple weeks. It was great to get out and enjoy the cool air, and watch the woodpeckers and nuthatches as well as the deer and hawks. I also go to be the first one to break a new trail through the fresh snow. Maybe I'm not quite ready for spring just yet.

Of course I may change my mind tomorrow if we get the 8"-12" of snow they are predicting...