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Poor light, high winds and a fast moving bird. I really needed the 70-200VR rather than the 80-400VR which I had with me.

Nice shot of a Brahminy Kite. Not much you could of done with low light (I still got soft shots with fast moving birds in low light). Not sure the 70-200VR would of helped that much. What was the EXIF detail.

The second shot looks fine - well caught and reasonably sharp

Kipper 1/250 at f8 at about 240mm - the wind was a big factor. My hands were not exactly steady

Personally I would of openned up the aperture a bit to about F6.3 (not sure what the widest aperture is with the 80-400 at 240MM) and altered the shutter speed by a few stops. The 2nd and 3rd shots the white are reasonably hot so you could of gone a bit faster on the shutter speed. What ISO were you using?

ISO 200 and the bird did not hang around long enough for me to think too much Plus I was standing in a childrens playground (with my grandson) with a camera in my hand.

Really like the second one, seems heaps sharper, agree with Daryl about the highlights but still looks terrific...

Fair enough Oneputt. Definately could of gone to ISO400+, and applied all the other options. You should find out where the Kite is nesting or where it's territory is, atleast that way you can be gauranteed better shots.

I will be going back tommorow if this wind abates a little. There are a lot of these plus whistlers around the Pumicestone Passage.

Whistling Kites or Osprey.....wasn't it you who posted the Osprey last time?

Yes We have Sea Eagles, Whistlers, Brahminys and yes Ospreys (At least three pairs that I know of.) The whole area is a haven for these birds with lots of suitable habitat. I have lived with them for so long but only recently have I become interested in photographing them. To get to their nesting sites I have to take my boat as they all nest on one or other of the inshore islands around here, although I believe that the whistlers may be on the mainland.

You should get Whistling KItes on the mainland, they're a fairly common bird and are a bit of a scavenger. I think I read somewhere in Qld at a piggery were about 1000 of them were spotted all perched. Would of been quite a sight

Sea Eagles and Osprey are a bit more harder to get and that sounds about right regarding them being on islands. We have Sea Eagles down here in Melbourne nesting on French Island and around the Pennisula. Should ask Paul if he's seen any Sea Eagles down his way

Wish I had that many birds of prey around my way!!
you will be getting great shots in no time.


Darryl, I hit the book shops this week and collected some field guides.
Couldnt decide which was the best so got a few.
simpson and day, morecombe, slater.

The morecombe one may prove to be the best of them but time will tell.
I opted for the full size morecombe because I figure that I can photograph em and id later.

Now all I have to do is get out birding again to get some shots.

Steve

I also have Simpson and Day but it is probably not the best of the field guides, however it does what I want.

the simpson and day one is apparently popular with birders but some of the others look better.

I am getting interested in trying to photograph birds. it is a big change from doing other stuff it can be hard and frustrating also but if you get good shots it becomes all worthwhile. It makes sure that I get off the computers for a while and get some fresh air

Steve