Bird Migration and Misc Birding Thread

BoxsterCy

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Had to rescale these to fit CF but here is my ice fishing robin. Two years ago in January one of the Three Ponds in Plymouth, MN had iced over except for a small snow insulated spot next to a big stump. The small fish had gathered there and a number of robins were grabbing them though a small hole in the ice/snow. Was fun watching them. Robins aren't built with prey bird beaks to tear apart flesh but they were making it work. Was below zero and the little fish they did pull up froze quickly. Little bit of thievery going on to as some robins were raiding the catch of others. All and all, something I'll not likely see again.

Sidebar: Another nice part about birding and bird photography is meeting people. Now friends with the retired radiologist I met there that day who was also braving the sub-zero tempt to get a look at the ice fishers.

DSC_7245 ice fishing robin just caught cropped more CF scale.jpg
This robin had just pulled this small fish out of the ice hole to the left.

DSC_7355 robin flying w fish FB.jpg
Now figuring out what to do with it. This is where other robins sometimes tried to poach the catch but I didn't get an image of those skirmishes.

DSC_7383 ice fishing robin cf scale.jpg
By now the small fish was a fish popsicle due to the sub-zero temps.
 

jackrabbit

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Had to rescale these to fit CF but here is my ice fishing robin. Two years ago in January one of the Three Ponds in Plymouth, MN had iced over except for a small snow insulated spot next to a big stump. The small fish had gathered there and a number of robins were grabbing them though a small hole in the ice/snow. Was fun watching them. Robins aren't built with prey bird beaks to tear apart flesh but they were making it work. Was below zero and the little fish they did pull up froze quickly. Little bit of thievery going on to as some robins were raiding the catch of others. All and all, something I'll not likely see again.

Sidebar: Another nice part about birding and bird photography is meeting people. Now friends with the retired radiologist I met there that day who was also braving the sub-zero tempt to get a look at the ice fishers.

View attachment 141297
This robin had just pulled this small fish out of the ice hole to the left.

View attachment 141298
Now figuring out what to do with it. This is where other robins sometimes tried to poach the catch but I didn't get an image of those skirmishes.

View attachment 141300
By now the small fish was a fish popsicle due to the sub-zero temps.
From ice fishing robins to meat eating squirrels, nature is full of surprises.

 

MTCyclone43

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MTCyclone43

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What brand of Suet is popular in the area that you all live in? I have found the following brand preferred by the birds that eat in my yard. I have found they will eat the Suet Plus before they will eat the Royal Wing from Tractor Supply.

1737219220153.jpeg
1737219386340.jpeg
 
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BoxsterCy

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From ice fishing robins to meat eating squirrels, nature is full of surprises.


Lot of other birds you don't think of as eating fish do. In March 2021 there was a little portion of Westwood Lake here in the Twin Cities metro that had a tiny little bit of open water. A pair of Trumpeter Swans and a handful of mallards were eating the dead or dying minnows coming to the surface there. Easy protein.

swan pair n minnow CF scale.jpg
 
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MTCyclone43

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I was assisting my son in his relocation from NW Montana to Des Moines (area). We had some extra time to spend with family that still resides in the Des Moines Metro. I broke out my camera at my cousin's house. She has a nice bird/wild life sanctuary in her back yard. I nicknamed her back yard "Shady Acres." House Finch and a Downy Woodpecker. P1080774-Enhanced-NR-1.jpg
 

ianoconnor

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I have an old 70D sitting around - contemplating picking up a Sigma 150-600 to dabble in some wildlife (mostly birds).
 

MTCyclone43

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I have an old 70D sitting around - contemplating picking up a Sigma 150-600 to dabble in some wildlife (mostly birds).
That would be a decent combination. I use a Panasonic G9 and a Panasonic GH4 for cameras. I have 100-400 (equivalent to 200-800 on a full frame sensor). I also like to use my 35-100mm. Both lenses are Lumix-Leica glass.
 
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BoxsterCy

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I have an old 70D sitting around - contemplating picking up a Sigma 150-600 to dabble in some wildlife (mostly birds).

That would be a decent combination. I use a Panasonic G9 and a Panasonic GH4 for cameras. I have 100-400 (equivalent to 200-800 on a full frame sensor). I also like to use my 35-100mm. Both lenses are Lumix-Leica glass.

I like the big sports/wildlife zooms as the lens for walkabouts. Gives you more flexibility than a big prime. I say that but than pretty much shoot at the max zoom anyway. Got caught upgrading from a Nikon kit lens to better gear just as mirrorless was coming in vogue so had a short lived expensive half-life for that upgrade. My timing was not great but my interest in birding and birding photography was growing into a more serious retired guy hobby. Maybe not as "serious" as it is something I spent more and more time with. It's actually become a bit of a social thing to considering the number of people I've met out and about the last few years. Last summer I upgraded to a new Nikon Z camera and 180-600mm lens so sort of have a big pile of lens now that I won't likely use much. Have an old tote filled with Minolta and Nikon bodies and 35mm lens, fine glass in it's day but now just paperweights. LOL, literally use my 1971 F1.4 55mm Rokkor Minolta as a paperweight on my desk (and magnifying glass!).
 

MTCyclone43

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I like the big sports/wildlife zooms as the lens for walkabouts. Gives you more flexibility than a big prime. I say that but than pretty much shoot at the max zoom anyway. Got caught upgrading from a Nikon kit lens to better gear just as mirrorless was coming in vogue so had a short lived expensive half-life for that upgrade. My timing was not great but my interest in birding and birding photography was growing into a more serious retired guy hobby. Maybe not as "serious" as it is something I spent more and more time with. It's actually become a bit of a social thing to considering the number of people I've met out and about the last few years. Last summer I upgraded to a new Nikon Z camera and 180-600mm lens so sort of have a big pile of lens now that I won't likely use much. Have an old tote filled with Minolta and Nikon bodies and 35mm lens, fine glass in it's day but now just paperweights. LOL, literally use my 1971 F1.4 55mm Rokkor Minolta as a paperweight on my desk (and magnifying glass!).
I used a Nikon (DX) for a while; however, it just did not have the standard features I use. Moreover, my Leica glass was superior to the Nikon Kit lenses.I sold the Nikon and purchased the Panasonic Lumix G9. The only real drawback to the Micro 4/3s is the sensor can produce some low-light noise. I have found that to be minimal for my style of photography. I clean up any noise in Lightroom. I took this with my Nikon and a Tamron 10-24mm. This photo was taken at Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana. I was into Light Painting and star photography for a period. The Nikon Z is a really nice camera- nice choice. McDonald Lodge Star Trails (Lumix) 9_5_2020.jpg
 
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