From my understanding, it's a Bell Miner. Native to southeastern Australia.

Cute little guy...he looks a little solemn though, haha..

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/...4eb57ab6_b.jpg

2nd picture seems out of focus? :(
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/...6dcb53ce_b.jpg

Really jealous of all the photos guys. You all have great photos! Keep it up!
I went out on Friday and Saturday searching for birds and I came back empty handed... sort of.. Went to all the places Senna recommended and I came back with possibly two decent photos but I'm still not happy with them. My 18-200mm VRII can't catch them close enough. I need a massive lens. 400 or higher. I'll have to try again and again.

Post 'em up! :) For birding, you'll need a minimum of a 300mm, unless you go to the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, then 200mm would be the minimum, as the birds aren't as shy of Humans. Yes, a 400mm or a 500mm would be much better if you want to get in real close. Sigma's 50-500mm is a good lens, which is relatively affordable at around $1200 - just make sure you get a sharp unit. Of course, a 400mm, 500mm, 600mm prime is much faster, sharper, and more contrasty but those start at around $7000+. If you want to see what a 300mm f2.8 VRII, 400mm f2.8 VRII or a 500mm f4 lens can do, I can let you try one sometime.

400mm f2.8 VRII
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/DSC02370.jpg

70-200mm f2.8 + 500mm f4
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/DSC01923.jpg

Hungry baby eagle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9682.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9686.jpg

Momma hunting for food:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9704.jpg

"I see something!"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9705.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9706.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9731.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9737.jpg

"Got me a fish!"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_9708.jpg

WOW!!!! holy shnikes! Amazing photos! Awesome camera gear! I'm drooling right now due to those lens photos hah. I'll get a much larger lens one day but I might have to sell my soul for it.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1116/...a691fa13af.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/...3d4b026e35.jpg

Those are the best that I got when I was at Reifel. I noticed the Eagle when I was approaching the parking lot and I immediately jumped out of the car, followed up and waited until the bird took off. I swooped down fairly close over top of me so I was able to snap a few. I saw the huge nest right beside the bridge to Westham Island snapped a few as well but like I said I need a better lens. I'm eager to try again. I already marked the dates on my calender in December to head over to Brackendale and try it out there as well.

I wish that gear was mine - it's just borrowed.

Looks like you got some good photos too.

Totally awesome bird in flight photo! :thumbsup:

LoL!

Borrowed eh? Hmmm. I might have to borrow them as well one day.
Thanks for the compliments. I'll be going back out on the weekend to capture some more Eagle photos, I really want a nice collection. I find them very fascinating.

Cheers
Mike

I'm leading a small photo club outing on Sunday @ Reifel - 10am. You're (or anyone else is) welcome to join us. :)

I`ll be right there! haha.. Wish i could make it out, but its a bit of a distance.

Wuss!

I forgot to post about your eagle photo's! Looking pretty good! I'm missing the eagles alot actually, parrots over here just don't cut it! Not quite the same. Great the see the young eagles too! Post up some more photo's! I hear you've seen my friend down at granville island quite a bit too! German guy, d300 and 50-500. You guys must be spending some good time down there.

Is it just me or does that Nikon 500 F4 hood look enormous? My 500L hood is much shorter. Also, what tripod setup do you use? Do you have a gimbal head when using the 400 or 500?

I should be able to make it out there! Although, I'll probably get there much earlier :)

Holy shit, you know him?? Small world! I can't remember his name...he's always shooting the Vanier Park eagles with his girlfriend. I first met them at the hummingbird nest at Reifel last year - I think they're both PhD students at UBC.

Australia has the White Sea Eagle & the Wedge Tailed Eagle. Go shoot them, dammit! Also get shots of wild Cassowarys.... :D

I use a Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 carbon fibre tripod with a 4668MGRC2 head.

Man, I thought the 7D has good AF tracking, but the 1DMKIV is on another level....

Pics of his girlfriend? hahaha. :P

Another small contribution from moi...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/...b7f311e4_b.jpg

Ok, I'll see you there. I'll be the guy leading about 15 camera carrying people. I will have a Nikon D300s with a 400mm f2.8 VRII slung over my shoulder and a 5D MKII with a 70-200mm f2.8 IS around my neck.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_8243.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_8351.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2..._8602-Edit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_7464.jpg

Another great set Jason! I like the first two best! Great color, and backgrounds!

Thanks, Ernie!

All taken with Canon 1DmkIV + 500m f4L IS @ Burnaby Lake.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...EZ2C0593-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...655-Edit-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...EZ2C0700-1.jpg

I tried to take shots of Tree Swallows in flight, but they were just too fast! This was the best I could do. Canon needs to speed up the AF in the 500mm! :(
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...EZ2C0683-1.jpg

wow! Very nice photos!

Another nice set Jason! The MK4 seems to be in good hands with you! Faster focus speed on the 500 would be nice forsure! Is focus speed faster on a 1D body than my 7D lets say?

Here are a few of mine from around Melbourne.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/...62d362d7_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/...e5cf000d_o.jpg

The last one is kinda strange, and don't know what it is. Really harsh back lite light.

Both pics taken @ 700mm f5.6

I thought the 7D had good AF, but the 1DMKIV is on another level. The AF with the 500mm f4L is slow due to the motor in the lens, not the camera. The motor needs to move a lot of glass, I guess, but I have a feeling a Nikon D300s + 400mm f2.8 VRII just might be faster in acquiring focus. Pretty sure the 1DMKIV is better at focus tracking though.