Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: dbellilo on December 29, 2010, 12:28:47 PM

Title: American Kestrels are the only friends I'll ever need
Post by: dbellilo on December 29, 2010, 12:28:47 PM

Hello folks
I've been lucky with kestrels in the s.w. end of Toronto. Here are a few pictures from the other day at Colonel Sam Smith Park.
Hope all is well with you, birdos.
Best,
David B.
(http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8770/littlejuke.jpg) (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/littlejuke.jpg/)
(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1714/babycruze.jpg) (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/babycruze.jpg/)
(http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4615/pams2.jpg) (http://img413.imageshack.us/i/pams2.jpg/)

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Post by: dbellilo on December 29, 2010, 12:30:40 PM

allow me to reply to myself!
Forever frustrating is the inability to "pose" or "direct" birds. To wit: "OUT OF THAT CONGESTED BRAMBLE, SPARROWHAWK! CANTCHA SEE I'M TAKIN PICTURES OVER HERE?" But of course that is what makes bird photography so much fun, and more addictive than cigarettes which, by the way, I quit 2 mos. ago. The kestrel addiction must now deepen...

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Post by: dbellilo on December 29, 2010, 12:32:45 PM

last comment...I accidentally sharpened the first pic, which I hate to do, or anyhow I don't know how to do it properly. Please forgive the bad bits in that pic...

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Post by: MEGHAN on December 29, 2010, 02:05:56 PM

David, these are awesome.
Well done.
Meghan

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Post by: Reuven_M on December 29, 2010, 02:08:58 PM

Amazing!

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Post by: dbellilo on December 29, 2010, 03:01:18 PM

Not to be creepy, fellow birders, but I think I may be in love with this kestrel. I close my eyes and I see feathers. I'm not yet worried but will be soon...

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Post by: Whittam on December 29, 2010, 03:42:42 PM

Beautiful shots!  Well done!  Cheers Terry

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Post by: steven rose on December 29, 2010, 05:22:39 PM

Super colours on these David.
Steve R

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Post by: beresford on December 29, 2010, 05:50:15 PM

These are some spectaculat shots... thanks a bunch for posting!

-Tim-

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Post by: denis on December 29, 2010, 06:08:23 PM

nice male david.
yes,raptors are quite addictive,and my favourites.

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Post by: Sahria on December 29, 2010, 07:29:49 PM

These are fantastic! I love these little guys :)

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Post by: Moira on December 29, 2010, 08:04:59 PM

Great shots - nice and sharp, with great colour.

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Post by: ravynne40 on December 29, 2010, 09:35:30 PM

These are terrific photos! and you did great on the sharpen :) Yes birding is addictive and much healthier then the cigarettes! congrats on quitting ...its not easy!

keep up the good work

Irene

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Post by: dbellilo on December 29, 2010, 10:41:13 PM

Thanks much for the friendly comments, folks. I appreciate you!

Title: your friends
Post by: Howieh on December 30, 2010, 01:24:15 PM

I've seen the Kestrals at Colonel Sam but haven't been able to get close enough for any decent shots. Those are great. Btw, a true friend would offer to share his lunch; my advice is to politely decline the invitation :)

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Post by: dbellilo on December 30, 2010, 02:38:54 PM

I respectfully disagree!

Title: Re: your friends
Post by: ravynne40 on December 30, 2010, 04:58:19 PM

Quote from: "Howieh"

I've seen the Kestrals at Colonel Sam but haven't been able to get close enough for any decent shots. Those are great. Btw, a true friend would offer to share his lunch; my advice is to politely decline the invitation :)

I was there yesterday and thought I had seen the kestrel, but when I got closer much to my surprise I found the Northern Shrike...my eyes just ain't what they used to be LOL
but it was a lovely surprise

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Post by: dbellilo on December 30, 2010, 07:49:16 PM

How terrific, lucky you! I've yet to see one of those, outside of bird books...but they're around, just like the mythical owls...thanks for the note!

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Post by: Niloc on December 30, 2010, 10:16:14 PM

Wicked just wicked lol excellent captures!

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Post by: dbellilo on January 07, 2011, 10:37:43 PM

Another more recent pic (from wed) of the same bird...the fellow toys with me, allows me to get very close then flies to a nearby tree just as I'm about to get snapping...he repeats the process over and over again...on a technical note: the kestrel was backlit, in this case, by a brilliant white sky. I had to compensate by overexposing a stop and a half, if memory serves. After my friend flew away, it occurred to me: "Dave-o, use the FILL FLASH next time!" And a good idea it surely would have been...as it is I was up to ISO800, which doesn't really bother me too much, but it's always nice to keep the ISO low so as to leave oneself room for manipulation after the fact...enough!
(http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4691/jerseyboy.jpg) (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/jerseyboy.jpg/)

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