Bird Photography Goals

[tracker]

Hi everyone,

Thinking ahead to a new year of bird photography, what birds are top of your wish list? What other goals do you have?

Im hoping for decent opportunities with Kingfishers, Barn and Little Owls, (any Owl, really; the latter being favourites) Green Woodpecker and a few others Ive got in mind.

I purchased a portable hide about 7 months ago, not even used it yet; it sounds like a crisp bag! lol Once up, Im hoping it may serve a purpose.

Best wishes,

[christineredgate]

Interesting,Tom.I would like a shot of the Tree creeper I see at Muncaster.I also have seen a Woodie in these same woods,so would love a shot.But just happy to be able to take shots of our local birds and share them with others on my website,and here on BF.2 days ago I saw a Buzzard perching in a hedge,stopped my trike ,but he was away,would loved to have taken this shot.Quite content to manage decent shots of the local wildlife.But would be over the moon if I managed a shot of an Owl or a species not previously taken.

[bobwoodcock]

I am hoping for a Brambling this winter also from my new portable camo hide,and it would be nice to get some decent shots of a Spur winged plover in the spring,but as long as I improve my skills in the coming year I will be reasonably happy.

[Paul Jarvis]

A good shot of any raptor is on the top of my list, I just need to get closer some how. May be go invisible!

[postcardcv]

I'm always happy when I can get a shot of a species I've not photographed before, had ~25 photographic first this year so would like to do similar next year. As for target species, top of the list for me is dipper, closely followed by bullfinch, sparrowhawk, short-eared owl and kingfisher.

[paul goode]

Barn Owl, Short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Short Eared Owl....

And after that, taking an image i'm truly happy with.

[gordon g]

I've a trip to the Farne Isles in mind in June, so some images of the terns there, eiders in the surf, puffins etc would be great. Other than that, I would echo Paul!

[RICHARD DAWKINS]

Like Postcardcv any bird i don't already haveB (:B (::t:
Richard
http://www.richard-dawkins.fotopic.net

[Clive Watson]

Barn Owl, Short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Short Eared Owl....

Another one who is hoping the owls at Welney come back again, I see! Can't think of anything too specific, but it'd be good to get a species that's a real sod to photograph - Hawfinch, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Merlin, Quail, Golden Oriole, any of the warblers, etc. Two of our local specialities are Hobby and Nightjar and I haven't got anything on these yet, so there's a goal for 2008!

[tracker]

So nobody wanting an Owl shot then? :P

Congrats, Pete on the 25 new ones you got this year! :t:

[mike from ebbw]

Anything other than a GS Woodpecker,Chaffinch,Brambling or a bl--dy Wren!
(see gallery,lol)

[a.dancy]

Improving on the species I already have would be enough for me.

[tracker]

Anything other than a GS Woodpecker,Chaffinch,Brambling or a bl--dy Wren!
(see gallery,lol)

.....and Whooper swan, Shoveler, Dunnock or Stonechat.... see my gallery! lol

[tracker]

Jokin aside, Adrian, actually, my passion is trying to make 'regular' birds look their best in the shots I take. So i quite agree with you there!

[The Valley Walker]

Would have to be Jay, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, and sometime soon a decent picture of a Red Kite in flight.

[mike from ebbw]

Would have to be Jay, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, and sometime soon a decent picture of a Red Kite in flight.

I see a trip to Gigrin in your thoughts Alan.Let me know when you are thinking of going and I will tag along.Just to show you where it is you understand,lol!

[K-Lex]

Gigrin is fantastic, went there a couple of weeks ago. It's well worth paying the extra for the better hides though.

As for my list, I'm a Owl and bird of prey man myself so anything of those would be good.

[stevo]

Some decent Wader shots,a Kingfisher wing stretching or doing something other than just perching would be nice.Hopefully the Redtstarts I photographed this summer will be back next summer.

Steve.

[David Smith]

Reading through all these responses it becomes clear that certain birds that are very common in some ares are comparitively difficult to spot in others. e.g. I get lots of Goldfinches & Bull Finches in my garden which is in the middle of Warrington while others have these on their wish list. In reverse, some have birds like Tree Creeper, Owls, Hawfinch, Nightjar etc. which I might never see.
I know this is stating the obvious but I thought it was interesting to note it in the responses. I know that certain birds are only seen in certain areas but because I see some species regularly I just assume that everyone else does-but not so.

[John N]

I think I will just settle for a general improvement on the bird photos I take at the moment.

[horukuru]

hope can get as many as possible endemics for borneo next year :)

[Claymore]

I'm hoping to get a good shot of a Dodo to go with my Nessie, Lord Lucan, Shergar shots! if i fail then i will track down the owl that hit my front window the other night! LoL
Cheers
Brian
Ps

[GR Triever]

I think I will just settle for a general improvement on the bird photos I take at the moment.

+1 :t:

[Jaff]

Well for me Tom it's seeing what my forthcoming 40D + 300mm F4 IS can do. Apart from that, just hoping of getting anything! ;)

Joking aside though, I would really like to try and visit some different places rather than the usual ones. As David said different areas offer different opportunities.

See you in the hide. ;)
Jaff

[Tim Taylor]

Anything other than a GS Woodpecker,Chaffinch,Brambling or a bl--dy Wren!
(see gallery,lol)

I'll swap you those for house sparrow, dunnock blue tit and goldfinch and will throw in collared dove and woodpigeon for free. ;)

[whomes]

Bullfinch, Jay, any Owl, Green bl***y Woodpecker!

[Keith Reeder]

I'm kind of with Adrian on this - but what I'd really like is more pictures of birds actually doing something rather than just sitting there like they're stuffed...

;)

[birder of the south]

I would like more birds in action like flight shots etc and really anything I haven't had.
However my main targets are Kingfishers, Barn Owls, Short Eared Owls, any Raptor and Little Stints.

[postcardcv]

I'm kind of with Adrian on this - but what I'd really like is more pictures of birds actually doing something rather than just sitting there like they're stuffed...

;)

totally agree, I do love shots with a bit of movement/life in them, just wish I could take more of them.

[woollyback]

Puffin, Red Kite and Kingfisher for me

Shouldn't be too much trouble!!!!!

Cheers

Rob

[Markulous]

... what I'd really like is more pictures of birds actually doing something rather than just sitting there like they're stuffed...

Sums it up for me very nicely! :t:
But then I'm more 'tog than twitcher! |=)|

[JohnZ]

I am very fortunate in that most of the bird piccies I take can, most certainly, be improved upon !

[Clive Watson]

but what I'd really like is more pictures of birds actually doing something rather than just sitting there like they're stuffed...

;)

I kind of agree, but I think there's a definite skill in taking a really good portrait shot as well.

[kittykat23uk]

Well this has been a good year for wildlife photography having got some nice shots in India. Just got a landmark today with Red Fox on my local patch.

Next year will hopefully be a scottish year with our June trip to Mull. So I'm hoping to get White tailed and golden eagles as well as lots of seabirds. Otters and red squirrels would also be nice.

More locally, I'd love to get Bullfinch, hawfinch, waxwing and our local kingfishers, though I got a reasonable shot of a common kingfisher in India.

[Pluvius]

Roller or bee eater for me and closer to home a crested tit would be nice. But overall a shot of a peregrine catching a wader would be my dream shot.

[ChrisSearle]

Tickells Blue Flycatcher and Asian Paradise Flycatcher are top of my list. Not uncommon birds in my neck of the woods but frustratingly restless denizens of gloomy undergrowth.

[dafi]

Just getting away from an auto camera and on to something that i can get faster exposure times will do me. I might start to get more intresting action and behaviour shots. Hopefully it will sharpen every thing overall.......If i just had the dosh!!!

[Imace]

A Dartford Warbler

[Vectis Birder]

I think I will just settle for a general improvement on the bird photos I take at the moment.


Me too. Mine have plenty of scope for improvement.

[markonerja]

Hi everyone,

Thinking ahead to a new year of bird photography, what birds are top of your wish list? What other goals do you have?

Im hoping for decent opportunities with Kingfishers, Barn and Little Owls, (any Owl, really; the latter being favourites) Green Woodpecker and a few others Ive got in mind.

I purchased a portable hide about 7 months ago, not even used it yet; it sounds like a crisp bag! lol Once up, Im hoping it may serve a purpose.

Best wishes,
How are you getting on with the hide Tracker. I am thinking of getting one too. Wondered if you can recommend anywhere to buy?

[davidtucker]

I would like a crisp image of a "mega" before anyone esle!!!! Failing that I am always looking for any improvement in my images