Another small bird - no ID yet!

[StuartR]

Taken today, absolutely no idea what it is yet so will have to get the bird book out! Unless someone can ID it for me?

Took a series of this bird (or several birds that looked the same as there was a small group of them) but it (they) were very fidgety. Taken with the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary again but this time with a new Sigma 150-600 1.4X teleconverter (courtesy of several Amazon vouchers received as Christmas presents ).

Chasing small birds about with the 35mm equivalent of a 1350mm lens proved quite difficult, I was off the tripod too, just resting the lens on a folded blanket on a wall. Guess it gets easier with practice? I certainly hope so.

1/500th @ f/9, ISO 2500. The EXIF says 840mm so I guess I'd zoomed out a bit for this one but as it's a circa 75% crop perhaps I zoomed out a bit too far! - probably to help me track the bird in the viewfinder

[Garry]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

Lovely shot of this little bird.

But you got me beat with it's ID

Have been checking it out with the RSPB. But still not sure.

I am puzzled by the yellow on the wing. You say it was part of a group of birds.

If it had been spring. I would have said either a juvenile Goldcrest or Juvenile Goldfinch.

But not in the winter.

Nice lens buy the way! Might have to invest in one, myself.

[StuartR]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

I'll post another pic or two tomorrow Garry. They may not be as clear as this one but there's a bit more yellow on the side IIRC.

I'm struggling a bit with this lens and I'm still to convince myself it's anywhere near as good as my Canon 100-400mm L series (mk i). I bought it mainly to get more reach than the 100-400mm but still struggled, hence the 1.4X extender! I need to spend a bit more time with it to be sure though, I'm definately not giving up on it just yet! In any case, I've loaned the 100-400mm to my son and his wife (both shoot Canon 760Ds) and I don't think they will give it back in a hurry :-)

[StuartR]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

Garry, here's a couple more shots of the bird (or one of the others in the flock of 5 or 6). These haven't had much in the way of processing as they were destined for the recycle bin!

The (overall) colour is quite variable I guess due to the changing light conditions and the bird(s) being in and out of the shadows.

I'm getting the book out now

[StuartR]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

Garden Warbler?

[StuartR]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

Willow Warbler?

[Garry]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

I'm thinking, Chiffchaff

[StuartR]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

Could well be....especially after looking at the photos on this page.

http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/136-Warblers/CommonChiffchaff/CommonChiffchaff.htm

Apart from these I saw at the causeway over Abberton reservoir I saw quite a few on the ground close to the hide I'd been at earlier but I couldn't get a decent shot due to the brush / scrub as they spent a lot of time on the ground.

Although the lens plus the TC1.4X does autofocus (@ f/9 reported) it struggled a bit so I had to use manual focus a few times. Several times the birds at the causeway were in clear view, almost posing, but I just couldn't acquire them and focus fast enough before they moved. As I said, it will hopefully come with practice!

[David Morison]

Re: Another small bird - no ID yet!

Almost definately a Chiffchaff, shorter primaries and dark legs compared with a WW which is unlikely to be here in Winter.

David