Your Canon Photos No. 39: 28th January to 3rd February 2024

Subject: Pied-billed Grebe and Hooded Merganser

Paul and everyone,

These are the Pied-billed Grebe and Hooded Merganser duck pictures I took yesterday. The day for me started out with some sunshine. But then the clouds came in, so it was a little difficult with the changing light conditions. Usually, these ducks are difficult to approach so closely. But another photographer, told me of this location where I could get some nice ones.

Photo No. 1 - Pied-billed Grebe (male or female...not sure as they look the same according to my bird guide book.)

Model - Canon EOS 800D
ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
FNumber - 8
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ExposureBiasValue - 0.33
FocalLength - 600 mm
Lens Model - TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011

Photo No. 2 - Pied-billed Grebe

Model - Canon EOS 800D
ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
FNumber - 8
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ExposureBiasValue - 0.33
FocalLength - 600 mm
Lens Model - TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011

Photo No. 3 - Male Hooded Merganser - These ducks are quite small, much smaller than the Wood Ducks.

Model - Canon EOS 800D
ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
FNumber - 8
ISOSpeedRatings - 1000
ExposureBiasValue - 0.33
FocalLength - 600 mm
Lens Model - TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011

Photo No. 4 - Female Hooded Merganser

Model - Canon EOS 800D
ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
FNumber - 8
ISOSpeedRatings - 2500
ExposureBiasValue - 1
FocalLength - 600 mm
Lens Model - TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011

Photo No. 5 - Male Hooded Merganser

Model - Canon EOS 800D
ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
FNumber - 8
ISOSpeedRatings - 4000
ExposureBiasValue - 0.67
FocalLength - 500 mm
Lens Model - TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011

Photo No. 6 - Female Hooded Merganser

Model - Canon EOS 800D
ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
FNumber - 8
ISOSpeedRatings - 2500
ExposureBiasValue - 0.33
FocalLength - 600 mm
Lens Model - TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011

Bryan,

That's a great photo of the falcon. Seeing the falcon picture reminds me that these birds can see straight ahead, and not only to the side.

Hi Bryan
It must have been great to see the purple headed Wren. The only other Wren I've seen once was a variegated fairy Wren at Lane Cove National Park.

The brown Falcon would have been a wonderful sighting as well. Thank you for posting it.

I started walking around Bicentennial Park since I found out it existed many years ago but I've never seen a raptor there (although someone told me they'd seen a Sea Eagle flying around). I've seen them high in the sky over the years on various holidays.

Enjoy your wetlands walk, I hope you do find something there that peeks your interest.

I try to go as often as I can and that gives me more opportunity to find something and occasionally something interesting.

Cheers
Paul

Hi Dig
Those Mergansers are fantastic!
Love the head shape and the colour scheme. Definitely well photographed!

Not sure if we have anything like that here.

Your pied-billed Grebe looks somewhat similar to our Little Grebe.

They are very tiny birds and super cute. They are seasonal visitors in our area.

Cheers
Paul

Paul,

Thanks. 😀 I like seeing your Little Grebe too with the water drop. Yes, they do like to get wet like that by diving a lot. We have to be quick to take their photos sometimes, as they only stay above the water for a short time when they are looking for food.

I've been a bit busy with non-photography related things lately, but here's a cute Eurasian treecreeper from last Sunday's group birdspotting event.

MikeY,

That's a good capture of the Eurasian treecreeper. Do they move quickly around to the other side where you can't see them, as you point the camera? That is what happens to me when taking pictures of woodpeckers.

I read a little about them. Their habitat is the "Old World" all the way through parts of Asia. They like to eat insects.

Hi everyone, amazing photos from all of you.
Here are some snowdrops that I photographed about a week ago.
Processed from RAW in darktable.

Treecreepers, are, in my opinion and experience, delightful little birds, which are extremely difficult to photograph. I haven't succeeded yet.

Hi Dunlin,

It's nice to see the Snowdrops. Maybe it's a sign of warmer weather. We have spring Crocus flowers popping up too. I saw them about four days ago.

Sorry for a bit late reply. It is kind of like that. They continue circling around the tree, and as cute as they are, getting a shot of them for the brief time they're not either behind the tree or being camouflaged against the bark is a bit tricky.