All participants who attended the Madison Audubon field trip at Pheasant Branch Conservancy Saturday morning got great views of one of the Le Conte's Sparrows. Though I really like the results of my first round with them last weekend, the images I got yesterday are, in Ryan Brady's words, “Completely ridiculous on every level.” I'm inclined to agree!
While this species can be somewhat secretive, this particular bird perches out in the open quite often to see what's going on whenever people are nearby. I'm sure the photographers on my field trip were also able to get terrific images of this neat little sparrow.
Given the colder temperatures and north winds, I was a little surprised that both Le Conte's Sparrows were still present. I wonder how long they'll stay. The habitat at the prairie is excellent. There is plenty of food and cover for them, but I suppose it all depends how November's weather plays out. So, I wonder what kind of winter we're going to have. I've read that it's likely to be warmer than average, but will it be snowless like last year?
It's been an excellent October with great weather, birding, and photographic opportunities at the conservancy. It will be a month fondly remembered, especially for the two little orange and white sparrows that graced us with their stunning beauty!
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Oct 27, 2012 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
37 species
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
European Starling
American Pipit
Lapland Longspur
Eastern Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Le Conte's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
All images © 2012 Mike McDowell
Just amazing.
ReplyDeleteIf you remember, a few days ago i send you email asking for my previous setup 600mm and your scope.
I always shoot static birds (like this one https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/680333_10151215196843704_168143311_o.jpg). so i don't think there would be any problem using your setup?
Hi Lee,
ReplyDeleteI hope you can tell from my results that I don’t have a problem using my setup. I don't know if it's right or wrong for you, though. Should you try digiscoping, one thing you'll probably have to get used to is working with slower shutter speeds. Digiscoping is optically slow, the average scope and camera configuration around f/10. You'll notice that the overwhelming majority of my images were taken in sunlight – a virtual necessity for the kind of digiscoping I do.
The only way for you to be sure is to try it yourself.
Best,
Mike M.
Thanks mike, it is kind of shame we don't have Swarovski showroom here to test before buy. I saw Swarovski people went to a local forum and show them the demo of new ATX scope but not the members, i hope they can arrange one day for that.
ReplyDeleteI understand f10, for my pictures i normally shot at f8 so i don't think f10 be that bad (only the thing i will miss would be autofocus). BTW i never succeed in Bird in flight shot so i will not miss that :).
1 more question thought, i know if i use TC (Teleconverter) it degrade the picture quality.
How it work in scope, if i can see bird in scope at 30x zoom and then do 70x zoom will i lose the detail on bird or there will be not much lose?
I can see there is a lot of detail on your birds feather.
Hi Waqar,
ReplyDeleteI tend to stay at 25x on the zoom for maximum light throughput to the camera. Given the tremendous focal length even at that magnification, there's really no need to go beyond 25x.
Best,
Mike M.