there by hangs a tail!

[michael23]

i was wondering if i had any photos that would be challenging, whilst looking through i cam across this one, maybe easy, maybe hard i dont know? have fun.michael

[Colin Key]

Female Blackcap?

Colin

[michael23]

not a female blackcap!

[Colin Key]

Spotted Flycatcher?

Colin

[michael23]

not a flycatcher.:smile:

[MichaelF]

Euonymus fortunei.

Female Blackcap?
So how do you sex a Blackcap without seeing the head? :ouch::err:

[Colin Key]

Euonymus fortunei.


So how do you sex a Blackcap without seeing the head? :ouch::err:

The females have rather "warmer" tones to the "undercarriage" (as this bird seems to have).

Colin

[Steve Keen]

I was going to say Blackcap, without being audacious enough to sex it. So, male Blackcap?

[michael23]

not a blackcap. mr or mrs!:smile:

[Colin Key]

I was going to say Blackcap, without being audacious enough to sex it. So, male Blackcap?

I only stuck my neck out (being a "Clever-Dick") because I am sat here looking into my garden where Blackcaps are the commonest birds at the moment, and the females do seem to have that "pinkish flush" to the undertail whilst the males are a colder grey.

Colin

[Colin Key]

Nightingale? (but legs seem to be too dark).

Colin

[michael23]

not a nightingale either.

[Brian S]

Isabelline Shrike?

Brian S

[Colin Key]

Garden Warbler?

Come on Michael, give us a clue - where and when?

Colin

[michael23]

one of you are correct, it was photographed on st martins isles of scilly, not sure of the year but it was in october time,

[Colin Key]

Well, if it was taken on the "Silly's" (:ohdear:) it must be a "posh bird" which means Brian is correct.

Colin :beer:

[Colin Key]

i was wondering if i had any photos that would be challenging,....

No sour grapes or anything like that Michael, but I think that all of your photos are "challenging" :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Colin

P.S. Hope this is taken in the spirit in which it is given :smile:.

[michael23]

brian is the one with the correct answer, isabelline shrike it is, here is its head, they were only video grabs through my scope.

well done brian

[MichaelF]

one of you are correct
Me too, with Euonymus fortunei.


:wink:

[michael23]

of course colin, that is how i would describe them myself :smile:
im limited to a canon 350d and sigma 70-300, hoping for better kit at some point this year, will have to wait and see!

[Colin Key]

im limited to a canon 350d and sigma 70-300,

Nothing wrong with that kit Michael, what you lack is "light", that beautiful stuff which normally pours out of the sky every day here but, at the moment, is sadly lacking. Worst weather here that I can ever remember, pi$$ing down all day and every day, and forgotten what the sun looks like.

Colin :smile:

P.S. As well as my 1D Mk3 I also have a 400D (very small step-up from the 350D) and several people have commented that the images from that body are better than from the 1D!! But, with sunshine, and shooting at up to 1/8,000s (sometimes), it is much easier down here. :beer:

[michael23]

roll on spring and summer! i know for a fact that my 350d can be inconsistent in its results, when it performs it does very well indeed.

[Colin Key]

Michael,

On a serious note, the Sigma zoom you have is not noted for its sharpness. If you were going to spend some money I would strongly recommend the Canon 400 f/5.6 L lens. It lacks some of the versatility of a zoom but the lens is VERY sharp and has fast AF. Its main drawback is the rather long 'minimum focus distance'.

But, if you are thinking of buying Canon, buy NOW, the prices are already rising (due to the strength of the Yen against the GBP) and are due to go "through the roof" in February.

Colin :smile:

[michael23]

i had heard that there is to be a price hike, but didnt know when, i have used a canon 400mm in the past, jessops lent it to me while my tokina 400mm was in repair. i was so impressed then, i was using an eos 5 body then.
i also read that this year was going to be a big year for new lenses, dont know if that is true, or just the usual "chinese whispers"

[DDolan1075]

My thought is that I should be good at this because half of my pictures are of those birds leaving the scene! Always thought that they should make a guide with pictures of birds flying away.

[Norman McCanch]

Nightingale??

[Colin Key]

Nightingale??

See posts #11 and #12 Norman. In any case, all sorted now - Isabelline Shrike.

Colin :smile: