More birds....second round

[Maestro]

The original is thread is here if you are interested.

All of these are from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in far south Texas.

I'll start with a a very shy and secretive bird, the yellow billed cuckoo which is actually related to the Groove Billed Ani in the original thread.



Here is the ubiquitous Northern Mockingbird after taking a dip in a small water feature.



Here are some images of a very photogenic curve billed thrasher. I love the eyes.







Following is a lesser goldfinch. I was so excited to get this image of the American Goldfinch's less common cousin that I may have posted this here already and for that I do apologize, but to me it's worth repeating.



And I will end this one with some more hummingbirds from my backyard here in North Texas.

The hummingbirds love the lantana in our garden. These are all female ruby throated hummingbirds.



I'm not entirely satisfied with the sharpness of this one but I like the color.




Still much more to come. I hope you don't mind.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Mind? Absolutely not. More pics please. These are fantastic.

[Maestro]

3. Thank you so much

I only ask because this threads are pic heavy and not everyone has cable or DSL. Thanks again. I will be posting more soon. Ever seen a crested caracara? It'll be in the next round.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Looking forward to it...

[Callalily]

2. I simply adore your bird

pictures. Please do not stop posting.

I have film (yes . . . real film) at the processors right now with some bird pics that I took. But to be perfectly honest, I know they will not hold a candle to yours, and I'm okay with that.

[Maestro]

10. As long as you are happy that is all that counts.

Enjoy them! Thanks for the comments.

[stuntcat]

5. OH that last hummingbird!

something about those little feet held up in front!! is too precious!

I saw my first hummingbird in years the other day in the front yard, I wish I'd had my camera on me. It flew so close to me too.

[Maestro]

9. My wife loves those feet too.

Hummingbirds are so easily overlooked. They can fly as fast as 60 miles an hour when darting around.

[stuntcat]

13. for sure easily overlooked

I ignored it at first, I thought it was just a bumblebee moth.

[Maestro]

14. Your pic is a moth. You know that, right?

[stuntcat]

16. lol yeah

I have a lot of bumblebee moths this year, it's the first year I ever saw them though. I've taken pictures of them but this was just one I found with image search.

Seeing them lately was why I thought the hummer was another one of them, it moved just the same!

[Maestro]

17. They do cause confusion.

I'd love to see these moths. The most spectacular moth I have seen in my area is a sphynx moth. I think I spelled that correctly.

[YankeyMCC]

6. Another excellent collection thx!

I wished I'd had a camera and the skill you have on hand early this morning on my walk. Sitting atop one of the highest steeples (one of the higher buildings even) in Town on one arm of the cross was - I think a Peregrine Falcon (A falcon certainly and we I see Peregrines frequently, thought this guy seemed large even for that, it was just at sunrise so it was difficult to see details).

Looked for all the world as if he owned the town and was surveying his domain - well I suppose from his point of view all that he surveys IS His domain.

[Maestro]

12. I'd love to photograph a peregrine

They can be seen on the Texas coast but they are not that common. Thanks for the wonderful comments.

[bigwillq]

7. Amazing!

I love your pics!

[Maestro]

18. Thanks Will

You will be able to see more soon. It's taken me months to process most of them. I took something like 10GB of photos this summer. Not all are keepers mind you, relatively few actually, but one has to sort through them all.

[graywarrior]

8. Incredible!

[Maestro]

21. Thanks again.

Even more coming. I am so glad that you like these photos.

[TZ]

11. Beautiful!

Have you ever gone birding in the Carribean? Some of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen..I went to Aruba recently. Not only was I totally fascinated by the Magnificent frigate birds..but they had what I think was a Cuban emerald hummingbird! An intensely green hummer, which would make a gorgeous picture for your collection...

[Maestro]

25. I need to get south either to the Carribean

or to the rain forests of Belize or Costa Rica. I think those would be the safest bets.

[bertha katzenengel]

15. You're sandbaggin' us, aren't you: You're a pro!

Tell me you've been able to earn a little from the images you capture.

I love the birds you shoot. I love all birds, even "filthy" pigeons, aka pigs with wings. I love the fat, dirty little house sparrows who hop around at McDonalds. I love the doves, I love the robins, I love the grackles, all of which are so common out here that I'm sure a lot of people don't notice their beauty.

Thanks for your birds; please don't stop posting them.

[Maestro]

27. Nope. Not a pro.

I have made a whopping $10.00 and some change in profit in two years. Thanks for looking again. And if you like doves, did you see this thread of mine from back in June? I can't remember if you posted in that one from the Lounge.

[bertha katzenengel]

45. those doves are beautiful

Do you go birding, or are your subjects all around your house? When do you shoot? This must be your great love.

Our local Wild Bird Center is owed by a guy named Lee Duer. He takes some pretty good bird photos. This is a link to the store's photo page. I'm sure it contains some of his photos. You'll find more if you google him.

http://www.wildbirdcenter.com/stores/wal/photos

[Maestro]

47. I go birding all over the place.

One of the great things about Texas are its bird variety. I like to spend the fall in winter around my area except for a quick trip down south to photograph sandhill cranes and whooping cranes. Then in the spring I like to go to the Hill Country. However, there are several places where I would like to go in the US.

[bertha katzenengel]

44. reply in wrong place

[WinkyDink]

19. Mind?! If you stop now, we'll slap you silly! That thrasher looks intense!

[Maestro]

29. They've gots lots of character.

They are related to the Northern Mockingbirds I believe. Thanks again for looking into the thread.

[XemaSab]

20. Post more pictures!

Show me something I haven't seen....

[Maestro]

30. I will post more, but

I don't think I have anything that you haven't seen. You are the mega-lister! What is your list number now, in the 600s?

[XemaSab]

31. 619

[Maestro]

32. Uh, well, perhaps

I can give you a slightly better view than you had of some of the 619!

[tigereye]

22. wow! Thanks as usual Maestro!

Great to see the green jay and other birds we folks up north never get to see!


And I didn't know hummers liked lantana - have to plant some next year.

[Maestro]

40. Thanks tigereye

The green jays are definitely on the my "cool" list. The hummingbirds have turned to the lantana as my poor butterfly bush has been suffering the heat we have been having this summer.

[SallyMander]

23. LOOOOOOOVE your pics

As always!!!

[Maestro]

42. Thanks SallyMander

[cwydro]

24. First I was going to rave about the thrasher,

but then I saw the hummingbird pics. Those are really excellent Maestro.

[Maestro]

43. Thank you.

Stay safe if you are in way of that hurricane.

[Forkboy]

26. We're not worthy!

[Maestro]

46. Oh yes you are!

I wouldn't post here if I didn't think so.

[Skittles]

28. awesome......hey Maestro

I've been seening that huge hawk on the lightpost outside a 7-11 on Preston - I'll take a pic one of these days although it will be nothing like your pics

[Maestro]

48. Cool Skittles.

I bet it is a red tailed hawk. Does it look like this?



They like to perch high looking for rabbits, mice, lizards and snakes. I took this shot years ago just sort of goofing around. It's on Loop 12 in South Dallas.

[emilyg]

33. Thank you.

More please.

[Maestro]

49. Thanks and certainly -nt

[GoddessOfGuinness]

34. Wonderful!

Keep 'em coming!

[Maestro]

52. Thank you

and I will keep them coming for sure.

[DeepBlueC]

35. please, sir, may I have some more...?

wonderful pictures.

[Maestro]

53. Your wish is my command.

Thank you

[Kat45]

36. More beautiful photos of beautiful birds.

Thank you for sharing them with us.

[Maestro]

54. I'm glad you liked them.

More to come...

[fortyfeetunder]

37. Heck no I don't mind

This is awesome photography Maestro. Thank you for sharing!

[Maestro]

55. Any time. I am glad you liked them.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

38. My dear Maestro!

These are amazing, and wonderful!

You should definitely be marketing them...

Such ability should be shared with the world!

And as everyone else has said: Keep 'em coming!

[Maestro]

56. Thanks so much Peggy

I'm envious of some of those beautiful hummers you have in Cali.

[madeline_con]

39. The hummingbird pics rule.

The sharpness is fine. They are just.... wow.

[Maestro]

57. Thanks for the feedback.

It's hard to keep things sharp when they can dart at 60 mph.

[Eurobabe]

41. I've probably asked this a hundred times

sorry, short-term memory is kaput. What kind of lens and camera are you using? These are just outstanding. I assume you are using a
tripod too? Or? Your bird photo fan -48%er

[Maestro]

58. Thanks 48

I use the Canon 40D and for most of these I had Sigma 500mm F4.5 attached.

[momto3]

50. Wonderful! Thanks. eom

[Maestro]

60. Thank you again PhDmom

[Xipe Totec]

51. Bravo, Maese...

Didn't get to comment on the earlier batch, but they are both awesome!

[Maestro]

61. Thanks so much

Xipe Totec. I appreciate the comments

[spindrifter]

59. The backgrounds are almost as cool as the

photos--especially the backgrounds for the curve-billed thrasher!

[Maestro]

62. Thanks again

Most of the backgrounds are just your typical Texas native scrub brush.