Bogey bird 2

One of my very first postings on this site was of a green woodpecker, one of my bogey birds. Here is another bogey bird of mine, a bearded tit. When I first moved to Kent, 25 years ago, I used to visit Stodmarsh 2-3 times a week. One evening I was rewarded with a family party of bearded tits who perched within feet of me, but I hadn't taken a camera. Many times since I have had a camera but, of course, the birds didn't oblige.

Today I went out for kingfishers, but ice surrounded the post. I was about to go when a family party of bearded tits came in. For about 15 seconds they perched out in the open, and this is the best of the results. Not the finest shot ever I know, but I was pleased with it.

Incidentally, I did something in post processing that I only do very rarely. Can anyone spot what it was? I am sure some eagle eye on here will.

David

Nikon D200, 600mm Nikon, Sigma 1.4x converter, 400 iso, 1/160th@ f4

'not the finest shot I know' I'd be bloody delighted with it!

Thats nice David, might just give the mid-tones a slight lift... but a super portrait of a super bird and one that I still have to get an approaching reasonable image of.... (BTW I think you were shooting at f5.6 not f4 )

1 stop for the converter. You are right, of course, Phil.

David

well, I'd be pleased mate. I've never been lucky enough to see one, ler alone get a shot like this!!!!!!!!!! Lovely in my opinon!
Regards,
Paul Rosser.

Very nice indeed !
Years since I saw one. The warden at Stodmarsh used to work for me many years back.
JohnR

Great detail and colour palette. Like it.

Well capture David, good detail and clarity in a natural setting.

That's another one ticked off

Steve

Fantastic! I once got a picture of half a leg of a beardie but nothing since - LOL. Re the processing, did you blur the stems off to the right of the pic?

Tim

Lovely setting and a lovely bird,been after the male in Norfolk for a long time so I know how you feel David,such a beautiful bird captured very well here,love the composition and habitat

Lovely image David, just a shame that both wing tips dont line up, you should have done a much better job when adding the different tail ! lol
Just out of interest, what was wrong with the original tail?

Tony

Pleased? I'd be ecstatic if I even caught sight of one - I love it! (Did you clone in a new head? )

looks very good to me David and a bird I would love to photograph. No obvious signs of post processing as far as I can see - do tell...

Matt

Love it, they are so colourful. Great pose and typical habitat. Have you cloned out a leg ring or maybe a reed running behind the birds head? I can't see anything obvious so its a good job whatever.

Simon

Time for me to come clean I think. Tony got it right, the tail is from a different image, albeit from the same bird perched on the same spot. I got two images in this pose. In the first the tail was good, but the bird had turned its face from me. When the shutter went the first time it turned its head slightly towards me (as you see here), but also flicked its tail creating a messy blur. I therefore cut the tail off one image and pasted it onto the other. I should have spotted those wing tips though.

I knew someone on here would get it right!

David

Hi looks a bit dark but a very nice image.

Phil.

you've done well there david, both in the cloning and the capture - I have never seen one yet alone been lucky enough to photograph one - excellent job!

Perhaps you could improve the overall effect with a levels adjustment as it is a little flat?

great stuff anyway

cheers

Colin