Birds Birds in Flight Thread - Post Your Shots Here

Ziggy · Mar 17, 2021

We can get rid of a lot of noise in post now but can't get detail back. That's not such an issue with good light but selective exposure adjustment (esp. shadow detail retrieval) with noisy and dull images turns to crap pretty quickly.
It also varies a lot with sensor size - as you'd expect. Exposure and ISO with M43s and APS-C have to be handled more carefully than with full frame sensors, and as we usually have to take what light we can get this is a big argument for shooting with FF. Of course, you don't get the benefit of the crop and either have to learn to stalk distant subjects or spend a bomb on glass.

Ralph · Apr 22, 2021

It has taken me a long long time to get a few shots I am proud enough of posting of birds in flight.
Only after reading and youtubing about the setting that I have managed to get these.
I don't sorry I know these are not as good as others here but its a solid start.

ILCE-7M2
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020
284.4 mm
ƒ/8
1/1600 sec
ISO 800

ILCE-7M2
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020
284.4 mm
ƒ/8
1/1600 sec
ISO 800

ILCE-7M2
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020
362.1 mm
ƒ/8
1/6400 sec
ISO 2000

Ziggy · Apr 22, 2021

Keep em coming Aussie.

For me getting them into the frame with around a 3 degree angle of view was the biggest challenge. Just takes practice - of the right technique.

Ralph · Apr 22, 2021

Thank you for that I will try to remember this when the times come along Ziggy.

Tim Mayo · Apr 23, 2021

Aussie said:
It has taken me a long long time to get a few shots I am proud enough of posting of birds in flight.
Only after reading and youtubing about the setting that I have managed to get these.
I don't sorry I know these are not as good as others here but its a solid start.

Great job Aussie! It's always rewarding when you get some shots that you are proud of. Just keep shooting everything that moves, practice makes perfect

dragonsdreams · Apr 23, 2021

Another effort at the local red kite. I really must come to the kite feeding centre in Wales and practice where there are lots! This was the A7r4 and the usual 200-600 plus 1.4x.

ILCE-7RM4
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
840.0 mm
ƒ/9
1/2500 sec
ISO 1000

Tim Mayo · Apr 23, 2021

dragonsdreams said:
Another effort at the local red kite. I really must come to the kite feed centre in Wales and practice where there are lots! This was the A7r4 and the usual 200-600 plus 1.4x.

Lovely shot Mark! We don't get them over us very often but I have seen a couple over the last few weeks. You should definitely get yourself to Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre. I've been to Grigin Farm as well but much prefer the landscape at Nant and there's a lake as well, you also aren't restricted to the hides like you are at Grigin, and other than parking it's free. Grigin is closer to me but I'll always drive past and on to Nant. The road will be very nice to drive in the i8 as well!

dragonsdreams · Apr 23, 2021

Timothy Mayo said:
Lovely shot Mark! We don't get them over us very often but I have seen a couple over the last few weeks. You should definitely get yourself to Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre. I've been to Grigin Farm as well but much prefer the landscape at Nant and there's a lake as well, you also aren't restricted to the hides like you are at Grigin, and other than parking it's free. Grigin is closer to me but I'll always drive past and on to Nant. The road will be very nice to drive in the i8 as well!

Thanks Tim

. Yes definitely putting a visit to Nant on my to-do list this summer

Sdawes · Jun 9, 2021

One from last Autumn , loved the golden trees and leaves in the background .

ILCE-9M2
FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
288.0 mm
ƒ/10
1/800 sec
ISO 800

Uncle Kevriano · Jun 9, 2021

One from Elmley on Sunday. This Little Egret flew about 20ft from us as we sat in the car.

ILCE-7RM4
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
600.0 mm
ƒ/6.3
1/3200 sec
ISO 800

Ralph · Jun 9, 2021

The common Homing pigeon and a feral here but I do like them.
I know this is far for the case of what s in here but its the best I can do so far and I want to get better at this

ILCE-7M2
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020
126.2 mm
ƒ/8
1/200 sec
ISO 100

Uncle Kevriano · Jun 9, 2021

Aussie said:
The common Homing pigeon and a feral here but I do like them.
I know this is far for the case of what s in here but its the best I can do so far and I want to get better at this
View attachment 10331

For birds in flight, you need to up your shutter speed. I never shoot below 1/2500th for this kind of thing, and usually at 1/3200th. The only exception is for hovering Kestrels, as they are quite steady. Hope that helps.

Tim Mayo · Jun 10, 2021

Kevriano said:
One from Elmley on Sunday. This Little Egret flew about 20ft from us as we sat in the car.

Lovely catch Kev! I hope all is going well with the move. So far so good for us, but still some way to go yet.

Ralph · Jun 10, 2021

Kevriano said:
For birds in flight, you need to up your shutter speed. I never shoot below 1/2500th for this kind of thing, and usually at 1/3200th. The only exception is for hovering Kestrels, as they are quite steady. Hope that helps.

Thank you for that as I have been using the RX10 M4 and n auto and then got the A7ii and got back to manual.
So I have got more learning to do to a match what is being posted. I will write this down as I do want to get better at this,

Uncle Kevriano · Jun 10, 2021

Timothy Mayo said:
Lovely catch Kev! I hope all is going well with the move. So far so good for us, but still some way to go yet.

Cheers Tim. A slow process, but we had draft contracts through yesterday, so moving along. They are mega busy trying to get people in before the stamp duty holiday ends.

Tim Mayo · Jun 10, 2021

Kevriano said:
Cheers Tim. A slow process, but we had draft contracts through yesterday, so moving along. They are mega busy trying to get people in before the stamp duty holiday ends.

Sounds like good progress Kev! It certainly is slow going though. We definitely won't make it before the end of June stamp duty holiday ends but hopefully before the next drop at the end of September.

Uncle Kevriano · Jun 10, 2021

Timothy Mayo said:
Sounds like good progress Kev! It certainly is slow going though. We definitely won't make it before the end of June stamp duty holiday ends but hopefully before the next drop at the end of September.

Yes same here. I've handed notice in for July 16th, hoping we move at the end of July.

Raindog · Jun 11, 2021

Sdawes said:
One from last Autumn , loved the golden trees and leaves in the background .View attachment 10316

You've taken my dream shot, congratulations!! What time of day was this?

Sdawes · Jun 11, 2021

Raindog said:
You've taken my dream shot, congratulations!! What time of day was this?

Thanks for the feedback , the shot was taken at 15-55hrs

Raindog · Jun 11, 2021

Sdawes said:
Thanks for the feedback , the shot was taken at 15-55hrs

Wow, that's an interesting time. The barn owls around me are only active around dawn/dusk. I've never seen them around at that time of day.

Sdawes · Jun 11, 2021

Raindog said:
Wow, that's an interesting time. The barn owls around me are only active around dawn/dusk. I've never seen them around at that time of day.

It varies greatly across the country . In Norfolk and Lincolnshire daytime flying for many Barn Owls is the norm whereas on my patch in Shropshire it varies from bird to bird , many like you experience, are either very early in the morning or dusk in the evening, but I know a few who for whatever reason can be seen during different times. I guess it may be to do with food supply ie if there is plenty of prey they are unlikely to need or want to come out in daylight hours but if prey is scarce or weather is bad hunger may well force them to stay out hunting longer. When they have chicks is usually the best time to see them in daylight hours as they need to catch considerably more prey for the growing youngsters

TerryL · Jun 22, 2021

Doug Herr said:
Northern Shoveler, Colusa County California USA
a7rIII, FE 600mm GM
View attachment 957 View attachment 958 View attachment 959

These are fabulous!

Uncle Kevriano · Jun 29, 2021

A couple of Red Kite shots from Watlington at the weekend.

ILCE-7RM4
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
600.0 mm
ƒ/6.3
1/3200 sec
ISO 1600

ILCE-7RM4
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
600.0 mm
ƒ/6.3
1/3200 sec
ISO 500

garuda · Jun 30, 2021

Boy, that's a sweet near-head-on shot, Kev. You manage to keep entire bird in-focus at f/6. Amazing! I can't do it. And the head/eyes are pin sharp! Nice color and feather detail. Impressive.

Uncle Kevriano · Jun 30, 2021

garuda said:
Boy, that's a sweet near-head-on shot, Kev. You manage to keep entire bird in-focus at f/6. Amazing! I can't do it. And the head/eyes are pin sharp! Nice color and feather detail. Impressive.

Thanks Mike. These birds were pretty much at eye level a lot of the time, as you are on the hill crest and they swoop below. It made the angle easier to get everything in focus.

Doug Herr · Jun 30, 2021

ILCE-1
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
600.0 mm
ƒ/4
1/2000 sec
ISO 1000

Paul stuart · Jun 30, 2021

Little Owl Isle Of Sheppey Wildlife Hide in the pouring rain oh well take what we are given,kind of odd my favourite is the highest iso and slowest shutter speed kind of breaks most rules ,