A Cold, Cold Day - Juvenile Buzzard

jmbrailsford · 30-11-2008, 11:26 AM

Hi,

I went out yesterday lunchtime for a walk my home golf course in search of a buzzard we'd seen regularly the last few weeks, he/she had been parading about the 18th fairway in search of worms the last twice we'd had a game so I headed up and around the 18th tee as I figured it would be sitting around there.

Well after wandering about for an hour or so three Roe Deer shot past me, you can clearly see one here ....:D

Cursing my luck at not getting a decent shot I headed back in the direction of the car as I had noticed two people walking their dogs, no doubt the reason the deer were startled, having seen them, I changed direction in an effort to ambush the deer as I guessed where they would appear next, and I was right - here is one of the results, a cracker isn't it :gag:

Hotly pursued by ....

So feeling pretty disappointed at having nothing for my efforts I headed back to the car and set off home, I was just exiting the car park when I spotted my original quarry sitting in a young sycamore tree in the adjacent car park, bloody typical I thought, I'd wandered about for the last hour and a half in freezing conditions and there it was about 25 yards away sitting 6 foot off the ground. I quickly got the window down and fired off a couple of quick shots hand-held, however it was sitting with it's back to me I decided to chance my luck and edged the car round in front of it to get a better angle, it never even flinched, possibly because of the cold it was happier just sitting conserving energy, after firing off a few more shots I decided to really push my luck and get out of the car so I could rest the lens on the roof, no problem fired off a few there too, it even let me lean the lens on the bonnet, at this point I was about 30ft way and it just sat there quite happy.

Here are some of the results, the first three are slight crops and PP'd in Lightroom, #4 is totally unedited. I hope you like enjoy them as much as I did taking them.

#1

Canon 1D Mark II - Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX - ISO 200 - 1/80th at F4.5

#2

Canon 1D Mark II - Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX - ISO 200 - 1/80th at F4.5

#3

Canon 1D Mark II - Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX - ISO 200 - 1/80th at F4.5

#4 - Full Frame Unedited

Canon 1D Mark II - Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX - ISO 200 - 1/30th at F8.0

Thanks for looking,

Mike.

denno75uk · 30-11-2008, 11:58 AM

As illustrations to your story the first few photos are actually crackers. Great post.

Well done on the buzzard though. They're fantastic.

Just wondering why the last one has not the colour of the others. WB? Levels? Light?

jmbrailsford · 30-11-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denno75uk

As illustrations to your story the first few photos are actually crackers. Great post.

Well done on the buzzard though. They're fantastic.

Just wondering why the last one has not the colour of the others. WB? Levels? Light?

Hi,

thanks, I enjoyed writing it, as for the colour of the last, it's because I warmed the first three up a bit, with Daylight WB.

Mike.

johnaalex · 30-11-2008, 12:22 PM

Great story - shows the benefit of perseverance.

Great shots of the buzzard, I would love to get some like that. Pretty good iq from the Sigma 500.

BTW, I was once called a "juvenile buzzard", at least I think that's what they said

**senu** · 30-11-2008, 3:05 PM

Great post .. Lovely pictures.
Thanks for sharing

.

Fozzybear · 30-11-2008, 3:32 PM

Those are amazing! Superb work Mike. Looks rather 'puffed up' against the cold - poor thing, you should have invited it in for a warm cup of tea and a sparrow for dunking!

jmbrailsford · 30-11-2008, 7:31 PM

Hi,

thanks for all the replies and the comments, I am well pleased with these shots and might try and print a couple out as keepers. I just wish I'd had something for him to eat as a thank you, I will pop back during the week and see if i can tempt him down with something.

Mike.

tontoshorse · 30-11-2008, 7:35 PM

Cracking pics. Well done.

goso · 30-11-2008, 7:39 PM

Stunning

tonkie · 30-11-2008, 8:03 PM

Liked them all but the one of the dog brought a smile to my face being a dog lover(4 legged type)

**senu** · 30-11-2008, 8:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonkie

Liked them all but the one of the dog brought a smile to my face being a dog lover(4 legged type)

Which other type is there..

tonkie · 30-11-2008, 8:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senu

Which other type is there..

My upbringing has let me down again but there again I am sure I'm not the only one who has been friendly with a 2 legged one, thats why god invented beer

Ned Senior · 30-11-2008, 8:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonkie

My upbringing has let me down again but there again I am sure I'm not the only one who has been friendly with a 2 legged one, thats why god invented beer

Who needs beer???

tontoshorse · 30-11-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned Senior

Who needs beer???

Form an orderly queue.

Ned Senior · 30-11-2008, 11:30 PM

i am sure that's what eyelids are for!

SPRINGERS · 01-12-2008, 9:54 AM

Great story and great captures well done and thanks for sharing

dazza74 · 01-12-2008, 10:00 AM

Very enjoyable thread, think I'm going to go with #3

jmbrailsford · 02-12-2008, 10:05 AM

Hi,

thanks for the praise, I have printed one out to A4 and its looks great I might have a proper print of one done, or I might make up a photobook with some of my better shots, be nice to browse through it when the weather gets crappy.

Mike.

amgard · 02-12-2008, 10:43 AM

Excellent shots

There's a couple of adults regularly rest in our back-garden at work, but they are so 'flighty' I just have to poke the lens round the corner of the building for them to fly off - so very well done in capturing yours!!