Waterbirds on the First Day of Spring.
Birds of various sorts have become my favourite subjects for the moment – they offer many challenges to a photographer, only one of which is to be able to get close enough to get a good shot, either physically or with a telephoto lens. I have been playing with a Sigma 100-300mm lens, which is on loan from my son, and although not as sharp as my smaller Canon 70-200mm, it does get one a bit closer to the subject. Today I was shooting water birds on my own lake, and the one in town, as well as swans at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. All of these water birds were traveling in pairs, some were displaying nest making behavior and I even saw swans with cygnets for the first time this year. Spring is finally here!
This is a tiny Grebe
A Swamp Hen
Lakeside
At last we are having some glorious Autumn mornings, clear skies, morning mists and then the gentle glow of the golden hour. I have been down by the town lake a few times recently as a pair of Black Swans seem to be visiting, I hope they stay around and nest in Springtime as to have cygnets would be wonderful.
These were taken with the Canon – I was testing out a new lens ( 17 – 55mm f2.8 IS ) as well as using my 70-200mm f4.0 telephoto which is great for getting a bit closer to the wildlife.
I just love this last one – a Coot and it looks like it is into nest building already!
Down by the Lake
I took the camera and 70-200mm telephoto lens to our town’s lake yesterday morning. These are some the resident bird life – Common Wood ducks, White Ibis, Grey Heron and a duck which I think may be a Mallard.
