Birds Birds in Flight Thread - Post Your Shots Here

[lodbrok]

This was too much fun not to share. This crow was determined to get the eagle's attention. He came by making a racket and the eagle ignored it.
View attachment 33124

The crow circled around and came back, even more insistent.
View attachment 33125View attachment 33126View attachment 33127View attachment 33128View attachment 33129View attachment 33130View attachment 33131View attachment 33132View attachment 33133View attachment 33134View attachment 33135View attachment 33136

Wow what a great capture! Noticed you had 400mm of reach and you only use 140-150mm .. This must have been very close!? Some beautyful flightshots in there.

 

[-ST-]

Wow what a great capture! Noticed you had 400mm of reach and you only use 140-150mm .. This must have been very close!? Some beautyful flightshots in there.

Hi, Lodbrok,

Thanks for asking.

The 140-150 mm was an unfortunate missed opportunity.

For five months, my daily driver was the 24-105. Because that's an extendable zoom, I got in the habit of twisting the zoom ring to retract the zoom every time I put the camera in my hip bag. I haven't broken this habit with the 70-200. I was so excited to get this sequence that when I pulled out the camera, I forgot to zoom in. You're seeing the result of some heavy cropping.

I appreciate you're taking an interest.

 

[spudhead]

skylark in flight horrible white sky but these are small birds and it turned up so here it is

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 2000

 

[spudhead]

A

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 100

couple of recent shots

 

[GvilleRick]

This was too much fun not to share. This crow was determined to get the eagle's attention. He came by making a racket and the eagle ignored it.

The crow circled around and came back, even more insistent.

Wonderful series. I saw a bald eagle in our neighborhood a few days ago being harassed by a hawk but unfortunately it was not in a clear location and everything was behind limbs so I was only able to get a few shots of the eagle perched in the tree and none of the hawk near him.

I was able to get a few shots of Great Blue Herons in flight today.

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 4000

 

[-ST-]

Wonderful series. I saw a bald eagle in our neighborhood a few days ago being harassed by a hawk but unfortunately it was not in a clear location and everything was behind limbs so I was only able to get a few shots of the eagle perched in the tree and none of the hawk near him.

I was able to get a few shots of Great Blue Herons in flight today.

View attachment 33243View attachment 33244

Thanks, Rick.

The Great Blue Herons were in fine form today, here too.

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2) + 2X Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

Catch the wingtip action

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2) + 2X Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 2000

 

[lodbrok]

This heron landed ca 3-4 meter from me a while ago while I was busy tracking an eagle far far away and when I finaly lower my lense this guy was standing tall right next to me and I shouted o-sh*t and scared him of. Managed to take this shot in his escape.

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 2000

 

[lodbrok]

It's amazing what we miss looking through the viewfinder!

You'r so dam right about that. My worst scenario until today as a wildlifeshooter happened when I was following a blackheaded seagull in sunset with exposure comp. set to -2 to create the effect I want. The gull yumped up and down and I followed it with the dot-sight and all of a sudden an eagle passes right above me (the one I was waiting for!) I could have thrown an apple on it - so close. I was fully camuflaged. Raised the camera and find it with the dotsight and pushed the backfocus and then fired off a burst but they all went blurry due to the minus2 ex.com. Cranked it up to +1,3 something but then it was long gone. Here's a heavy cropped shot off it from far away..

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 2000

 

[-ST-]

Snow!

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2) + 2X Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2) + 2X Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 500

 

[evacguy]

It's lunch O'Clock!

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/5000 sec
• ISO 1000

 

[spudhead]

Some buzzard shots from Sunday long range 200-600 1.4x horrible white sky

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1250

 

[iamdlewis]

A nice Red-Tailed Hawk out in the open

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 1600

 

[lodbrok]

Some buzzard shots from Sunday long range 200-600 1.4x horrible white skyView attachment 33394View attachment 33395View attachment 33396View attachment 33397View attachment 33398View attachment 33399

Beautyful and sharp feather-details and so perfect exposed! Did you use multi-metering and ca. +1,3 in exposure compensation?

 

[spudhead]

Beautyful and sharp feather-details and so perfect exposed! Did you use multi-metering and ca. +1,3 in exposure compensation?

Yep multi and they would be + 1.0 just checked

 

[Gaz]

I went for a morning swim, and this guy patrolled the beach and was dive-bombing into the surf for fish? Close to shore.
I want to set up for him and sunrise tomorrow morning with a 200-600 lens on A7iv. Should I use a tripod? Tips? Oh, and can someone ID it?

• ILCE-7M4
• Sony FE 24-240 F3.5-6.3 OSS (SEL24240)
• 240.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 5000

 

[iamdlewis]

I went for a morning swim, and this guy patrolled the beach and was dive-bombing into the surf for fish? Close to shore.
I want to set up for him and sunrise tomorrow morning with a 200-600 lens on A7iv. Should I use a tripod? Tips? Oh, and can someone ID it?

Most likely a Caspian Tern but it could be some other Tern, it is defiantly a Tern. You can try the Merlin app to ID.

I would just hand hold considering that terns can generally be all over the place. They are going to be for the most part fairly direct in their movements but if something catches their attention they can adjust quickly, they are also fairly quick. If you watch them for 15 minutes or so you will pretty much have seen everything that they can do. Terns are like a performance upgrade over a Gull. This combination just really isn't that great to use a tripod with, even with a good gimbal. They are good medium/small birds to practice with before moving onto the Swallows.

Happy shooting.

 

[Gaz]

Most likely a Caspian Tern but it could be some other Tern, it is defiantly a Tern. You can try the Merlin app to ID.

I would just hand hold considering that terns can generally be all over the place. They are going to be for the most part fairly direct in their movements but if something catches their attention they can adjust quickly, they are also fairly quick. If you watch them for 15 minutes or so you will pretty much have seen everything that they can do. Terns are like a performance upgrade over a Gull. This combination just really isn't that great to use a tripod with, even with a good gimbal. They are good medium/small birds to practice with before moving onto the Swallows.

Happy shooting.

Thanks! That definitely helps. I've done a quick google for the Sydney Metro. It could be the "Little Tern" or the endangered "Australian Fairy Tern". I'll see if this pair are back tomorrow when I've fitted a lens with more reach.

 

[iamdlewis]

Thanks! That definitely helps. I've done a quick google for the Sydney Metro. It could be the "Little Tern" or the endangered "Australian Fairy Tern". I'll see if this pair are back tomorrow when I've fitted a lens with more reach.

Downloaded the Aussy pack and the winner is Great Crested Tern

 

[lodbrok]

Couldn't wait any longer to test my A7 IV with my 200-600mm and after 3 painkillers (my leftarm newly operated) I took of to my favorit shoreline where I have the sun in the back all the way to sunset. Regret it now.. pain every time I raised the lense. so its back to the remote control setup in my garden..

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 507.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 250

 

[-ST-]

Couldn't wait any longer to test my A7 IV with my 200-600mm and after 3 painkillers (my leftarm newly operated) I took of to my favorit shoreline where I have the sun in the back all the way to sunset. Regret it now.. pain every time I raised the lense. so its back to the remote control setup in my garden.. View attachment 33432View attachment 33434View attachment 33435

Congratulations on getting the A7 IV! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[-ST-]

It was so windy today; the only birds in the air were the seagulls.

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2)
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2)
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 320

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2)
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 320

 

[lodbrok]

Nonetheless, lifting the lens is probably good physical therapee, and the shots look good!

Thanks! After a good night sleep the arm feels good again.

 

[lodbrok]

Congratulations on getting the A7 IV! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Thank you ST!

 

[spudhead]

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 640

 

[spudhead]

A couple here I am not sure I like, the blackbird is ok but the blue tit is as I shot it but the sky sort of looks weird, it was shot at possibly 50+ yards

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 4000

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 500

 

[spudhead]

Shots are great, what is a bit bothersome about the blue tit is so little contrast between the subject and background. They're too similar in color.

Yep it could be Tim I have the shot when the bird lands and that is very similar the sky looks a bit false

 

[Gaz]

The "little Tern" or perhaps "Fairy Tern" has returned today, but the beach was quite busy so they didn't stick around long.

What I've discovered is that this ain't easy! As soon as it flew down below the horizon, the screen went dark. What should I have done differently?

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3000001907367
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 125

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3000001907367
• 7915/39575001 sec
• ISO 125

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3000001907367
• 7915/39575001 sec
• ISO 125

 

[-ST-]

The "little Tern" or perhaps "Fairy Tern" has returned today, but the beach was quite busy so they didn't stick around long.

What I've discovered is that this ain't easy! As soon as it flew down below the horizon, the screen went dark. What should I have done differently?

View attachment 33498

View attachment 33499

View attachment 33500

Hi, Gary,

I came across this reference to shooting birds in flight against varying backgrounds.

The relevant portion starts at 17:17

Sony Alpha 1 / A1 Camera Settings for Shooting Action and Birds in Flight

Sony Alpha 1 Camera Settings for Shooting Action and Birds in FlightMark Galer recommends the optimum camera settings for capturing photos of rapidly moving ...

youtu.be

I also found this one interesting

Zebra 109+ for Sony Raw Photographers

Choose the most appropriate exposure using Sony's Zebra feature. Photographers shooting in the Raw file format have a little highlight recovery headroom, so ...

youtu.be

 

[iamdlewis]

The "little Tern" or perhaps "Fairy Tern" has returned today, but the beach was quite busy so they didn't stick around long.

Everybody wants their bird to be the rare one but that is the Great Crested Tern. Good captures and you are learning the challenges.

 

[iamdlewis]

Today I went out hoping the cherry blossoms would be out as they have been picking up in some areas but no luck. Wish I would have also brough the 200-600 but the 100-400 is great.
Some Ma-Llards (makes them sound more exotic)

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 8000

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 6400