It's been a pretty good fall, bird wise. I'm not much of a birder but this fall I paid a little more attention to them and ended up seeing some nice stuff. This month alone, I saw over 100 species, mostly incidental observations while out working, but I also went out with birding in mind a few times.
Warbler activity was at its peak in early to mid October.
Black-and-white warbler
Prarie warbler
Magnolia warbler
Palm warbler
Common yellowthroats were among the most abundant and most inquisitive.
American redstarts were also very abundant though I couldn't manage any shots of a male.
Cape May warbler was one of my better finds, but I didn't get any good shots.
The arrival of the white-eyed vireos and the yellow-rumped warblers (no photo) signaled an end to the good migrant warbler activity.
Eastern wood-peewee
I am terrible at sparrow ID so I usually try to snap a photo and hope to identify it later. This clay-colored sparrow was a nice find as they are not common in the east. They are recorded annually along Georgia's coast though.
While walking through some high marsh I snapped a quick photo of this small group of sparrows. Turns out there were both sharp-tailed sparrow species (saltmarsh on left, Nelson's center and right).
Nelson's
Some shorebirds
Sanderling
Western sandpiper
Semipalmated sandpiper
Semipalmated plover
Black-bellied plover
Killdeer
Willet
Long-billed Curlew. Not a common bird on the east coast but some overwinter on Georgia's barrier islands.
I saw at least 5 at this location
I saw numerous marbled godwit at the same location, most of which were on an exposed sandbar much too far for photographs but one individual was kind enough to forage on the beach and was not too skiddish.
A couple herons
Juvie black-crowned night-heron
Tricolored heron
Haven't seen much in the way of ducks yet this fall, but I did see a group of three ring-necked ducks this weekend.
This is a photo from last year, but I saw this same scene this weekend. Thousands of swallows have arrived on the coast and formed in huge swarms, large enough to be picked up on Doppler radar.
And here are a few more from earlier in 2012 that I don't think I have shared
American bittern
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Snowy egret
Whimbrel
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Prothonotary warbler
Whip-poor-will
This summer I got to observe a large feeding congregation of kites for a few weeks after a prescribed fire.
Swallow-tailed
Mississippi
And that's about it.
-Kevin
Some fall birds
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Re: Some fall birds
Yes sir!! My favorite are the Ammodramus. That was what we named the 13-foot gheenoe we used to survey saltmarsh obligate birds along the Chesapeake Bay.
I also really like the Western Sandpiper shot, with the OOF Least and what looks like a Semipalm behind it! That's really cool.
I also really like the Western Sandpiper shot, with the OOF Least and what looks like a Semipalm behind it! That's really cool.
Re: Some fall birds
For someone who isn't much a birder, you have some amazing shots.
What gear do you use to shoot these (i.e. lens)?
What gear do you use to shoot these (i.e. lens)?
Re: Some fall birds
Thanks, guys.
Matt, I knew that the bird behind the western was a least because I got a photo of it but I didn't even consider that the one further back might have been a semipalmated. That is pretty cool. I'll get better at telling those two apart one of these days.
Chris - All of these were shot with the Sony A77 and the 70-400. Some had the Kenko 1.4x on (night-herons, sanderling, and probably a few other shorebirds). It surprisingly and thankfully will autofocus, but you do loose some sharpness, so my keeper rate has been lower with the teleconverter on.
Matt, I knew that the bird behind the western was a least because I got a photo of it but I didn't even consider that the one further back might have been a semipalmated. That is pretty cool. I'll get better at telling those two apart one of these days.
Chris - All of these were shot with the Sony A77 and the 70-400. Some had the Kenko 1.4x on (night-herons, sanderling, and probably a few other shorebirds). It surprisingly and thankfully will autofocus, but you do loose some sharpness, so my keeper rate has been lower with the teleconverter on.
Re: Some fall birds
Kevin, that is some absolutely STELLAR bird photography.
Re: Some fall birds
Kevin, this work is a joy to behold. You have a real knack for shorebirds, the willet and the sanderling (with sand grains aflyin'...) really caught my eye, also the ruby throat, the snowy egret and swallow tailed kite are impressive. Each time you and a few others post I am inspired to get off my duff and get a decent camera and try to emulate your work. I appreciate your response to Chris about the camera type and lens, as a beginner, I feel overwhelmed with choices when I look at them for sale, so knowing what others are using and getting such great results is helpful.
Ringnecks (and ducks in general) make great subjects, I hope you find them again in a few weeks when they have completed moulting and color up, they become quite elegant in black and white plumage, often with irridescence on the head and neck.
Gratefully, Vic
Ringnecks (and ducks in general) make great subjects, I hope you find them again in a few weeks when they have completed moulting and color up, they become quite elegant in black and white plumage, often with irridescence on the head and neck.
Gratefully, Vic
Re: Some fall birds
Thanks guys.
Vic - It never really stops getting overwhelming. But I do agree that it is helpful to know what others are using and what the gear is capable of. While what they say about it being the photographer and not the camera, quality equipment sure does help. I really like Sony and they certainly make good products. Canon and Nikon do have a much wider selection of gear and lenses, especially when you get into the telephoto ranges. But since I will likely never be able to afford a super telephoto, I don't really have to worry about that too much. And I hear that Sony's 70-400 is sharper than the other brands zoom-400s are. I was lucky to get this lens used, in great condition, and at a greatly reduced price. It looks like someone had opened the box, saw the hideous silver paint job, and put it up for sale.
Yes, the ring-necks were kind of ugly. I have seen adults in full breeding plumage, but never close enough for good photos. That is one thing I have learned, you can't buy a 25megapixel camera and a 400mm lens and expect to get good shots of birds from across a lake. You still need to be close, which is the most frustrating part. You can't just run up, grab them, and pose them like you can herps. The challenge is part of the fun though.
Vic - It never really stops getting overwhelming. But I do agree that it is helpful to know what others are using and what the gear is capable of. While what they say about it being the photographer and not the camera, quality equipment sure does help. I really like Sony and they certainly make good products. Canon and Nikon do have a much wider selection of gear and lenses, especially when you get into the telephoto ranges. But since I will likely never be able to afford a super telephoto, I don't really have to worry about that too much. And I hear that Sony's 70-400 is sharper than the other brands zoom-400s are. I was lucky to get this lens used, in great condition, and at a greatly reduced price. It looks like someone had opened the box, saw the hideous silver paint job, and put it up for sale.
Yes, the ring-necks were kind of ugly. I have seen adults in full breeding plumage, but never close enough for good photos. That is one thing I have learned, you can't buy a 25megapixel camera and a 400mm lens and expect to get good shots of birds from across a lake. You still need to be close, which is the most frustrating part. You can't just run up, grab them, and pose them like you can herps. The challenge is part of the fun though.
Re: Some fall birds
GOOD GOD!!! Those are some beautiful photos!! The gnatcatcher is incredible, all are fantastic!
Since my own photography sucks....I have decided to hate you
Since my own photography sucks....I have decided to hate you