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I just got a lens and decided to step outside to shoot some birds. The grackles are congregating in our trees, the sparrows nesting next door. We have a cardinal looking like he's helping with a nest too.

Not too good technically, still learning the lens.

Its the common boat tailed grackles that I love, even though there are a million of them everywhere you look. I think they are both stately and comical at the same time, if that is possible.

Here are some backyard bird pics of perhaps the most average birds on the planet.

(Click for large version)

You sure got in nice and tight, Scott.  A tad on the soft side.  Try a li'l USM on 'em and see what ya think.  What camera/lens combination are you shooting with?

Quote from: gjtoth on April 14, 2009, 06:25:38 AM
You sure got in nice and tight, Scott.  A tad on the soft side.  Try a li'l USM on 'em and see what ya think.  What camera/lens combination are you shooting with?

Yeah they are not real crisp, and that is already with USM a touch  . Its camera shake combined with lower than optimal shutter speed since most of these were just fooling around, enjoying our new lenses. The real soft ones were taken through a 75-300 lens with a 2x ring added that really gets out there but also is not a very good ring, halos the image and is a little difficult to use. I have to compensate 2 stops, manually focus and manually shoot, sort of slow going. Using the lens on the camera without the ring is less trouble and gives better images.

Camera is a Canon XSi and a Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2. I was going to spend three times more for the Canon lens, but after reading so many good reviews that say this is one of the exceptional bargains and quality is very good for the price, I risked it. Its a little tight and crunchy in its mechanical movement compared to Canon lenses, but very nice for the money optically, I'm pleased. Thinking I was smart to save money, I also purchased the 2x tele ring, which is less than impressive. I expected to be all manual, and expected it to force me open two more stops, but its image quality is a little lacking. I'll need a pretty good tripod with a lens support to shoot with this rig.

Well Done!  I like the cardinal the best but that is just my opinion.

Have you entered any of these in the current challenge?  

Do so!

Hi Scott.

There are some wonderful variety's you have managed to capture. That red bird is especially beautiful and you have managed to capture that well. Alo love that black bird with his wonderful long tail.

Well done.
Sarge