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| Bohemian Waxwing Niigata, Japan February 28, 2013, 5:38pm. ISO 27807 f5.6 1/250 +1, fill-flash handheld Nikon D800 Nikkor 80-400mm VR |
I've yearned to see waxwings for years. I recall seeing their pictures when I was young in Australia and considered them as exotic species of the northern hemisphere. I've known they are in Japan and every year I have seen their beautiful portraits posted on blogs around the world. I saw one in March 2009 when I was walking along a busy street. It was sitting on a Mercedes-Benz waiting its turn in a feeding frenzy among sparrows at a bird feeder alongside someone's home. I didn't see it again.
On the evening of February 28, this year, I was walking my dog after work and looked up and my eye caught this guy sitting in a small cherry tree in the middle of a busy road on one side and a pedestrian path on the other. It was a small environment and I had imagined to see such things I'd have to be in a beautiful garden. Far from it.
I remained composed and allowed my dog to continue her venture. We sniffed at everything; around posts and taps, newly planted tulip beds and just plain grass. I thought the bird would be long gone when I returned half an hour later with my camera. (The dog satisfied but wondering why I fled after dropping her inside the door).
The above picture was taken after 5:30pm and the sun was long gone. I pumped up the ISO beyond anything I'd used before. All the pictures had strong back lighting. I used the camera's built-in fill-flash for the top pic which brought out the eye more and illuminated the colourful waxy parts.
It stayed for a few days but I didn't manage better pics. The last time I saw them was Monday, March 4. I went out with the camera before the dog but there was no sign. Of course, when I returned with the dog and no camera, I saw him again in the same tree. He called out and two more came. They were interested in vines beneath the trees with orange berries. I haven't seen them again. None yesterday and rain today.
Disappointed with the background roof in the top shot and have processed all with Topaz De-Noise.
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| March 2, 2013 3:14pm ISO 1800 in the same tree. |
7 comments:
Nice find Russell.
Nikon DSLRs seem to do a much better job with noise at high ISO than Canon..............I almost never go over ISO 800.
I can tell how excited you are about those pictures Russell - congrats on your first. The Waxwing looks really puffed up against the cold too.
Marvelous shots of one funky looking bird! Thanks for sharing.
The Waxwing certainly is adorable. Good effort, Russell.
Love bird that I've yet to find!
Well I can understand perfectly how you longed to get those pictures!
It still is one of my dreams!
Even if there is roof behind the bird, these are still great pics!
Cheers Russell!
Great find and great shots Russell. Why aren't you just taking the camera with the dog :-)?
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