Starling in Flight

Timed to perfection! And framed very nicely within the branches too!  Did you study the movement of the bird before taking the shot, or was it a one off that you managed to get spot on first time? 

Excellent work Len! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

I was passing by this wetland area on my way home from a local coffee shop when I spotted this bird exit the hole in the tree.  Figuring it might soon return I waited around for a few minutes & sure enough, it did.  I was ready for it & let loose a burst of 3 or 4 shots as it approached the hole.  So, there is certainly an element of luck here.  But luck is good!  :-)  I'd be more pleased if I could have seen the likely 3 or 4 beaks inside that the adult was feeding but alas, this will have to suffice.  Thanks for taking the time.  Always a pleasure.  Best, Len.

Hi Len,

   Wow......amazing capture with perfect timing on your part.  Beautiful image.   Take care, Patsy

It was the highlight of my journey to & from the coffee shop.  "Throw enough spaghetti at the wall.......................!"  :-)  Thanks for your visit.  Best, Len.

Excellent timing! I have never really seen a Starling as close up at this. My eyes are showing their age and I've never realized they are more blue than black and really have an attractive pattern in the feathers on their lower body. We have one that has a next in a tree that is just next to our property. I keep trying to capture the Mom or Dad as they are exiting the tree to find more food, but I've not managed to yet. I think I will need to use my tripod and do a series of shots as you did.

Thanks for joining in. I'm no bird expert so I could be wrong about this being a Starling.  Perhaps some real bird enthusiast can confirm or correct my assumption.  Anyway, this was a satisfying outcome for my efforts.  I don't think a tripod would have been a big help here but whatever gets the job done for us is what we should embrace.  Good luck on your nest shots.  Be sure to post if you get anything.  Best, Len.

Perfect timing and while a continuous shutter is always helpful, the camera has to be pointed in the right direction ;-).  Well done... Mike

An 'f8 and be there' moment which was anticipated by the photographer.   The luck part is capturing the proper position of the bird, it's wings,  it's feet, & it's (ugh) lunch.  They move so swiftly and I'm really not that fast. :-)   Love the 'continuous' shooting mode for such times. Be over to see you soon.  Best, Len.

Nice shot Len, there should be some eager beaks hanging out of there soon.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'm sure I could hear the little critters but none showed their beaks.  Kind of hard to tell, the swamp being noisy with bird chirps.  I'm just happy to have captured this part of the mealtime routine.   Best, Len.

Just so I would know, I looked up colours of feathers in Starlings and they can go from not much pattern to very colourful, depending on where you are in the world. There was one bird with similar colour patterns on the outside of the wings as there is on the lower body of this bird. They really are quite attractive. (hence, I think I should wear my glasses more). My choice of using a Tripod is due to my 'height' deficiencies'. The nest in the Blue Spruce is about 3 feet higher in the tree than my height. I am using my EF 200mm Prime. Since I broke my shoulder about this time last year, I find the weight of the lens a bit challenging for me (anyone else probably wouldn't notice).  I found that when handholding and waiting for that opportune moment when an adult would leave the nest, I was not holding the camera still enough. I'd love to be able to obtain detail like you have in this capture. In order to do that, I may have to resort to using my Tripod or Monopod. I rarely use them when doing outdoor shooting. I do not have many captures of birds or landscapes. I am hoping to remedy that this year. Thanks for your encouragement Len.

It helps if the light levels permit shutter speeds in the 1\1000 to 1\2000 sec. range as was the case here.  Tripods to support camera and lens aren't necessary at those speeds, unless one is recovering from a broken wing oneself.  :-(  Thanks for the benefit of  your research.  My horizons are now broadened.  Best, Len.

I wonder if we ever have enough mm of lens for this type of photography.  I've heard that, initially at least, those trying out new, longer lenses have trouble finding the bird through them.  No trouble at all with the 200mm. (birds in flight excepted) :-)  Best, Len.

Best regards, Len!

PDE

Len, This is my first look at this excellent image. The in-flight details captured are amazing and the colors and composition are all there as well. Great work. I'd go on but all the superlatives have been taken. Sorry I missed this one early on.

Best, Holger

Thanks for the praise!  Who doesn't like praise?  :-)  Best, Len.

While simply walking by I noticed this bird emerging from the hole & decided to wait around to see if it would soon return.  My patience was rewarded.  Thanks for your thoughts.  Best, Len.