Does anyone go Bird Watching?

[Tindomul]

I have been birdwatching for about 3 years now, but this is really the first year I have been serious about it. I have gone out everyday with 1 or 2 exceptions since April. I've tallied about about 15 new life birds (birds I have never seen before in my life) and am up to 104 species for the year. Thats 104 species of birds in Queens county NYC. Wow.
I am no photographer, but birding gives me a great excuse to whip out the camera, and sometimes I manage to get some decent shots.
I hope no one minds, I would like to show off my photos in this post for several reasons.
1) Would like to get some help on photography techniques
2) Would like to show off what I got
3) Would love to show off all the pretty birds that come to NYC.
LETS GO BIRDING!!!


Black-throated Green Warbler-03 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Black-throated Green Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Black-throated Blue Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Black-throated Blue Warbler-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Blackpoll Warbler by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Blackburnian Warbler-08 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Blackburnian Warbler-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Black-and-White Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Baltimore Oriole-05 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

American Redstart-Male-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

American Redstart-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

American Goldfinch-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Bay-breasted Warbler-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

American Woodcock-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Barrow's Goldeneye-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

American Robin-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

American Coot by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Northern Waterthrush-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Yellow Warbler-20 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Yellow Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Wilson's Warbler-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Warbling Vireo-03 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Song Sparrow-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Scarlet Tanager-12 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2) by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Red-eyed Vireo by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Prairie Warbler-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Prairie Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Prairie Warbler-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Orchard Oriole-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Northern Parula-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Nashville Warbler-05 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

White Crowned Sparrow by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Palm Warbler-08 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Yellow Throated Warbler-06 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Northern Flicker-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Yellow-rumped Warbler-05 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Wood Thrush-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Tree Swallow-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Snow Geese-05 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Ruddy Duck by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Ring-Necked Duck-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Redwing Blackbird-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Purple Martin-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Palm Warbler-06 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Ovenbird-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Northern Parula-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher-01 (2) by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Magnolia Warbler by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Chestnut-sided Warbler-07a by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Chestnut-sided Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Cape May Warbler-06 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Cape May Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Blue-Headed Vireo by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

House Wren by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Brown Thrasher by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Hermit Thrush-07 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Blue Jay-03 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Mute Swan-03 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Mallard Duck-03 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Killdeer-10 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Killdeer-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

House Finch-05, Queens College by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Hooded merganser-07 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Great Horned Owl - juvi by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Gray Catbird by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Golden Crowned Kinglet-05 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Golden Crowned Kinglet-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Glossy Ibis-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Eastern Phoebe-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Dark Eyed Junco-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Common Yellow Throat-05 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Common Raven by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Common Grackle by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Common Golden Eye by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Chipping Sparrow-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Cedar Waxwing-03 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Cedar Waxwing-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Cardinal-12 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Canadian Geese-01 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Brown Headed Cowbird-04 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Brants-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Boat Tailed Grackle-03 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

Blue Winged Warbler-02 by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

[ronaldhanko]

I am impressed, Tindo. Great photos and a great list of birds. We do some bird-watching, but are not as avid as some.

As to photo techniques, I have a custom setting on my camera for birds, especially in flight - high shutter speed, high speed continuous shooting, and AI servo (the camera keeps the bird in focus as you follow it with the camera).

[ronaldhanko]

Some of my photos are on Flickr.

Birds - a set on Flickr

[ronaldhanko]

Should have mentioned that I just got a new lens as well for birding, a Tamron 200-500. Have only had it out once yet and managed to get some good shots of a Harlequin Duck. I'm very pleased with the lens - for the price it is superb.

[Tindomul]

Those are some awesome finds you have Ron. That Western Tanager is a beauty!!! I love the pic of the Peregrin feeding, great capture.

[DelawareJim]

Very nice, both of you! I love the blue warblers Tin. And Ron, some of yours like the swans in flight are spectacular.
Tin, sometime you need to come out to southeast PA and visit Hawk Mountain. Spotting during migration is really cool.

I also do a bit of casual birding, but I've never done a life list. I also need to get a better lens. The 70-200 just doesn't cut it.

Ron, what is your custom setting you refer to?

Right now I'm focusing on three species; the ruby-throated humming bird that has taken to dive-bombing us on our rear breakfast deck, an indigo bunting that has started visiting our feeders, and a pair of bald eagles that built a nest on the cell tower at my train station. Now they are cool. One or the other is always on guard as we cross the Susquehanna river.

Cheers.
Jim

[Tindomul]

thats awesome Jim. I saw my first Indigo this past Friday, couldn't get a decent picture of it with my lens (55-200 Nikon), but all the other birds cooperated, even the Scarlet Tanager.

[DelawareJim]

Tin, what camera body are you using? I use a D80 and I'm pretty happy with it.

Cheers.
Jim

[Tindomul]

D40

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

Ron, what is your custom setting you refer to?
Jim

It's not so much a custom setting as a group of user settings that are custom registered in the camera:
-high shutter speed (1/1000 sec.)
-high speed continuous shooting
-AI Servo mode - the autofocus tracks a moving object

I have these preset and all I have to do is quickly turn the mode dial to C2 and I'm ready to go.