Avian Photography: Wild Birds of Europe

[Levina de Ruijter]

Welcome to Avian Photography: Wild Birds of Europe. I started this thread many years ago on Photography on the Net and am reviving it here.

As the thread title indicates, birds need to be free and they need to have been shot on the European continent (that includes Ireland and the British Isles). It would be nice if you could tell us the species in your photo as not everybody is familiar with all the species we have in Europe. And if you have a story to tell about how the photo came to be we would like to know that too!

So, let's see those Wild Birds of Europe!

I'm kicking it off with a Great crested grebe - a low, late afternoon sun can easily blow out the whites on these birds, so I exposed for the whites and hoped for the best. All I did in post was add a bit of light to the crest so it stood out a bit against the background.

• Canon EOS R6
• EF400mm f/5.6L USM
• ƒ/5.6
• 400mm
• 1/2000s
• ISO 640

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Reed warbler, taken at sunrise, singing its heart out.

• Canon EOS R6
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM + EXTENDER RF1.4x
• ƒ/10
• 700mm
• 1/1600s
• ISO 1600

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Crow. Taken a long time ago during one of the last real winters. It was a white world and it was very cold. Taken with my first DSLR the Canon 40D and the brilliant Canon EF 300/4L.

• Canon EOS 40D
• EF300mm f/4L IS USM
• ƒ/4
• 300mm
• 1/200s
• ISO 200

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

European kestrel

• Canon EOS R6m2
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/2500s
• ISO 1600

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Magpie

• Canon EOS R6m2
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/1250s
• ISO 2500

 

[RichardB]

These are all excellent shots, Levina. Love the grebe and the warbler especially but all are good.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

These are all excellent shots, Levina. Love the grebe and the warbler especially but all are good.

Thanks very much, Richard!

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Northern shoveler

• Canon EOS R6
• EF400mm f/5.6L USM
• ƒ/5.6
• 400mm
• 1/2500s
• ISO 640

• Canon EOS R6
• EF400mm f/5.6L USM
• ƒ/5.6
• 400mm
• 1/2500s
• ISO 640

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

White storks

Shots taken in a city park where they nest on an old, high chimney.

• Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
• EF400mm f/5.6L USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 400mm
• 1/1000s
• ISO 800

• Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
• EF400mm f/5.6L USM
• ƒ/8
• 400mm
• 1/1250s
• ISO 800

 

[Darren75]

Wow, look at that wingspread. Amazing.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Wow, look at that wingspread. Amazing.

They're big birds all right.

Here's another one:

• Canon EOS R6
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/5.6
• 270mm
• 1/1600s
• ISO 800

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

House martin.
I shoot these birds in the city mostly where there are several breeding colonies, all nesting in old buildings. It's hard because of all the things that get in the way in a city: wires, poles, lanterns, trees, buildings.

• Canon EOS R6m2
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/4000s
• ISO 3200

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Oystercatcher

• Canon EOS R6
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/500s
• ISO 1600

 

[pcs]

pheasant playing roadrunner:

• Canon EOS R5m2
• RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM + EXTENDER RF2x
• ƒ/5.6
• 800mm
• 1/4000s
• ISO 2500

Hoi Levina, just registered, will contact you when I've looked around and know how it works here. Wish you success with your new adventure!

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Hoi Levina, just registered, will contact you when I've looked around and know how it works here. Wish you success with your new adventure!

I'm so happy to see you, Patrick! It means a lot.