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A New Challenge

lily2

By lily2

28 comments


I’ve been quite pleased with the flower close ups taken with my new camera but there haven’t been too many photo opportunities with flowers for quite a while. We’re all so fed up with snow that we certainly don’t want to see any more photos of it so I thought I’d have a go at photographing birds which is proving to be far more difficult!!

First you have to tempt them into your garden by providing all sorts of goodies…….so off to the garden centre to make a selection of food and feeders. After parting with a fair bit of cash (OK I did succumb to a couple of plants as well) I went home to give the windows a good clean inside and outside so I can hopefully get some clear shots. After filling and siting the feeders, over the next few days I sat and waited …..and waited……and waited, while hoping that any visitors would stay still, close enough and long enough for me to take a decent photo ! Hmmm …..that’s a bit of a tall order – flowers are so much easier as they can’t fly away and don’t move unless it’s windy!

Well I soon got fed up with waiting but eventually quite a few birds did discover Lily’s Snack Bar although the very bossy resident robin would not allow any of them on his own private property other than the rather determined Blackcap who was grudgingly tolerated.
Here is ‘bossy boots’ in some of his various ‘guard’ positions….

Blackcap seizes his opportunity…….

….while the robin is being sidetracked by the fairer sex.

Mr and Mrs Blackbird forage happily under the feeders picking up any fallen morsels.

Other birds take their chance…..

….but even the territory defenders are not so brave when the big boys decide to visit. Woodpigeons come all the time….

“Well if you’re going to stand in our dinner, I’m going!”

A pair of Jays visit often but are quite shy and and don’t usually come close enough for me to get a decent photo.

Even more elusive and shyer is the Green Woodpecker who visits rarely and really does keep his distance but on this occasion I was delighted that he stayed long enough for me to get some shots of him.

The black and white Woodpecker and the Wren are too quick for me but who knows maybe one day…..

In spite of buying and filling the appropriate feeder with Nyger seeds I still haven’t succeeded in luring any of the Goldfinches and Siskins away from the banquet available in the Gourmet Bistro next door…..mine remains pristine and unvisited but maybe one day they will realise it’s there.

All in all it’s quite a challenge photographing birds and I haven’t yet managed any pics that are anywhere near as good as those of some GoY members…….. but I’m having great fun practising!

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Comments

 

Lovely to hear from you, don`t put yourself down Lily your blog is great and your photo`s are smashing,you have a some lovely visitors and the others will come. I have lots of Goldfinches this year but so far only managed to get one photo ,the little devils only come when my camera is not handy (thats sods law) LOL.........

7 Mar, 2010

 

After tempting the birds in you`ve really done a brilliant job with the camera, and shown a lot of persistance to get some really good shots to share with us all. Really enjoyed, thanks.

7 Mar, 2010

 

Really enjoyed your photos of some lovely birds, i'm not very good at taking photos of birds, think you have done really well, and i think the main thing is we enjoy taking the photos.

7 Mar, 2010

 

Thanks Clarice and Stroller, I think both the camera and I could do a lot better if only those pesky birds would keep still but it's great just to see them anyway. I know what you mean Sue, one glimpse of the camera and they're off. This morning my 18 month old grand daughter stood at the French doors watching 2 male blackbirds having a turf war just feet away from her......the minute I got near with the camera, they were off!

7 Mar, 2010

 

Those birds are awesome! I'll have to show my husband (Ron); he mans the birdfeeder in our backyard and can tell you the name of every single one. You did a great job on those photos, picture perfect!

7 Mar, 2010

 

good photo's

7 Mar, 2010

 

Great photos ~love the Jays I've only ever seen the tail of one disappearing into a large bush!

7 Mar, 2010

 

hi lily so nice to see you, weve missed you :o)) x lovely pics of your birdy friends and so many to, love th ejay and woodpecker how exciting for you having them in your garden, your doing well with new camera :o))

7 Mar, 2010

 

Great photos Lily :-)

7 Mar, 2010

 

Hi Lily, it`s good to hear from you. What lovely photos of your garden birds. Robins are so bossy and terrotorial and cause no end of arguments in the feathered community. I`ve only seen one Black Cap this year so it was nice to see yours. :o)

7 Mar, 2010

 

Thanks for your comments Hmhb, Khayla , Sueb and Louise - when I look back at my first efforts I can see a lot of improvement so I shall definitely keep at it. :o))
Hi Sandra and Sandra!, thanks for the welcome back from you both, it's good to be joining in again. With the unusual birds you just have to be looking out of the window at the right time don't you San?
The cute little Robins really are little thugs aren't they Sandra . I'd never seen a Blackcap until this year, there are 2 but usually only see one at a time.

7 Mar, 2010

 

Your bird photos are a lot better than mine, Lily! I'm glad to see you again, too, by the way. :-)))

7 Mar, 2010

 

yes its so easy to miss them, ive not had time myself to take bird pics to busy trying to get thre garden sorted out, maybe in summer when im sitting enjoying it all lily lol :o)

7 Mar, 2010

 

Thanks Spritz, I shouldn't think you have much time for taking bird pics with that lovely huge garden you have to keep in order!
Sit in the garden Sandra? you should be so lucky. lol

8 Mar, 2010

 

lol lily :o)

8 Mar, 2010

 

Lovely photos well done, it is not easy..........

8 Mar, 2010

 

I could look at some Lily :o)
The small ones really, like robins

8 Mar, 2010

 

Well done and thank you for even looking in the first place Hywel, think of it as aversion therapy! LOL..... Maybe you could gradually work your way up to the woodpecker although I must admit he does look a bit evil :o)))
Thanks Dotty, I shall keep trying......

9 Mar, 2010

 

Well hello lily, its so good to have you back where you belong( or is that Dolly) ! lol
Super photos and aren't you lucky having the Jays and Woodpecker all I get are big fat Pigeons!
Well done, keep up the good work. x

9 Mar, 2010

 

I do try Lily, but not very successfully lol

9 Mar, 2010

 

Well at least you looked in the first place Hywel. I wouldn't have done, had a blog been about my aversion - spiders (as you know)!
Well hello to you too Val, good job you couldn't hear me singing along! Thanks, it's really good to be back. :o))) I get the Jays and Woodpecker only in the front garden which is bigger, less enclosed and has a couple of trees. The back garden gets few birds and even a few pigeons would be welcome there ....although I suppose there's no such thing as a 'few' pigeons! lol

9 Mar, 2010

 

thats amazing, what a great selection of birds you get there. those jays are great, never seen them before, love the marking on them.

10 Mar, 2010

 

Great to see you back with us Lily. :~))
I like your photos, there way better than mine!

12 Mar, 2010

 

Thanks Usernut, most of the birds seem to be dining elsewhere this week. I haven't seen the Jays since the weather improved, I love their markings too. I once saw one swoop down and grab a young Blue Tit in flight. :o((
Hello Ian, I was just wondering if you were still here too....and here you are, although I don't think I would recognise the 'new look you'! Lol.

12 Mar, 2010

 

I thought it was time for a change of appearance Lol

13 Mar, 2010

 

Lily well done with your new camera and your Patience!!! I am still struggling to get decent pics of the birds which visit my garden. My feeding station is at the bottom of the garden and even though the garden isn't big I am still too far away to get really good pics like you have. We have our pond right near the house and as the birds at the feeding station make such a mess I daren't put one up near the pond as it would introduce such a lot of "mess"!!! The garden is too narrow to add any feeders at the side of the pond as this is too near the pond. I do hope all this makes sense. I loved all your pictures and you did a great blog.

Hi Ian are you keeping busy? I expect so.
Love Sue x

13 Mar, 2010

 

Fabulous photos of the birds. x

15 Mar, 2010

 

Thanks Gardengirl, I.m glad you like them,
Hi Sue, good to hear from you and thank you. I know what you mean about having the feeders in the right place to suit everything! Mine are mostly in the front garden and quite near the window but even so, it;s not easy to get a good shot. I was advised by Bonkersbon (who takes wonderful bird pics) to use the 'burst mode' which takes photos in rapid succession for as long as you keep your finger on the button. It means you have some hope of getting at least one decent pic of the moving target! That's how I got the one of the pigeon with wings outstretched. Good luck and keep trying, these photos are a lot better than my first effiorts.

15 Mar, 2010

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