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Gongster

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Now I know this is an impossible idea ,how can anybody say what their favourite bird is? My favourite bird is usually the one I'm photographing at the time. However, the Spotted 'Dusky' Redshank, Tringa Erythropus, has a place in my heart. When I first went to the Arctic in 2005 I had a list of birds I wanted to photograph at the nest, e.g. the Dusky, Waxwing, Snow Bunting, Dotterel, Whimbrel, Shore Lark, Bar Tailed Godwit, the list goes on. I managed to photograph all bar the Dusky on my various trips up there. It took me five trips and driving a total of about 20,000 miles from the UK to Lapland, using Fuji film for the first two trips, before I got the shot I wanted, a Dusky returning to the nest. Now the first photo here is not brilliant but it is hanging on my wall, I'm sure you'll all understand why. Let's see some photos of your favourite birds and perhaps an explanation of why they take a place in your heart.
Dusky 1.JPG
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I love Kestrels. Tiny, cool, and ferocious. Two winters ago there was a certain male kestrel that frequented the same field to hunt voles and song birds. It snowed a lot that winter and he got so used to me that he really didn't care that I'd stop my truck and take his picture out the window for several minutes at a time. It seemed like he habituated to my particular vehicle. If anyone else ever stopped he would fly off only to return after they were gone. I have a lot of photos of him but here are 3 of my favorites.

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Gongster said:
Now I know this is an impossible idea ,how can anybody say what their favourite bird is? My favourite bird is usually the one I'm photographing at the time. However, the Spotted 'Dusky' Redshank, Tringa Erythropus, has a place in my heart. When I first went to the Arctic in 2005 I had a list of birds I wanted to photograph at the nest, e.g. the Dusky, Waxwing, Snow Bunting, Dotterel, Whimbrel, Shore Lark, Bar Tailed Godwit, the list goes on. I managed to photograph all bar the Dusky on my various trips up there. It took me five trips and driving a total of about 20,000 miles from the UK to Lapland, using Fuji film for the first two trips, before I got the shot I wanted, a Dusky returning to the nest. Now the first photo here is not brilliant but it is hanging on my wall, I'm sure you'll all understand why. Let's see some photos of your favourite birds and perhaps an explanation of why they take a place in your heart.View attachment 4876View attachment 4877View attachment 4878View attachment 4879View attachment 4880
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Those are awesome shots! And, its a really cool bird. Way to stay committed!
 
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It was a tossup between a lot of birds but all in all I think Snowy Owls are right up there among my favorite birds and they're birds I've traveled and worked hard to photograph in their natural environments.
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Wow you guys got some nice birds! I will think about it and post later. It's such a difficult choice.
The first photo is beautiful and your dedication to capture the shot is even better.
 
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Our house is where almost all of my wildlife photos are taken, and it is surrounded by a large clan of Acorn Woodpeckers. I guess they would be at or near the top of my list, not necessarily because of their beauty, but because of their fascinating and complex culture that I continue to slowly understand. This article is a good summary: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articl...-66436753&mc_cid=d09e69c876&mc_eid=d918601e76
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Rollamok said:
Our house is where almost all of my wildlife photos are taken, and it is surrounded by a large clan of Acorn Woodpeckers. I guess they would be at or near the top of my list, not necessarily because of their beauty, but because of their fascinating and complex culture that I continue to slowly understand. This article is a good summary: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articl...-66436753&mc_cid=d09e69c876&mc_eid=d918601e76
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I love those birds. I've tried to get good shots of them and Lewis' Woodpeckers for a long time. All I the shots I have are pretty horrible at this point. Well done!
 
I think my personal favorite of all is not very exotic or rare but they do travel great distances every year. I see them at home and every where I go.
The fearless Tree Swallow with about 50 other species or more a close second.
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Gongster said:
Now I know this is an impossible idea ,how can anybody say what their favourite bird is? My favourite bird is usually the one I'm photographing at the time. However, the Spotted 'Dusky' Redshank, Tringa Erythropus, has a place in my heart. When I first went to the Arctic in 2005 I had a list of birds I wanted to photograph at the nest, e.g. the Dusky, Waxwing, Snow Bunting, Dotterel, Whimbrel, Shore Lark, Bar Tailed Godwit, the list goes on. I managed to photograph all bar the Dusky on my various trips up there. It took me five trips and driving a total of about 20,000 miles from the UK to Lapland, using Fuji film for the first two trips, before I got the shot I wanted, a Dusky returning to the nest. Now the first photo here is not brilliant but it is hanging on my wall, I'm sure you'll all understand why. Let's see some photos of your favourite birds and perhaps an explanation of why they take a place in your heart.View attachment 4876View attachment 4877View attachment 4878View attachment 4879View attachment 4880
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Nice series Gongster...👌👌
 
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Lovely series here, beaut birds, That first one, - to die for! Understand that the bird you are shooting is the fav. This birdie I posted, we have seen only once. They are restricted to just certain areas in SA, and endemic too! Habitat is dense thickets, thornveld and coastal scrub. ± 12-13 cm.
Pink-throated Twinspot, Hypargos margaritatus, Rooskeelkolpensie ~ iSimangaliso Western Shores, Kwazulu/Natal. D800; 600 F/4 + 1.4 TC; F10/ 1/320; ISO 1600, balanced on the car's mirror. Liked the wind-blown version!
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Chad Huff said:
Snowy Owls are awesome. We don't see them much here in Western WA. That is a nicely composed picture. minimalist with just enough background to make it interesting.
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Thanks Chad, I was very happy to find one down on the snow with the frosty foliage :)

Kathy G said:
Gorgeous photo Dave. The eyes really stand out in this environment
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Yezdi said:
Magnificent shot Dave....Too good...love the mesmerizing eyes.👌👌👌
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Thanks Kathy and Yezdi! Yeah, I think it's the eyes that keep me looking for owls but even more so with Snowy's in winter landscapes as it's a punch of color in a mostly B&W scene.
 
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So difficult to decide on a "favorite" bird. I agree that often it is the bird that is front of me at that moment, or it is the bird that is being very cooperative in posing in a nice setting. If I use "frustrating to get a good shot and I finally got one" as my criteria, that narrows it down. Here is one of those birds, a Blue-necked Tanager.
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bajadreamer said:
So difficult to decide on a "favorite" bird. I agree that often it is the bird that is front of me at that moment, or it is the bird that is being very cooperative in posing in a nice setting. If I use "frustrating to get a good shot and I finally got one" as my criteria, that narrows it down. Here is one of those birds, a Blue-necked Tanager.
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Agreed, and that's one heck of an image of a fantastic bird!
 
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