mguy

11/01/2007 - Greater Coucal.......

YSW, Lamma island
Nikon D200 w/Nikkor VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G
2007/01/07 15:04:09.2
Lens: VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G
Focal Length: 90mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
1/250 sec - F/4
Exposure Comp.: -0.7 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

mguy

Terrible light today...... but managed to get this chap.......

Nikon D200 w/Nikkor VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G
2007/04/02 10:44:18.5
Focal Length: 70mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/30 sec - F/3.5
Exposure Comp.: -0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached

mguy

Hi Robert,

have just built a 40' pond in the garden & set up a hide alongside.
This chap comes down to water at roughly the same time everyday.
This was the first time I tried to get a shot. But as I said, light was really bad yesterday.
Will try & get some better shots over Easter.

70mm ? Had to wait for him to move away from me a little before I got the shot. He came within about 3' of me at one time.  :shock:

mguy

[quote:ab9c42e311="cchakwing"]Thanks Guy,

Can you share with us how the hide looks like? Were they built (the pond and hide) purposely for birding? That is great.

Wing[/quote]
Hi Wing (nice name for a birder)

The pond has been purposefully built for birds (& bugs)
is 35-45' long & at its widest about 10', although most is less than 6' wide.
Is a pond/stream/swamp with water being pumped from one end to the other.
If you can imagine walking through a forest & stumbling into a "swamp....., that is what my pond will look like when it is finished...... fallen trees, overhanging branches, lots & lots of undergrowth, with a few open patches.
Was originally a flat pieece of open "waste" ground on the edge of my patio, 10' from the house.
Is not made using pondliner but clay.... very troublesome but plant roots can grow through it. Very high in mineral content. When it is finished should be good.

Is still in the making, and the water is very cloudy at the moment (1-2 months more). But have recorded about 30 different species so far (but no kingfishers yet).

The hide.
This particular one is an "army" pop up tent I bought in Bangkok for HK$ 200...... but normally I use mosquito nets - I have 4 scattered around Lamma.

Hope this is of help if you are thinking of doing it yrself....... but is not easy. The building or the waiting.

All the best.

mguy

[quote:c478afb9f4="cchakwing"]Thanks Guy,

Tremendous. I wish I could have a look of your setup when I was at Lamma Island.  :

Wing[/quote]
Sure.... let me know if you are coming over

mguy

And it's tail........ record shot  :wink:

mguy

Nikon D200 w/Nikkor VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G
2007/04/15 09:21:22.7
Focal Length: 200mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/90 sec - F/3.5
Exposure Comp.: -0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached

mguy

Was quite amusing.
Came down to water...... found a cockroach but was about 20' away. I started mimicing the Coucal mating call & he/she immediately started coming towards me until ihe-she was about 3' from my lens. He/she started trying to do the mating call & was bobbing his/her head up & down.... but because of having the cockroach in his/her mouth was coming out more of a squeak.
Couldn't work out where the sound was coming from & finally left confused for some upper branches.
This photo was taken from about 10'. Sorry not much DOF but was in the shade & the light not coming through


Nikon D200 w/Nikkor VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G2007/04/22 11:39:09.4
Focal Length: 200mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Center-Weighted
1/125 sec - F/3.2
Exposure Comp.: -0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached

mguy

More of the same.......

mguy

and again....... apologies but needed a little flash coz the light was sooooo bad

Nikon D200 w/Nikkor VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G
2007/04/22 14:58:21.1
Focal Length: 86mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Spot
1/50 sec - F/3.5
Exposure Comp.: +0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Rear Curtain
Auto Flash Mode: Built-in TTL
Auto Flash Comp: -0.3 EV

mguy

D200 w/70-200
15/11/2007

mguy

mguy

Nikon D3
2007/12/15 11:58:40.1
Lens: 500mm F/4 D
Focal Length: 500mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/200 sec - F/5.6
Exposure Comp.: -0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 320
Optimize Image:
White Balance: Color Temp. (5260 K)
AF Mode: AF-S
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached

mguy

Apologies........ another head shot

Nikon D3
2008/02/03 16:30:07.2
Lens: VR 70-200mm F/2.8 G
Focal Length: 280mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
1/160 sec - F/7.1
Exposure Comp.: -1.0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 320
White Balance: Color Temp. (5260 K)
AF Mode: AF-S
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached

mguy

My day wouldn't be complete without another Greater Coucal portrait...

Nikon D3
2008/02/10 15:27:26.2
Lens: 500mm F/4 D
Focal Length: 500mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/50 sec - F/5.6
Exposure Comp.: -0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 640
White Balance: Color Temp. (5260 K)
AF Mode: AF-S
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached