Backyard Bird and critter Thread...

[brewmaster15]

HI all,
Connecticut is not great for wildlife in the winter ... and its cold! But you can still have some fun taking pictures in your own backyard. This morning I went out for about 30 minutes and froze a bit, but did catch some decent shots at the feeder. I used a camping mat and wool blankets and lay on the ground as I have some birds that really only eat the seeds on the ground and eye level shots are best often... By covering myself with the blanket I was able to be about 12-15 feet away and they never knew it. I'll have to try this again when Have more time. One of the benefits of laying like this is you don't need a tripod, elbows and pillows work fine. makes it easier to move as needed.

.

I had the the idea to use a bird bath and water to try and get some drinking shots but that did not work.. with the wind chill here, it skimmed over with Ice in about 15 mins!.


Still was a fun break... took only a few minutes to set up.


I wanted to stay longer but only had about 30 mins free.



So heres my shots...
American SEED stealer (Aka Gray Squirrel)
94751


House Finch
94750


House Finch
94749


White Throated Sparrow
94748




94747




I thought it would be a cool thread to have people post their back yard Critters and plants Pics.. It can be any wild critterl or plant .. No Pets or livestock though, we can do a separate thread for that one if the interest is there.

Any takers?

al

[brewmaster15]

High tech set up..

94753

[Second Hand Pat]

Love it Al, what's the little guy with the rosy chest and crown?

Are frontyard critters ok? These two were messing around with each other a week or so ago on a warm afternoon. Note the tortoise in the lower right corner.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1506/24780701095_dafc1b7b9a.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DKMz6a)[/url] [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/] (https://flic.kr/p/DKMz6a)

[brewmaster15]

Last one...


Female gold finch

94754

[brewmaster15]

Front yard is fine too Pat!

That rosy chested /crowned one is House Finch. They are year round residents here in CT and at my feeder!

[Second Hand Pat]

Pretty little guy Al :)

[rickztahone]

Love that finch shot Al!

[brewmaster15]

You guys may remember last year I had a pair of BlueBirds nesting in the box and got some decent pics then. Looks like I will have another go, Look whose checking out their spring/summer rental....


94755

saw him checking it out the corner of eye.


al

[Discus-n00b]

What lens were you using Al? I'd love to take some shots, but as long as I'm in the yard one of the dogs won't leave me alone lol she's an insane people dog just follows you around everywhere so it scares the birds. And she enjoys chasing the squirrels. I'll see what I can do though charging the camera batteries now. How about some photos I've taken in the past to hold over until I can get some new ones. Not all my best work, some before I got my 5D2 but backyard wildlife none the less.

Dove
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Dove3.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Dove1.jpg

Male Goldfinch
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Goldfinch1.jpg

Cardinal
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Cardinal1.jpg

Baby Mantis!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/mantis1.jpg

And one of my favorites, tree frog!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8382/8630784562_28d1f9b344_b.jpg

[brewmaster15]

Old photos are fine Matt! Love the green treefrog!

The lens is my baby. Its an older lens, came out late 80s..Its a pentax 300 mm f4.5 af but not terribly quick. Its a bit loud but Ive never had a bird notice....specs are here..http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-F-Star-300mm-F4.5-Lens.html

It a real gem for its age...heavy and rock solid lens with great optics... Ive had it for a long time. Its my main bird lens.

[rickztahone]

Here's an old backyard shot I took a while back:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3827/9938665436_8ab094f7bd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/g9ffYC)Spider (https://flic.kr/p/g9ffYC) by Ricardo Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickztahone/), on Flickr

Don't know what kind of spider it was, but it looked threatening when taking pictures of it, lol.

[brewmaster15]

Here's an old backyard shot I took a while back:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3827/9938665436_8ab094f7bd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/g9ffYC)Spider (https://flic.kr/p/g9ffYC) by Ricardo Vasquez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickztahone/), on Flickr

Don't know what kind of spider it was, but it looked threatening when taking pictures of it, lol.

She's a pretty one! Looks alot liken barnyard spiders /orb weavers here (aka charlotte frm charlottes web fame).

Spiders are one of my favorite critters....great photo subjects. They get a bum rap at times propably because of some being very poisonous but honestly..biologically they are amazing.

[Second Hand Pat]

Not a great picture but sort of cool otherwise. Three hens and their collective chicks.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7740/18365454825_d2da5a1d82_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tYTKSR)[/url] [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/] (https://flic.kr/p/tYTKSR)

[Second Hand Pat]

More babies from last summer. The parents are back in the property and bet they nest in the front pond.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8736/17370881971_19d634bf3d_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/st1j22)[/url] [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/] (https://flic.kr/p/st1j22)

[rickztahone]

perfect picture opportunity has returned Pat!