earleybird
Well-known member
thanks Jaff. That is exactly the settings I had on my Fuji HS10 today from my bathroom window.Zoom 600-720mm All 30+ images are either out of focus or smugy grrr Can't seem to get a decent picture out of this camera. :C
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Very busy at the bird feeder today! (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Moraybirdlover
- Start date
thanks Jaff. That is exactly the settings I had on my Fuji HS10 today from my bathroom window.Zoom 600-720mm All 30+ images are either out of focus or smugy grrr Can't seem to get a decent picture out of this camera. :C
Jaff
Registered Member
Well I don't mean to put too fine a point on it but my kit is a professional DSLR setup so the results won't be comparable.
All I can recommend is you try and get closer and use more of the 20-25x range on your camera. If you sit close to your feeders and be patient then most birds will eventually get used to you but make sure you turn off any and all sound effects your camera makes. Also try to make your movements slow and steady and avoid direct eye contact, birds know when they're being looked at and they don't like it, try to keep an eye on them with your periphary vision. Once you can make them think you're not interested in them then you'll gain their confidence enough to get some quick shots off before they suss out what you're up to and dive for cover, then just wait for them to build their confidence up again.
Best of luck and wrap up warm. :t:
All I can recommend is you try and get closer and use more of the 20-25x range on your camera. If you sit close to your feeders and be patient then most birds will eventually get used to you but make sure you turn off any and all sound effects your camera makes. Also try to make your movements slow and steady and avoid direct eye contact, birds know when they're being looked at and they don't like it, try to keep an eye on them with your periphary vision. Once you can make them think you're not interested in them then you'll gain their confidence enough to get some quick shots off before they suss out what you're up to and dive for cover, then just wait for them to build their confidence up again.
Best of luck and wrap up warm. :t:
earleybird
Well-known member
wish it was as simple as that Jaf. The HS10 has some serious noise limiting software action going on to compensate for shake at high zoom levels.
It doesn't like low light levels like we have at the moment either.
The lens is actually excellent with no noticable distortion but the post picture processing is far too heavy.
It is capable of some good images but it is hard work and needs good lighting and a tripod. Thanks for your advice
It doesn't like low light levels like we have at the moment either.
The lens is actually excellent with no noticable distortion but the post picture processing is far too heavy.
It is capable of some good images but it is hard work and needs good lighting and a tripod. Thanks for your advice
Good point, Jaff. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in our front yard is a perfect example. I can get within 10 feet of him if I don't look at him. As soon as I even glance up in his direction, he's off.
Our yards were hopping yesterday morning, particularly with American Goldfinches, House Finches and White-winged Doves. I was glad to see the Sapsucker as it was the first I'd seen in 2011. The same was true of a House Sparrow that came to the Suet Feeder.
My wife and I arrived late (11:00) at a local park but still saw a nice range of birds (33 species) in a couple of hours. This brought my year-to-date total to 80, which is not bad.
Jeff
www.jeffinypress.blogspot.com
roger1234
Well-known member
it is snowing here and the birds are out in force,2 fieldfare,2 redwing,14 chaffinch,18 goldfinch,5 blackbirds,10 greenfinch,wood pigeon(1st this year),3 robins,4 thrush,2 great tits,(but incredibly no blue or coal tits,they have been out in force past few days),8 collared doves,juvenile moorhen,4 house and 3 tree sparrows.this snow is great for garden watching!!!
SeacroftBirder
Well-known member
Yeah, the Blackbirds look to be having fun in the snow, chasing one-another around ;-)
Bananafishbones
Incoherently Rambling .....
just catching up on the thread.
Eb its a good point. I have a good lense, however even a grands worth doesnt always perform in poor light.
Bananafishbones
Incoherently Rambling .....
18 Redpoll and a single female Siskin.... very nice!
Missyburd
Well-known member
So this morning I had 15 Jackdaw roosting in a tree down the bottom of the garden, then 4 robins, blue tits, one great tit, a coal tit, blackbird, a woodpigeon, carrion crow, magpie and a song thrush. Might sound a lot but I managed to watch for over an hour today so not really. HOWEVER, I went shopping today to restock the feeders as I had let them run low. Came back, restocked and within half an hour there was: 4 robins (spend more time chasing each other than eating lol), coal tit, about 10 blue tits, 4 blackbirds, dunnock, song thrush again, great tit and my favourites, about 10 long tailed tits! So I'm a happy bunny. Funny how loyal the birds are when the white stuff is on the ground once more....I wonder why? :king:
StarsAreFixed
New member
Trying to cater for more than just ground feeders has so far brought in redpolls and goldfinches. 2 redpolls today, 5 goldfinches. No sign of the two greenfinches I saw a few days ago. Ground feeders: 20 chaffinches, 17 starlings, 5 blackbirds, 3 female blackbirds, 1 robin (appeared 3 times), 1 thrush (appeared twice), 2 collarred doves, 2 wood pigeons. No bluetits or coal tits- will have a seed and peanut dual feeder up at the weekend, hopeing to attract them or other varieties. Niger feeders are very popular, the new fatball and suet cage feeders being steadily ignored.
ilbirdwatch1
Well-known member
Home from work today, but on bad conditions. Had a flat tire on my commute and I’ve been sitting in the local tire shop for the last 2 ½ hours. Looks like I’ll be working Saturday, oh well! Haven’t had time to sit down and watch the birds today, but was glad to see that my red-bellied woodpecker has returned for the winter months! I’m not 100% if it ever left, but now that it’s been snowing and cold out,, He’s been visiting the feeders!
Here’s a quick pic I took the other afternoon.
Here’s a quick pic I took the other afternoon.
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Dan123
Well-known member
No snow here yet but ALOT of rain. A real dark miserable looking morning. Had an early start for work 
But in doing that, I managed to see the Wren, which paid a visit after a breif appearence last week.
Got back from work for the last hour before dark and it came back then too and had a wash in the rain water, then proceded to preene on the fence. So thats at least 2 returns back to the garden today, hoping there maybe some more
Greenfinch up to 10 instead of the 9, Blue Tit 5 insted of 4
But in doing that, I managed to see the Wren, which paid a visit after a breif appearence last week.Got back from work for the last hour before dark and it came back then too and had a wash in the rain water, then proceded to preene on the fence. So thats at least 2 returns back to the garden today, hoping there maybe some more
Greenfinch up to 10 instead of the 9, Blue Tit 5 insted of 4
ilbirdwatch1
Well-known member
Wonderful pick of the Woodpecker! Hopefully someday I will get a different variety showing up at my feeders. So far I've only seen a North America Flickr and my Red Bellied Woodpeckers. Great capture and thanks for sharing!
Haven't been here in daylight all week so looking forward to watching a bit over the weekend. I've made some more home-made suet cake this time with melted suet, sunflower seeds, small pieces of wholemeal bread and currants. Hope there's something for everyone in there, I'd like to have put some mealworms in but the pet store was sold out and garden centres charge silly prices!
Lovely pics and updates from everyone, thanks for keeping me going!
Lovely pics and updates from everyone, thanks for keeping me going!
Missyburd
Well-known member
I can't put out fresh water here as it just freezes over within 10 minutes! That's when there's sleet and snow in the air mind. Is there a way round this? I'm sure the birds are eating snow to make up for the lack of running water though.
I don't know about in the UK but here in the USA you can buy small heaters made specifically for birdbaths.
Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
If you have a B & M Bargins nearby they stock mealworms and are cheap on most things.
CB
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
I'm sure birds use snow as a source of water when then birdbaths freeze over. Jos has temperatures well below freezing for several months and birds seem to survive without a bird bath if I recall his recent comments correctly.
CB