Jay and the Acorns

[Pol]

We have a mature Oak overhanging the garden and it's laden with acorns this year. Lots of Jays and pigeons are eating their way through them.

Here's a couple of shots of one that amused me this morning. It seemed to hear the click and beeping of the shutter and stopped eating for a quick look at me. First one is a heavy crop as it was handheld off the 300mm F.4 and the tree is about 50ft away + the bird was high in the tree. As a matter of interest - the crop was approximately 1/8 of the full frame (Pentax 300mmm F.4 prime ... superb lens).

I just loved the expression on its face, hence the cropping. It looked so indignant by my clickety-click intrusion.



This second image shows him swallowing his chosen acorn. Dunno how well it'll show in here but if you look closely you can see the bump in its gullet as the acorn goes down.



Pol

[Bearface]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Hiya Pol.

They're both excellent, nicely framed shots, but the first one is really special. The expression on the jay's face is priceless; almost indignant.

Technically I think they're pretty much on the money. From a 1/8 crop, the detail and sharpness are impressive and the bokeh in the first image is beautifully clean with smooth, edge-free shapes. The colours seem quite neutral and true to life, too.

[Pol]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Hiya Pol.

They're both excellent, nicely framed shots, but the first one is really special. The expression on the jay's face is priceless; almost indignant.

Technically I think they're pretty much on the money. From a 1/8 crop, the detail and sharpness are impressive and the bokeh in the first image is beautifully clean with smooth, edge-free shapes. The colours seem quite neutral and true to life, too.

Hiya Tim,

It's always so nice to see you. Many thanks for the comments too.

I do have other shots, probably a bit more 'classic' but those two were the
ones that I felt kinda brought the scene to life. I'd been watching that
gullet bobbing up and down as it grabbed greedily, very amusing.

I got around to measuring that crop on the first one and it's actually
somewhere between 1/9 and 1/10 so it really is a huge crop. I love that
lens - very easy to handle and not too heavy. Optics are too good for TC imho.
I'd rather have a large crop than an image that was degraded just for the sake of a small amount of extra reach

I must admit I was amazed, but pleased, by the fine detail on the crop ... even some tiny flyaway feathers showing on the full file.


Pol

[Pops]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

The first shot is priceless.
I watched a tv nature prog a short while back about jays and acorns. Its more likely that instead of swallowing that acorn (2nd shot) it could be storing it. Apparently they can carry up to 9 at a time, they collect them in that way and then go off and bury them for later retrieval.

[Pol]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

The first shot is priceless.
I watched a tv nature prog a short while back about jays and acorns. Its more likely that instead of swallowing that acorn (2nd shot) it could be storing it. Apparently they can carry up to 9 at a time, they collect them in that way and then go off and bury them for later retrieval.

Aye - I think it might be the same with Wood pigeons. Remember the time when that Woodie crashed into our window and was then grabbed by Gussy-the pussy - the one David nursed back to health?

It's crop had been badly split and we could see lots of acorns and a few peanuts inside there.

BTW - I just discovered what happened 'over there'. Have a quiet word with Garry and let him know he'd be most welcome over here. 'Shoppy' already knows where to find us. Garry is also quite near to PeterD's patch, where he's a volunteer warden on the Reserve. I think they'd have a lot to talk about and share.

Pols

[Pops]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Good move with Garry.......he is one who I wouldn't like to lose contact with. We do exchange lots of PM's so I'll mention it myself as well

[Pol]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Good move with Garry.......he is one who I wouldn't like to lose contact with. We do exchange lots of PM's so I'll mention it myself as well

I don't communicate with anyone over there, apart from you, so I was relying on you to make contact with him ... I haven't spoken to anyone over there for ages and I've had my PM turned off for months (or even years).

Send him THIS LINK to Peter's Oysterbeds Wildlife thread. I just have a hunch Garry and Peter would have such a lot to talk about ... and I also suspect Garry might like to take up Peter's offer of making contact about visiting Peter's Reserve next May.

If Peter's reading this ... Garry lives near and spends a lot of time at Pagham Harbour. He's a cracking good wildlife photographer who is also very knowlegeable.

Pol

[PeterD]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Lovely shots of a beautiful woodland bird. I have only once seen one down on the lawn. They are usually high in the trees as yours is. The plumage is really distinctive and eye catching.
Thanks for posting these

[Pol]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Lovely shots of a beautiful woodland bird. I have only once seen one down on the lawn. They are usually high in the trees as yours is. The plumage is really distinctive and eye catching.
Thanks for posting these

Thanks for the comment.

We've been having them coming and going on the lawn for a few years now - also taking a few peanuts from trays and tree hollows. I think they must have nests nearby as we've been seeing quite a few young ones this year. It can get quite noisy in the Oaks with the Crows, Jays, Pigeons, falling acorns and branches hitting the fences. Not to metion the racket when the resident squirells get upset.

It can also get noisy if the Starlings flock and gather in an adjoining Sycamore as they prepare to migrate. That doesn't happen in here at home every year though.

Pol

[Guest]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Hi Pol - Two lovely pictures well captured. As a matter of interest I wanted to look at the Exif info to see if you had used your Pentax as I know from past experience that you used to be a Pentax user like me. I could not remember how to access this info so hence the Post in queries today. Now having the required 'How to' information I had a look again at your two photos of the Jays in your gallery but there does not appear to be any Exif info so I am none the wiser.

Were they in fact taken with the Pentax.?

[Pol]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Hi Pol - Two lovely pictures well captured. As a matter of interest I wanted to look at the Exif info to see if you had used your Pentax as I know from past experience that you used to be a Pentax user like me. I could not remember how to access this info so hence the Post in queries today. Now having the required 'How to' information I had a look again at your two photos of the Jays in your gallery but there does not appear to be any Exif info so I am none the wiser.

Were they in fact taken with the Pentax.?

Hi Dennis,

Yes the photos were indeed taken with the Pentax K20D. The lens was the Pentax 300mm F.4 prime.

The exif is in there in the image but it just doesn't seem to be available in the gallery. There seems to be some sort of software glitch in the gallery. If you right-click on the image in the thread and download it to your PC - you should be able to view the exif by opening them in your own image editing software.

First image was F.4 - 1/420 - ISO 200

Second image was F.4 - 1/320 -ISO 200

Both at 300mm of course as it's a prime lens.

Pol

[Barr1e]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Love the first one. He does look indignant.


Regards. Barr1e

[Garry]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Two good shots there, Pol
I have only had the chance to photograph these on a couple of occasions.
Usually with a brick wall behind. Not ideal.

Your lens looks a good one.

Never knew you were from Kent !

[Pol]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Two good shots there, Pol
I have only had the chance to photograph these on a couple of occasions.
Usually with a brick wall behind. Not ideal.

Your lens looks a good one.

Never knew you were from Kent !

The 300mm F.4 is one of my favourite lenses - the other favourite being the Pentax 50-135 F.2.8 - which lives on my K20D most of the time.

Aye, we're Tunbridge Wells - but I promise I'm not the original 'disgusted'. She lives on the opposite side of the road.

Pol

[Garry]

Re: Jay and the Acorns

Ahh! Your a Towny really. Lol
I grew up in the hop fields. Real Kent! Lol