**** Weekly Wildlife Thread 1-31 to 2-5-2015 ****

Dan W said:

I saw these Robins at the Mission San Antonio de Pala. I've not previously seen Robins in this area. Perhaps they've migrated south for the winter and are just passing through. Maybe Jack Brandt has seen them here.

DW

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One of birds I like to watch when hunting for earthworms. Lovely shots!

Alisande said:

All taken with the FZ35, the Blue Jay during heavy snow.


Blue Jay


Downy Woodpecker awaiting his turn


Starlings outdoing themselves over peanut butter & cornmeal

--

Susan
1 old farmhouse, 2 dogs, 5 cats, 3 computers

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It is tough for birds during this season but they strive to survive. Wonderful shots!

sherman_levine said:

From Everglades National Park


Mr A hunting for the family lunch


Dryin' out after the swim


Gotta look good


because here's what's waiting for me at home


Me and the family, together again

--
Sherm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32989985@N07/sets/

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Love those shots, fantastic capture!

Lovely capture!

myssvictoria said:

First, let me say, Go Seahawks!

Bald Eagles are common here, Golden Eagles are rare. Two immature Golden Eagles (1st years) have been wintering in our valley, east of Seattle. They can be mistaken for immature Bald Eagles and vice versa if you don't get a clear look. FZ70 + Nikon TC-E17ED.

American Bald Eagle, adult

Golden Eagle, 1st year immature

I was looking at the Eagle below at a much greater distance than here and in bad light and couldn't tell if it was the Golden or not. A much more experienced birder arrived and pronounced it as a Golden and ticked off the reasons why. Then the bird flew and we followed it to the perch below. Immature Bald Eagle for sure though she wasn't convinced until I sent her pics. THAT is why I wouldn't bird without a camera. And that is why I am skeptical at some bird reports w/o accompanying pics.


Bald Eagle, immature, 1 to 2 yrs?


Bald Eagle, immature, 1 to 2 yrs?

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Vickie
Please Mr. Ichiro Kitao, give me a Wildlife Zoom camera (WZ) with a 200 - 1200mm reach and able to take a TC, and with a fast lens and all the goodies to make it fast operationally.
myFlickr
myFZ200pics
myFZ70pics

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Excellent capture of these magnificent birds. Love these two!

Rodger1943 said:

A mixture of bird shots from the FZ200 and FZ1000, including a 4K video still shot.


A Pacific Black Duckling. A cuteness factor of 100%


Golden Whistler


Bell Miner, or Bell Bird.


Grey Fantail (4K video still shot.)

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Panasonic FZ200

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Very nice and lovely captures Rodger.

myssvictoria said:

Then the bird flew and we followed it to the perch below. Immature Bald Eagle for sure though she wasn't convinced until I sent her pics. THAT is why I wouldn't bird without a camera. And that is why I am skeptical at some bird reports w/o accompanying pics.

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very nicely done, and I hear you on the value of the docu-shots, on my recent family trip to CA I too had a golden eagle....when we took a family walk... guess it was hazy enough to loose all depth perception... so the below peak was the only visible thing just over a rolling hill at first look I thought it was just another ground squirrel on a rock 150 yards away, took out the cam and saw it was a cairns, still thought it was small cairns at that, walked up the hill some more and it became more apparent that the peak was closer to 1 mile away (call it 4000 ft?) while I was looking at the cairn a 'hawk' flew and landed right next to it...boy was I off on the size and distance the cairns is more like 6 feet...it was far enough away that with the naked eye it was tough to make out the raptor...took a few shots and enlarged on LCD, hey a golden eagle. verified once home in MA (yea patriots!!!!!). I don't carry binocs or telescope (I didn't even before I caried a camera) so it would have been impossible to ID without the cam!


here is a crop(original at 100%) not pretty but ID worthy, hazy and almost a mile away (estimated) via bingmaps


Original 1020 mm field of view

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unless otherwise stated, all are handheld fz200+E17ED
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sttweston/

A great series of shots. I like all of them, but do think the snow in the first shots adds a bit extra to the image.

ANAYV

ANAYV said:

ANAYV

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Quite an eyeful, and very intimidating even as photographs.

Great work on the detailing

FZ1000 800mm equiv.




25 deer in 1st attempt at panorama w/FZ1000. Fort Snelling St. Park Minneapolis MN USA




FZ1000 1124mm equiv. Melting snow on neighbor's roof turned his gutter into a bird bath.

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A bicyclist with a camera. Not a photographer with a bicycle.

Thank you, Mr. Roboto!

Dan

Rodger1943 said:

A great series of shots. I like all of them, but do think the snow in the first shots adds a bit extra to the image.

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Thanks Rodger. I was quite surprised that that woodpecker landed for a couple of seconds next to the bluejay

Rodger1943 said:

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Panasonic FZ200

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Lucky Junco! Nice shot, Trafford.

That's a good variety! The Downy shots are my fav.

ANAYV - the Lizard is the standout for me, love it!

I believe that's the first panorama ever in the Weekly Wildlife Thread! And it's quite wonderful! A nice squirrel and Sparrow, too!

So you may want to wait to post new pics. But please continue to comment! Thank you all of your participation!

[No message]

myssvictoria said:

That's a good variety! The Downy shots are my fav.

--
Vickie
Please Mr. Ichiro Kitao, give me a Wildlife Zoom camera (WZ) with a 200 - 1200mm reach and able to take a TC, and with a fast lens and all the goodies to make it fast operationally.
myFlickr
myFZ200pics
myFZ70pics

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Thanks Vickie! I edited one downy shot using RawTherapee..