Bird Photography ........ sigh

Wandering over the internet I see the most beautiful bird pictures. Of course I know that one's camera must be suitable and a good lens is half the job. But it doesn’t stop me from trying to shoot beautiful pictures with my super zoom camera. After all it has a Leica lens.

In the garden I created a comfortable bird area. Fine twigs and tasty seeds are waiting for the birds to come. I install myself with my camera in a hide and wait. There’s the first one. I don’t move .... focus the camera ..... too late. Soon the next one shows up. Everything seems perfect now. The food is not visible in the viewfinder, the background looks wonderful and the sun shines into the eye of the bird for a nice sparkle......... pppprrrr ........  the tit flies away. I say an ugly word and wait for the next opportunity. Here comes another one ....... eh, why does he stay in the shade? Out of sight he snatches a seed and before I realize it he has disappeared again. This pattern repeats itself while I try to shoot a picture. Time passes. Then I shoot my first pictures. They go directly to the trash bin. All blurry or without a bird. But after some practice and using other settings on the camera it improves. Finally, I make some satisfying photos.

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Blue Tit  (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Overconfident about this results I go in the afternoon to the polder. The gulls are not too shy and pose for me, but a finch hides his beak behind a branch. Without giving me a second chance, he flies away. On a parking lot in the village I try -almost lying on the ground-  to photograph some jackdaws (Corvus monedula). Then a car arrives and the driver decides to park it right between them. Instantly they are gone and the driver grins at me. At that moment I wished that I was tall and strong.  Bird photography ....... sigh!

Common gull (Larus canus)

Finch male (Fringilla coelebs)

Jackdaws (Corvus monedula)

Jackdaws (Corvus monedula)

The photos are enlarged even more beautiful. Click on the first picture.

Thanks to all my friends abroad for their spontaneous, nice comments and praising words on my last blog.  Please, let me know when my English is not correct. I would appreciate it, because I can learn from your remarks.

I hope we keep in touch. Of course I will visit you on your own blog, although it may take sometimes a little longer.

Greetings, Joke