One of those headache birds

I did on that Sunday eventually get a jay. I did however not land where I wanted and it did not stay seated very long. I am bemused to learn that Edwin took his at 1/40th sec, I am struggling to get sharp shots at 500mm with 1/200 (although the 7D is a crop body). I did use some fill flash set at 1/16th, lighting is still something I need to learn.

7D, ISO 800, 500 f4@f4.

Larger shot on my blog.

Jays are wary and clever birds, Neil. They will eventually realise that the presence of you and a camera in a hide is no threat and become quite bold. Many years ago I worked them in a garden where they had been fed regularly for over 20 years. I used a 200mm lens and the problem was that they would come so close that most of the time they would completely fill the frame. It may take a very long time for yours to get that confiding, but stick with it and I am sure you will get what you want eventually.

In the meanwhile this isn't a bad start!

David

As David says, the Jays will undoubtedly become habituated to the location you're using and will eventually stay around a little longer. They're daily visitors to our garden and although still always very alert and wary, seem to have now got used to my efforts to photograph them.

I love the way you've caught that rather quizzical look they have

Tough birds to photograph Neil, good time to see them now feeding at ground level. The pose makes the image for me

Cheers guys. I have found they come easily but stay back in the thick of the pines and watch. Unfortunately I only get out once a week usually so constant feeding is not an option. This week I had four free days and tried to make the most.

Agreed, these are not easy subjects to photograph Neil.

You have already got it within range, so I am sure it won't take too long to get the image you are after.

Cheers

Austin

It's a super shot, I love the pose and the detail on the head.

Its a great start Neil it can only get better

Hello Neil.

Lovely shot and it good to see your hard work is starting to pay of, I look foreward to seeing the shot that you are trying to get.

Funny pose! And well done getting one in the frame as they sure are hard to get!

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Different pose and nice quality

Thanks guys and gals.

a very good shot

always worth the wait