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Accidently came across this in my collection of files. Previously overlooked via thumbnails as I thought it wasn't that good. Need to really pay more attention.

D70, 70-200VR, 1.7X, SB800, handheld

ISO: 200
Focal: 340MM
Exp: 1/500 @ F5.6
Flash Comp: -1.3EV

Darryl, This is a great shot, you know using a flash is great doing this and i have never ever gone bird hunting like some do on the forum, but instead with a shotgun many years ago in my shooting days ducks so on.

The name is strange as well, do they whistle? i once got caught a long time ago when they brought out Knickerboxes or was it knickerbockers, some might not remember but i always wondered what they were and well at that stage thought they were Knickers with a box in them.
Anyhow mate this is a great bird pic well done.

Great picture Daryl. How did you miss that!

Great shot from a great lens; I wonder what the bird was thinking when you took aim ?

I gather it was thermalling or gliding somewhere close by ? I've found birds to be challanging targets, the buggers keep moving

Hope you find other thumbnails to share

/M.

Kipper/Darryl,

Another one of your excellent bird shots.

As you stated, you need to really pay more attention. One way of fixing that problem is to buy the Nikon AF-S 500mm f/4 and all your bird shots will be outstanding, and then we can sit back and enjoy

Noy good enough Daryl? That is a top shot. I am going to have to try flash myself.

If you don't use flash already for bird shots, do so. Bird feathers are slightly shiny and have a fair bit of oil in them. When you use the flash it brings out the colors that you normally wouldn't see.

Psion, these Whistling Kites hang around a sewer trunk hunting for rats I believe. Towards the end of the day you'll find about 10 of them perched along a fence line.


Fozzie, yeah I'm looking forward to it

Great shot, Darryl. The flash really does well.

Great capture Darryl.
marco

Hi Darryl, ok mate maybe you can fill some of us dummies in what sort of flash settings etc... you use while out birding, i for 1 would like to know and maybe of interest to others on just waht we should try and do if we get out and have a go at this. Thanks mate.
Cheers
John

Well my flash setup is about to change so I'm going to be learning again.

I pretty much shoot in iTTL not iTTL-BL, although nicole shoots in this mode.
I shoot without the difuser as I want as much reach as possible.
I also use a compensation on the flash of -1.3EV (adjusting occassionally).
If I have time to adjust, I'll try and experiement with a mixture of ambient and flash, by reducing shutter and/or widening of aperture.

My new setup once I get the lens, will be a Better Beamer, off camera flash bracket (eg. Wimberley Combo #5) and an SC-28 flash cord.

Wow. Awesome shot Darryl.

Thanks for sharing all your advice regarding the use of flash too; it's really helpful to those of us who aspire to these 'heights' in our photography. Now if only I could get the avians to co-operate...

Btw, something I noticed about the Bird show at Toronga Zoo was that it was almost impossible to get a decent shot of these birds performing tricks. The area that they performed them in was very tight. And the moment they were performing the tricks was very unpredictable. I wouldn't advise taking many shots there, as you'll walk away with not many keepers. I have a few that I haven't posted yet but nothing that I'd say wow about.

I'd like to try out Krial Castle at Ballarat, but I think it'd be good to try and organise a small group for a special show or something.

Wow, this is terrific! Amazing detail... PS. I've still got your CPL and end cap... Can I catch up with you tomorrow (Sunday) night?

Tah, Andrew. Where at?

Where-ever's convenient for you matey... Out your way's no wuz.... Use PM rather than bugger up your thread