MINI-CHALLENGE #297 - Birds

DavidRGillespie

Although we had a challenge on humour in birds, we don't seem to have done a challenge on birds, nothing but birds, for quite a while, so perhaps everyone has accumulated some good shots to share?
So, BIRDS! One bird, many birds, birds in flight, birds perched in trees, parts of birds, and pretty much anything else bird. I am probably letting myself into a nightmare picking winners \

This mini will close at 1600 Pacific Standard time (UTC -8) 20 March 2020

A few shots to titillate

Birds in flight

Perched birds

Parts of birds

birds in fog

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grandmaR

The number should be 297

Lab_Tested

Nice shots, and a fun topic. I'm going to jump in early here. Otherwise, I'll spend the next 3 weeks cycling through too many choices. Better to post now and be done.

1) Cormorant in Colorado

2) Eastern Screech Owl

3) Eurasian Eagle Owl

DavidRGillespie

Thanks for starting us off @Lab_Tested. And thanks @grandmaR for spotting my jet-lagged typo. Still recovering from 30 h of travel.

pegelli

Another fine challenge where my problem is selection, but I guess so will be yours in the end David

1: Robin

2: Bird of prey (didn't identify the exact species yet, if someone can help?)

3: Green woodpecker

Cavalier

Good topic for a mini. Here are my entries:

Northern Pintail Drake - afloat

Turkey Vulture - aflight

Red Tailed Hawk - perched

Not for judging - just for silly stuff - the Peeping Tom Turkey at my office window.

DavidRGillespie

Thanks for contribuing Pieter @pegelli and Jo @Cavalier . I can see my difficulties increasing already!

shawnc

Thanks David for the new challenge, Birds.
GBH in Flight

Canadian Geese taking off in a rainbow of color from Rainbow Lake, Pinetop, AZ

GBH on the prowl, Scottsdale, AZ

grandmaR

I wouldn't have said anything about the number, as numbers have been skipped before, but skipping 100 was a little much.

1. Flamingos in Bermuda (in the zoo)
   

2. Barbet - very well camouflaged
   

3. Blacksmith Plover
   

   I was going to enter this great blue heron (not for the competition),
   
   but I see there are several of those, better than mine, so I thought I would go more exotic. I took it when I had a 300 mm lens on the camera and this big bird walked across in front of me - he was too close to get all of him in the shot.

lkbart

Great theme! I love birds & bird photos & there's lots of great entries here already! Not great at taking them but found some to play along.

Macaw love

Finches found some flower seeds

Smooth Pelicans

A bit jealous of the gorgeous owl photos! One of my favorite birds, had the experience of helping rescue a Great Horned with a broken wing a while back - strongest claw grip ever! He got to keep my glove lol!
Not an entry (phone photo by my hubby), but a very scared and broken bird who has been fixed, rehabbed and released (by a local rehabilitator - he explained to us in great detail how to approach it, wrap it up & box it to travel).

JAG

This will be another challenge that will be hard to judge! Good luck @DavidRGillespie !

1 Sandhill Crane (Wasilla, Alaska)

2 Tiger Heron (Tarcoles River, Costa Rica)

3 Young Eagle in the wild (Anchorage, Alaska)

I have so many images of birds, and have changed this post several times as I find others that are better than what I originally posted. But this one is not for consideration of the challenge, rather just one of my favorites as it is a one of a kind shot.

Third_Son

Here are a few....
Reflective take off

Ruthin Castle

Tree Swallow banking

DavidRGillespie

Thanks @shawnc , @grandmaR , @lkbart , @jag and @Third_Son for making my life much more difficult! Seriously, wonderful images everyone. Thanks for playing!

DavidRGillespie

There is lots more time to post some pics of birds. Keep them coming!

sarasphotos

I just don't have the long lenses to be a real bird photographer but occasionally one is near enough to snap, so here are a few entries.

1) Hummingbird

2) Bluejay

3) Swan

DavidRGillespie

Thanks @sarasphotos for adding to the mini. Who needs a long lens when you can get close!

GSPeP

Found a few:

1. Sitting in a tree

2. Fly-over

3. Looking for food

DavidRGillespie

Thanks @GSPeP for adding to the mini. Three days to go.

DavidRGillespie

Less than 24 h to go, Still time to slide in under the wire.

Gatto

By my side to end the day

Blu 35 hook left, snap on 3 ready? Break!

Lunch is on it's way !

bfluegie

I have nothing to compare with the photos that have been posted so far, but I enjoy participating anyway. I sometimes encounter birds and other wildlife when I am heading to a scenic location and I do my best. Not very good mind you, but I try. So here are a few of the accidental results.
1. Great blue heron grooming (or scratching), Shenandoah National Park

2. Swan, Frogner Park, Oslo
   

3. Harvest Moon Swim, Indiana
   

I did try to get some new photos. There is supposed to be a heronry at a nature preserve near where I live and it was just at the beginning of the time when the herons might begin nesting. So I went to check it out. I hiked through the not very scenic bare woods to the bluff overlooking a river island where there are supposed to be lots of nests and I saw nothing. I walked along streams that fed the river and still saw nothing. No herons, no birds of any kind. It started raining and I kept looking for a while. Finally I gave up and headed back on the muddy trails to my car. Less than a mile on my way back home a great blue heron flew just above roof level in front of my car. I could see the eyes and head markings it was so close. I think I was being taunted...

DavidRGillespie

Well, the mini is now closed. It will be a challenge to select a winner from this set! Thanks @Gatto and @bfluegie for sliding under the wire, and everyone for participating!

dang! had that ready at 500 pm last night, and forgot to hit "post". A bit distracted!