PC's Better year

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Dave Williams and @xelas

Alex, I am convinced the D750 would have firstly acheived better focus, and secondly shown much less noise. Be that as it may, it was a wonderful little bird to see.

 

The next weekend our camera club had it's annual weekend away. We went to Kopjeskraal, a guest farm just outside the town of Parys, on the rim of the Vredefort Dome, believed to be an ancient meteorite crater. The birdlife was pretty good, although most of the birds were rather shy.

 

171) Black-collared Barbet

 

Rooikophoutkapper

Lybius torquatus

 

 

 

22 September, Kopjeskraal

[xelas]

Beautiful bird, @Peter Connan! I am so missing those vivid colours here in Europe.

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @xelas. By the way, just 167 days to go before Bots!

172) Blue Waxbill

 

Gewone Blousysie

Uraeginthus angolensis

 

 

22 September, Kopjeskraal

Edited October 12, 2017 by Peter Connan

[xelas]

3 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

By the way, just 167 days to go before Bots!

 

And just 70 days till SA !

[Peter Connan]

173) Brown-hooded Kingfisher

 

Bruinkopvisvanger    Halcyon albiventris
 

Another less-than-wonderful photo, but he deserted before sunrise...

 

23 September, Kopjeskraal

[PeterHG]

I love that Waxbill shot with the reflections, @Peter Connan and that Black collared-Barbet is a beauty. I agree with xelas that we do miss those colours over here, but only 15 days till my (short) trip to the Kruger Park! I do hope the late-night arrival in Jo'burg wil not resemble the bus load of fellow-Dutchmen, who got mugged on their way to the hotel. This has caused quite a stir in Holland and, though I would never cancel my trip, it did stress the need for arranging safe transportation to a nearby hotel. Which I will take care of his week, hopefully.

The prospect of seeing the beauty of the SA birds again more than makes up for this. Keep them coming, I do enjoy seeing your excellent photos!

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @PeterHG

174) Chinspot Batis

 

Male:

 

Female:

 

Kopjeskraal, 24 September

[xelas]

Fantastic close-ups of batis!! How did you managed to get so close to them, @Peter Connan ??

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @xelas. 

I just got lucky. I think they were feeling very amourous...

[Peter Connan]

175) Golden-breasted Bunting

 

Rooirugstreepkoppie

Emberiza flaviventris

 

 

 

23 September, Kopjeskraal

[Peter Connan]

176) Fiery-necked Nightjar

 

Afrikaanse Naguil

Caprimulgus pectoralis

 

This is a bird I have been wanting a shot of for many years. When it happened, of course, I was stuck with the inferior (at night anyway) D7000, and without a flash. The illumination was the vehicle's headlights, but we were so close it was actually shining over the bird already, so the photo has room for improvement, but for now, I'm happy.

 

 

Kopjeskraal, 24 September

[PeterHG]

Very special to get a shot of a  Nightjar. And, looking at the result with iso 6400, you have every reason to be happy with this one! You definitely made good use of the opportunity, @Peter Connan !

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @PeterHG

 

This thread is becoming a bit of a photographic diary, my apologies. A couple of weeks ago, I was discussing my camera woes with a 4x4 friend. A couple of days later, he told me he had an old D3 that he wanted to give me. Of course, I gratefully accepted.

 

For a ten-year-old camera, it is still pretty good! In terms of picture quality, it's not quite up to the D750, but it is considerably better than the D7000 (although one does lose reach).

 

Here are some early results, in the form of some "improved" photos of previously-posted birds:

 

46) Crested Barbett

 

36) Common Fiscal

 

163) Sacred Ibis:

 

23) Yellow-billed Duck:

 

 

[xelas]

With D3 it will be much easier to wait till your D750 is repaired ... and maybe you will decide to keep using it! Pro body is a pro body, even 10 years later. In hands of excellent photographer like you, results can only be spectacular!

[Dave Williams]

I'm sure the D3 will convince you that that is the way to go. 

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @xelas and @Dave Williams. Certainly I am enjoying the 9 frames per second...

[Peter Connan]

177) Grey-headed Gull

 

Gryskopmeeu

Larus cirrocephalus

 

 

 

Nikon D3 + 500mm f4

 

17 October, Bonaero park dam.

[Peter Connan]

178) White-faced (whistling) Duck

 

Nonnetjie-eend

Dendrocygna viduata

 

 

 

 

Nikon D3 + 500mm f4

 

17 October, Bonaero Park Dam

[PeterHG]

Prime examples of BIF shots!

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @PeterHG.

[Peter Connan]

179) Olive Thrush

 

Olyflyster

Turdus olivaceus

 

 

Nikon D3 @ 6400 ISO... I am still impressed.

 

21 October, Kempton Park

[Peter Connan]

180) Common Myna

 

Indiese Spreeu

Acridotheres tristis

[Peter Connan]

180) Common Mynah

 

Indiese Spreeu

Acridotheres tristis

 

Note that this bird is an introduced species.

 

 

 

 

 

17 October, Kempton Park

[Tdgraves]

Aha! You finally got a myna....

[Peter Connan]

Indeed, it was unbelievably difficult considering how common they are. Wily little buggers!