Birds Birds in Flight Thread - Post Your Shots Here

[evacguy]

Did someone say free food!

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

 

[Gaz]

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

Haha! It’s true. This fella was only about the same size as a pigeon, though. The whole beach would have really marveled at a half meter long bird diving between swimmers to catch fish. I’ll take another look and see if the pair are back there today.

 

[Gaz]

Would you mind just holding these two slices of bread while I photograph that horse?

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
• 152.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/160 sec
• ISO 800

 

[-ST-]

Red-Tailed Hawk (my first hawk)

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 800

 

[iain clyne]

Red Kite in a Grey sky. Sony A7 iv 200-600mm + 1.4

DSC01044 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr

 

[spudhead]

Red Kite in a Grey sky. Sony A7 iv 200-600mm + 1.4

DSC01044 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr

Yep Iain grey not helping but white sky is even worse mate

 

[spudhead]

A bit of practice from last year

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 415.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Gaz]

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 500.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 800

Flock of Corella

 

[spudhead]

one from today

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

 

[GvilleRick]

I saw a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks circling but there were too many trees to get a clear shot while they were close (as you can see in the first shot) but I did get a few shots that I was able to crop.

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 320

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 200

 

[Gaz]

These refused to hold still....

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 250

Does the "swing and a miss" count?

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 320

Cheeky bugga

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 320

 

[iamdlewis]

First a Royal Tern that missed getting a meal but the meal decided to get moving. A Monk Parakeet coming in to find food in the trees.

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 400

 

[iamdlewis]

This is a Greater Antillean Grackle which is a common bird in the Carribean and overall generally a boring bird except for the tail. Most birds have a horizonal tail but these have a vertical V shaped tail. When these fly it initially appears as though they are moving slower than they are (as it appears the tail is slowing them down) but then you see how quickly they can change direction and realize what the tail does for them. I've seen a lot of birds but I can't think of others that have a tail like this.

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 8000

 

[shawns_snapshots]

Here's a few of mine

 

[Gaz]

Mammals in flight. One of a few.

The Flying Fox, I guess, called that because of the fox skin fur coat they wear around their necks.... We have two species living nearby... One that is all black and therefore almost impossible to photograph, and then these ladies. You can discern the males for the females by the firefighting equipment they leave dangling below, as they flap along. They birth live young that cling on tight as the adult flies. I'm hoping to get one in my frame one day.

They dive into the water to wet their fur, then lick off the water, which minimises potential exposure to crocodiles and such. They never seem to come close, so, of the dozen or more I saw drinking tonight, I got one shot off.

Unlike the predatory Australian drop bear, these mammals survive on nectar and fruit, which they forage at night, spending all day in colonies numbering in the thousands. Unlike bats, they do not use echolocation but have perfect night vision, which can momentarily be rendered ineffective if I had chosen to illuminate the subjects with a camera flash. Just around sunset, they all leave their roost and fly off into the dark, which makes them a bit challenging for photographers.

Unlike birds, their wings are simple folds of skin that collapse on every upstroke, so they rise and fall as they fly. They hang from branches with hook like wings and feet.

These shots were captured using .... Clear Image Zoom .... in the blue hour.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 12800

• ILCE-7M4
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-7M4
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 1250

 

[evacguy]

Mammals in flight. One of a few.

The Flying Fox, I guess, called that because of the fox skin fur coat they wear around their necks.... We have two species living nearby... One that is all black and therefore almost impossible to photograph, and then these ladies. You can discern the males for the females by the firefighting equipment they leave dangling below, as they flap along. They birth live young that cling on tight as the adult flies. I'm hoping to get one in my frame one day.

They dive into the water to wet their fur, then lick off the water, which minimises potential exposure to crocodiles and such. They never seem to come close, so, of the dozen or more I saw drinking tonight, I got one shot off.

Unlike the predatory Australian drop bear, these mammals survive on nectar and fruit, which they forage at night, spending all day in colonies numbering in the thousands. Unlike bats, they do not use echolocation but have perfect night vision, which can momentarily be rendered ineffective if I had chosen to illuminate the subjects with a camera flash. Just around sunset, they all leave their roost and fly off into the dark, which makes them a bit challenging for photographers.

Unlike birds, their wings are simple folds of skin that collapse on every upstroke, so they rise and fall as they fly. They hang from branches with hook like wings and feet.

These shots were captured using .... Clear Image Zoom .... in the blue hour.

View attachment 34762


View attachment 34764

View attachment 34763

WoW! These are fantastic, well done.

 

[spudhead]

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 640

 

[GvilleRick]

Great Blue Heron took flight to cross the lake when I got a little too close.

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 100.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 259.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 259.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Gaz]

Did you know listening to birds singing is better than meditation?

This morning "Willy" decided I was not a threat, so he sat near me picking off any sand flies and other flying insects that came my way. Then sat next to me and sang his song.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1600

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 4000

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 4000

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 1600

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 3200

 

[Gaz]

I'm sorry, Gaz, you'll need to delete your photos. Hasn't anyone told you the A7IV is incapable of this type of photography? You're going to have to assimilate, that's just the way it is.

Yeah, tiny birds catching insects- an impossible subject for the A7iv

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

Here's a few of mine

Looks like this prick stole the whole bakery!

 

[spudhead]

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1600

• ILCE-9
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1600

 

[Gaz]

I waited patiently for this guy to fly, but try as I might, it is not in the same class as the recent contribution from another Aussie.

In my last house, I had a few large flowering gum trees (30m high Terpentines). The parrots would sit up there and eat so much that sometimes they fell to the ground, unable to fly. Rotten drunks. I'd put a clothes basket over them until they recovered so our cat didn't eat them.

Consequently, I figure this guy is pretty happy.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 1250

 

[iamdlewis]

Yeah, tiny birds catching insects- an impossible subject for the A7iv

Of the flight images you shared 2 of the 4 hit focus. If you want to spend time photographing small birds in flight you will find a hit rate of 2/3rds at 10 fps frustrating. Even more frustrating when you hear that an A9 will give you around 90% hit rate at twice the fps.

• ILCE-6000
• Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 500

 

[iamdlewis]

Some Wood Ducks, a Great Blue Heron and a Bald Eagle this morning

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

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 3200

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2500 sec
• ISO 3200

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1250

 

[Gaz]

Of the flight images you shared 2 of the 4 hit focus. If you want to spend time photographing small birds in flight you will find a hit rate of 2/3rds at 10 fps frustrating. Even more frustrating when you hear that an A9 will give you around 90% hit rate at twice the fps.
View attachment 35118

Yeah. Yeah. I could spend another $8k on an A9 but I’ve only been photographing BIF for a week now so anything in focus is a thrill. All the same, I’m pretty chuffed that the mosquito waiting to be swooped in the last frame is perfectly in focus.

 

[-ST-]

Duos in the distance

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 481.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1600

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 481.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 1600

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

 

[iamdlewis]

Yeah. Yeah. I could spend another $8k on an A9 but I’ve only been photographing BIF for a week now so anything in focus is a thrill. All the same, I’m pretty chuffed that the mosquito waiting to be swooped in the last frame is perfectly in focus.

You'll hit the same point we all do and end up finding a way to get an A9 or A1. You will start to have a larger number of birds framed well but the key shot has focus 1-2 frames behind and one of those is going to be some really cool moment. The other thing is that you will discover that a sizable number of birds have flap rates that are 1/5 or 1/10 of a second so you sometimes end up with a bunch of in focus photos but really only 1 or 2 images.

 

[Gaz]

You'll hit the same point we all do and end up finding a way to get an A9 or A1. You will start to have a larger number of birds framed well but the key shot has focus 1-2 frames behind and one of those is going to be some really cool moment. The other thing is that you will discover that a sizable number of birds have flap rates that are 1/5 or 1/10 of a second so you sometimes end up with a bunch of in focus photos but really only 1 or 2 images.

Possibly the A9iii with a sensor to at least match the A7iv so I can crop indiscriminately?

I like freezing helicopter blades in place. They look surreal hanging up there with nothing supporting them.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
• 240.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3000001907367
• 13980/44736001 sec
• ISO 320

With birds I can match the shutter speed to wing beats. My old Pentax K7 does shutter speeds at 1:8000 so that game is t new to me.

I’m liking the idea of freezing the bird, but leaving the wing tips in motion. I think it communicates movement. I play a similar game photographing people jogging on the beach -just enough to express some movement, if that makes sense. Like this seagull running from a wave…

I could have had the bird in focus, of course… but the subject is the wave, if that makes sense. Idk. It’s a little game to know the rules and find interest when to break them.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 320

 

[Davej]

African Skimmers, Chobe River, Chobe National Park, Botswana, Oct22.

Taken last year and the first African Skimmers we'd ever got in focus after many years of trying.
Weather very cloudy and grey.

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 320

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 279.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 250