A few firsts

[Phoenix]

A trip to QLD to visit the family.... who don't quite understand the concept of patience, natural backgrounds and light when it comes to bird photography.
Don't know why they just wouldn't wait patiently in the car for a few hours?
Still got a couple of shots that I would like to share.

I think this is a red browed finch
Red browed finch by Joanne, on Flickr

Male superb blue fairy wren - with a squarish crop.
Male superb blue fairy wren by Joanne, on Flickr

Male King Parrot - the orange ... what's going on
Male king parrot by Joanne, on Flickr

Female King parrot
Female king parrot by Joanne, on Flickr

I think it's a kite.. not sure which? Just north of Brisbain, perhaps whistling? Really just sharing this for an id.
Kite ? by Joanne, on Flickr

My first Rainbow :-) of the bird kind

Rainbow lorrikeet by Joanne, on Flickr

[Sully]

Beautiful series Jo ..... stunning capture of the Blue Fairy Wren.

As much as we love family, tis best to leave them at home sometimes

[Phoenix]

Nice to see others who understand. Thank you for looking and commenting.

[seaslug]

Agree lovely set.

[Phoenix]

Cheers, thank you Greg.

[Alan]

Beaut set Jo.

Red-browed Finch indeed - can't help with the raptor id

(thanks for trying the square crop yes/no?)

Family and poodles don't mix with bird photography

[Phoenix]

Family invited me over to check out the birds. So, shouldn't be surprised it was the birds I wanted to spend my time with. They need to be trained better. :-) Poodles.. well... no hope of training them now is there?
Square crop looks fine..I was having more of a go with it tonight while I was processing some more recent photos.
I think I am automatically using the Golden Rectangle ratios (or there abouts).

[avkomp]

did well for some firsts. yep first one is redbrowed finch and the kite is indeed a whistling kite.
decent first up images too. the rbf mostly clean. you would be stoked as a first up.
the superb fairy wren looks resplendent in his breeding colours. around here that is the only type I get, but there are some variegated a little way away.
would happily trade for some of your splendids. really needed the whistler to turn its head towards the light but again you be stoked with this as a first image.

plenty of kings around here and especially the rainbows. funny how going to a new place turns up new stuff.

dare I say your superb looks superb............ good work.

there is a place called patonga north of here where there are dozens of those kites and I think the boaties and fishermen feed them.
they come very close. we were on a boat and was getting full frame under 400mm away. quite amazing.

[Phoenix]

We have plenty of whistling kites here in the West. It sounded and looked like a whistling kite, so of course I thought it might be a duck because it was on the other side of the country, so thank you for the id. :-) Sounds like you have some great opportunities to get amazing pictures of them.
The light was low and grey so don't think I could have done any better. Sure would love to have had more time. I got a glimpse and a tragically distant shot of the scarlet winged wren... I would have happily stalked it all day.

[wigz]

Great set of firsts Jo, particularly #1 and #2, you would have to be very happy with these.

[Phoenix]

Appreciate you taking the time to look and leave your kind words Wigz.

[Ironwood]

Nice going Jo.
I agree, 1&2 are superb.

[Phoenix]

Thank you Ironwood, I am glad you like them.

[Isac]

They are all great Phoenix. I agree with avkomp - it is a whistling kite. I do love the beautiful flowers complimenting the Rainbow Parrot in the last. I strolled up to the lake today and the only parrots were Pink & Greys. BUT I did get a few shots of flowers and the grandies!

[Phoenix]

No such think as an unphotogenic parrot in my opinion. Love the pink and grays. They are hankering low in the flowers at the moment, waiting for my chance to capture them.
The grandies also make for the best photos of all. :-)

[Isac]

You're right on both counts Phoenix. At Kaarakin, our avian manager is a young lady who is passionate about parrots and started her own business (Parrot Life Behaviour & Training). She is a full bottle on birds and has all sorts of degrees. Anything I need to know about parrots is only a question away. Aren't I lucky?

[Phoenix]

You sure are.. what a great place to work. Must feel very satisfying. I wish my students were more parrot like.

[Ironwood]

I should have commented on the Whistling Kite yesterday, my Avatar is a Whistling Kite, very similar shot as well

[Phoenix]

Well there you go! I will have to up my game and see if I can shoot one as well as the one in your avatar.