Twitchers Revisited

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Stayed at Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey. Great place to see all sorts of wildlife and birds, and lots migrating in now. Managed to see Liitle Owls, Barn Owls on a walk yesterday evening as well as this Long Eared Owl just as it got dark.
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Lots of Kestrels around too
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That Long Eared Owl looks like a magnificent tree wizard. Great shot

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Whooper Swans are regular Autumn passage migrants here and a small number spend the whole Winter, usually on Papil Water. 14 were there today. They’re not like the Mute Swans at the local park, try to get within 50m of these birds and they’ll be off.

The cloud lifted this afternoon and the sun came out which prompted me to take a few shots.

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What lovely birds

Just getting to grips with the new camera.

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It’s been a fairly quiet Autumn and scarce birds have been few and far between. The weather hasn’t exactly been helpful in that respect.

Not entirely out of the question that a rarity might still turn up and the later in the year that happens, the rarer the bird(s) tend to be. Still searching my patch on a daily basis

Lovely weather today and a smart winter plumage Redshank posed on Funzie Loch.

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Nice - Is that using an Alpha 1 with a 200- 600?
I’m thinking of a replacing my current setup and wondering if for birds only an Alpha 1 trumps a A7R5 - Do you have any experience? Also wondering if I should just buy a 200-600 and use my current a7R3 and wait for the A1 mk2?

Yes, plus the 1.4x teleconverter (which is almost permanently attached, unless I’m trying to photograph very fast moving birds in flight)

I haven’t used the A7rV (I do have a A7rIV body and it’s superb but that’s a different animal) Reading what others on various Sony groups say, they like the A7rV and it’s great for bird photography, just not as good as the A1.

The 200-600 is a stone cold bargain in the big lens market, no issues with it at all - at the price.

I’m pretty sure the A1 mkII will be better again (than my A1) but the current version is nearly £6k so ghod knows what the new model will cost.

If money is no object (like £20k no object) I would wait for the A1 mkII and buy that along with the 600mm f/4 and the 1.4x converter.

Otherwise the current A1, 200-600 and 1.4x is bloody superb for bird photography.

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Paul Many thanks - I was thinking zackly that. I will act quite quickly.

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After using the Nikon 500 pf for a few years, I’ve bought the super telephoto 800pf.

I had my mind set on the (15k) 600 f4 tc but in the end decided against because of the weight and the fact I hand hold 90% of the time. The cost saving was a factor too.
Anyway I took it out today in the flattest, greyest day ever, crap light with very few birds around so no real test but I’ll give it a good workout over the next few weeks. Initial impression is how good the subject separation and bokeh is for an f/6.3 lens.

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Look forward to seeing the results Ben if that’s what it can do on dull day. :ok_hand:

Yes Al it’ll be interesting to see how it performs with a bit of sunshine :wink:

Very nice. If I get another full frame camera I’d be seriously tempted by Nikon, I really like their lens line up.

Another book recommendation.

This isn’t a “field-guide” it’s a 2 volume tome that provides a comprehensive reference for European birds and sets a new standard, one that I think be very difficult to surpass.

Can’t recommend it enough.

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Looks like A1ii is coming in a few weeks (announcement on 19th)

https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/teaser-first-leaked-sony-a1ii-images-will-be-posted-today-at-2pm-london-time/

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Can you suggest a book for the absolute beginner?

Yes, this

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