My pal Tanya is very keen on anything with feathers, (actually just birds, not Liza Minnelli), and has been wondering if I might ever get around to shooting any.
Now between you and I, Dear Reader, I viewed this as a bit of a complaint…..OK, my pages are relatively flutter free, no denying it, but I do try to provide variety with my posts…..
Still..Tanya’s not happy, and she scares me, so I thought I’d better do summat about it.
I contemplated buying a new 400mm telephoto lens, a full suit of camouflage, a set of bird whistles and a tarpaulin covered portable hide with silent running wheels to enable me to approach my prey….but decided a lazy afternoon in a bird garden with lager, lunch and a pocket full of sunflower seeds might be easier.
Harcourt arboretum has both birds and very comfy benches, plus a tolerant attitude to ‘gentle drunkenness’ , so it seemed a sensible choice.
I had barely started my eighth can of Carlsberg Super Strength and was not even half way through my scotch egg and pickled onions when I was disturbed by this little bastard, squawking his bloody head off. Very full of himself !
I don’t know why folks are so impressed with wildlife photography…All you have to do is get comfy and stay awake and relatively sober.
All Images copyright Stuart Allan Hyde.
stuart allan hyde ______ 
chrisrenney
Yeah but there is something beautifully strange about birds and these confirm it.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
You’re completely right of course…..:-)
Undeniably beautiful, but strange and otherworldly.
I wish they were all as easy to shoot as this one.
🙂
chrisrenney
🙂
scillagrace
Peacocks are decidedly domesticated, to my surprise. And especially LOUD! Not nearly as exotic as they pretend. Still, they are resplendent. Great shots!
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Gorgeous aren’t they?
But do you ever see one more than three feet from a well tended lawn?
Nope!
suej
Love that last image!
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Ta Sue…
🙂
It would make a nice, (if somewhat loud), cushion cover….
suej
Indeed….
Stuart Hyde - shpics
You can imagine just how tasteful my parlour is can’t you?
🙂
suej
😀 😀
tanya
beautiful colours but as you say easy to sit until they strut past, but your challenge from september is a kite!!!! i will be really hacked off with you if you manage a yellow hammer lol.
tanya
and i don’t mean the type tied up with string!!!!!
Stuart Hyde - shpics
I’ve got no chance with my lenses…even one of the string variety would have to be on the floor at my feet.
tanya
i might lend you my 400mm zoom or i might have succumbed to the 800 by then lol
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Tanya…I’m worried about you, this could end badly.
It seems innocent enough, and I know you think you can stop whenever you want and that one more little lens won’t hurt you, but before you know you’ll be waking up in the middle of the night in a hot sweat, head pounding, teeth chattering, to the stark realization that if you can’t immediately get your hands on a fast, ground glass, 1000mm prime, you’re going to have to kill someone.
Stop now before it’s too late.
tanya
haha,going on ebay now to research 1000mm prime.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
It’ll all end in tears..
😦
tanya
actually the 1000mm is better,you can get a 500mm-1000mm telephoto for the same price as the 800.lurvvee ebay