For Reinardina - renewing past acquaintances

[Markulous]

More snow so off to feed the birds, including the swans, Reinardina!

#1 An Old Friend - he's been there for a few years


#2 We usually hand feed them all - in fact towards the end the Muscovy and the Swans were refusing to eat off the ground but pestering to be fed out of the hand!


#3 I was so close to the swan that I was partially leaning on it - and (s)he was pushing back!


#4 Taken with the 10-20 @ 10, so close!


#5 Bread was kept for chucking up in the air for the gulls to catch


Canon 7D, Canon 15-85, Sigma 10-20, wildbird seed, various feathered friends

And in answer to a previous query re. Coots - they are about but don't get a look in at the feeding (somewhat outweighed!)

[Reinardina]

Wow! You're spoiling me! Love the gull shot.
You've got a good variety of birds there; the 'redhead' looks a bit bedraggled; the plumage (is that the right word?) doesn't seem as smooth and 'tight fitting' as you'd expect.

'Our' (as in Lakeside Country Park, where I work as a volunteer) swans are very grumpy! And we're not allowed to feed the wildlife anyway, so I'll never get up close. At least not with them.

[Markulous]

Cheers!

It was very windy (and snowing) so plumage (yup, right word!) wasn't quite as straight as it might be, with feathers going every which way

We saw the amazing sight of someone who'd walked their GSD and were greeted at their car by a Swan. GSD and Swan totally unfazed, ignoring each other. They (GSD and owner) were obviously regulars who the Swan recognised as she then gave some food before she drove off

[Reinardina]

The other birds didn't seem to 'suffer' though!

[craftysnapper]

Love the Gull's shot!

[Markulous]

Love the Gull's shot!

Cheers

[Markulous]

The other birds didn't seem to 'suffer' though!

Here's another - same day and around at the feeders

[Reinardina]

These are even more ruffled!

Small birds are not for me too shoot; I take too long to get the camera focused (after focussing my own eyes), so they have always hopped to another branch, or they've disappeared altogether.
I can 'do' a swan or duck, as long as they only move at a stately pace, or not at all.

[Markulous]

I sympathise with your condition - though you can find occasions when the bird will stay still for some time (carried a seed to a branch to crack open - which can take some time) or else see where the birds like to return from a feeder and pre-focus on that and await the return

[Reinardina]

I sympathise with your condition - though you can find occasions when the bird will stay still for some time (carried a seed to a branch to crack open - which can take some time) or else see where the birds like to return from a feeder and pre-focus on that and await the return

I once 'met' a robin, who was as interested in me, as I was in him (I blame my red coat), and I shot several pictures of him as he just sat there watching me.
I know robins can eat from your hand, with a bit of 'training,' but we don't have a garden and the birds I come across, are wild, or semi wild, on the local Common.
So I snap as and when I come across them, but do not really prepare the shots.

And I simply don't see enough for bird photography. There's a kestrel, a regular visitor to the park where I volunteer, and even though it has been pointed out to me several times, I have never seen it! Unless I stumble over it when it's eating its prey, I'll only see it by lucky chance.

[Markulous]

Talking of Robins, we had a pair of them that wouldn't leave us alone - OK, we were somewhere where people walk quite often so possibly provide food. But we had 3 dogs and they were settling with a couple of feet - and even on the extending dog lead! We got quite concerned for their safety (but not before I'd taken a very quick shot of my boy chasing one of them)