Had been looking forward to getting a second Eynesbury story to the blog this week, but sad, to say between bad weather, bad organisation, a day at Hanging Rock with Werribee Wagtails, and a couple of family events, time just frittered away.
This is from my Enyesbury journal.
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have been feasting among the black wattle now that the flowers have gone to seed. Plenty of work for a large flock, and each individual seems to have its own technique for dealing with the rich smorgasbord.
And because of their ability to deal with the human condition a close approach didn’t seem to be all that hard. All I had to do was wait for the leaves to be in the right spot, and the bird ready to draw up the next offing.
I’ve been using the Teleconverter TC1.7 on the PF 300mm f/4 lens of late. It makes it a bit on the slow side, but it is quite a light and easy to handle kit for many bush birds. Not my favourite for inflights, but life as they say is a compromise.
I’ve done a few tests and while it is sharp, it’s not as sharp as the Sigma 150-600 Sport. But that kit is a lot heavier.
Just for the record, I think the TC 1.7 works better at higher shutter speeds and the VIbration Reduction (VR) turned off. The net has so many arguments about how the VR performs when left on, but you’ve only got look at EE’s Flickr site to see how good it can be on the TC1.4 EE has had the TC 1.4 on from day 1 and the VR set to Normal. Sometimes we get to be too gear conscious and miss the simplicity of working at the photo rather than extolling the equipment. As David DuChemin says, “Gear is good, but, Vision is Better.
This shot is nearly a full frame, cropped only for effect.
Keep takin’ photos. We do.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
It is always interesting watching the cockies feed they can be quite entertaining. We simply have too many of them. They are one of our most successful breeders along with black swans, Rainbows, Miners and Maggie’s.
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G,day AB, they are a great bird as individuals, but border on the pest when in large numbers. They seem to be very easily bored, and turn to destruction for something to do.
But they do help to enlarge or make nest holes in trees, so its a bit of both worlds
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Beautiful definition of those white feathers David, which you make to seem easy, but I know it isn’t always. It’s quite a contemplative look on the Cocky as he nibbles his way through the seeds. A lovely image.
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Hello Eleanor, thanks for the input on the white feathers. I think a bit can be laid down to the softer lighting. I think I might do a weekend post on the vagaries of exposure and how things have changed for digital.
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Yes please, I would read with great interest!
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Exposure, colour, resolution, all brilliant here. Always been so impressed with your results with this lens and its various TC combinations!
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Thanks Derek, the 300mm PF is a bit like the 70-300 zoom on the Nikon 1 Series, a very competent performer. Not a one size fits all, but a good go to when out and about.
The TC dilemma of loss of light and loss of image quality always seems to have its yin and yang. Sometimes is achievable, other times the tolerances work the other way.
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Lovely images, David, and excellent comments on the TC. I have only ‘played with’ them on rare occasions.
The most important feature of the camera will always be the photographer.
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G,day David, yep, its better to swim across the pond than hope that the TC will cover the distance. On the upside Dorothy achieves really sensationly sharp shots with it on her D500.
Its always the loss of light that is the ultimate challenge I think
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