New Zealand Tui

[Alistair]

NZ Tui feeding on the nectar of the Harakeke flower. All Z9 and 400/4.5 with 1.4x.

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[Patrick M]

Great images

 

[ButlerKid]

Great images - #3 shows both the bird, the flower and the feeding behavior very well and is my fav!

 

[Alistair]

Great images

Thanks very much Patrick!

 

[Alistair]

Great images - #3 shows both the bird, the flower and the feeding behavior very well and is my fav!

Thanks very much, much appreciated.

 

[Alistair]

Great images - #3 shows both the bird, the flower and the feeding behavior very well and is my fav!

BTW, I meant to ask for opinion on that image; do you think the branch encroaching on the bird's tail should be removed? Or not the done thing?

 

[Mark Garfinkel]

Nice series, cool looking bird.

 

[Alistair]

Nice series, cool looking bird.

Thanks very much Mark. Yes, they are a wonderful bird, great character and beautiful song.

 

[Charles Loy]

Way cool. I'm diggin photos 3 and 4 the best, but all are splendid

 

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set of my favorite NZ bird. And my nemesis. Several hours chasing them and never did get an image that was what I hoped for. Another reason to head back down there.

 

[Alistair]

Way cool. I'm diggin photos 3 and 4 the best, but all are splendid

Thanks very much Charles, very kind of you. I have to give credit to @Steve for the clean files in this lot. I used his technique of progressively lower shutter speeds combined with high frame rate. Sure, many were ruined through subject movement but in amongst them were plenty of sharp, clean keepers. I had higher ISO "insurance shots" to fall back on but did not need them. Amazing really when you consider that these guys are hyper when they are feeding - flitting from flower to flower and pumping the flowers like demented things when they hit nectar. So most are under ISO 1,000 and shutter speeds from 1/320 to 1/500. So I really had minimal processing to do in LR, just the way I like it!

 

[Alistair]

Nice set of my favorite NZ bird. And my nemesis. Several hours chasing them and never did get an image that was what I hoped for. Another reason to head back down there.

Thanks very much Dan, much appreciated. If you do ever come down this way again, make sure to PM me as I am reasonably familiar with these parts and can make sure you get what you want. Just bring plenty of cards!

 

[ButlerKid]

BTW, I meant to ask for opinion on that image; do you think the branch encroaching on the bird's tail should be removed? Or not the done thing?

I'd leave it be. It is what is is......Beautiful!

 

[Alistair]

I'd leave it be. It is what is is......Beautiful!

Thanks, I do prefer not to make such big changes in post.

 

[RichF]

Great series. Very interesting bird. Need to visit your country someday

 

[Alistair]

Thanks very much Rich, much appreciated. Visitors are always welcome down here!

 

[coachjohn57]

A very nice series of images…there’s a lot to take in here. Nicely done!

 

[Maurie]

Outstanding work

 

[Alistair]

A very nice series of images…there’s a lot to take in here. Nicely done!

Thanks for your kind words. Much appreciated.

 

[Alistair]

Outstanding work

Thanks very much for your generous comments Maurie

 

[Irap]

Beautiful images, great look bird.

 

[Alistair]

Beautiful images, great look bird.

Thank you Irap! Yes, they make a wonderful subject.

 

[ssheipel]

Nice shots. Cool looking bird!

 

[Alistair]

Nice shots. Cool looking bird!

Thanks very much. Yes, they make great models!