Category: Birds

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Birds of the Algarve, Portugal

Schwarzkehlchen (Stonechat, saxicola rubicola) | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | ISO 140 1/1000s f6.3

The Algarve region in southern Portugal is a beautiful place to be. It is especially well suited for family holidays where most of the family members are more interested in leisure time at the beach instead of bird chasing. However, both at a time is possible as the Algarve is rich of domestic birds and is also an important migration route.

I did not spent too much time with bird watching, but during the little time I could spend, a vivid number of species crossed my way.

  1. Schwarzkehlchen (Stonechat, saxicola rubicola)
  2. Hausrotschwanz (Black redstart, phoenicurus ochruros)
  3. Zwergadler (Dwarf eagle, aquila pennata)
  4. Südlicher Raubwürger (Southern grey shrike , lanius meridionalis)
  5. Iberien-Zilpzalp (Iberian chiffchaff, phylloscopus ibericus)
  6. Gänsegeier (Griffon vulture, gyps fulvus)
  7. Blauelster (Azure-winged magpie, cyanopica cyana)
  8. Wespenbussard (European honey buzzard, pernis apivorus)
  9. Fitislaubsänger (Willow warbler, phylloscopus trochilus)
  10. Samtkopf-Grasmücke (Sardinian warbler, sylvia melanocephala)
  11. Alpenkrähe (Red-billed chough, pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
  12. Uferschwalbe (Sand martin, riparia riparia)
  13. Seidenreiher (Little egret, egretta garzetta)
  14. Silberreiher (Great egret, ardea alba)
  15. Krähenscharbe (European shag, phalacrocorax aristotelis)
  16. Turmfalke (Common kestrel, falco tinnunculus)
  17. Mäusebussard (Common buzzard, buteo buteo)
  18. Türkentaube (Eurasian collared dove, streptopelia decaocto)
  19. Haubenlerche (Crested lark, galerida cristata)
  20. Amsel (Common blackbird, turdus merula)
  21. Singdrossel (Song thrush, turdus philomelos)
  22. Austernfischer (Eurasian oystercatcher, haematopus ostralegus)
  23. Mönchsgrasmücke (Eurasian blackcap, sylvia atricapilla)
  24. Bachstelze (White wagtail, motacilla alba)
  25. Haussperling (House sparrow, passer domesticus)
  26. Grünfink (European greenfinch, chloris chloris)
  27. Weißstorch (White stork, ciconia ciconia)
  28. Mittelmeermöwe (Yellow-legged gull, larus michahellis)
  29. Einfarbstar (Spotless starling, sturnus unicolor)
  30. Rotkehlchen (European robin, erithacus rubecula)

Gear I brought:

  • Nikon D7200
  • Nikon DX Nikkor 18-140mm f3.6-5.6
  • Nikon DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8
  • Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary (number 1 pick)
  • Sirui 250XT (rental)
  • Rollei ball head from R6i
  • EVOC Photop 16l
  • Nikon Sportstar 10×25 (turned out to be useless for longer distances)
Iberien-Zilpzalp (Iberian chiffchaff, phylloscopus ibericus)
Samtkopf-Grasmücke (Sardinian warbler, sylvia melanocephala)
Iberien-Zilpzalp (Iberian chiffchaff, phylloscopus ibericus)
Iberien-Zilpzalp (Iberian chiffchaff, phylloscopus ibericus)
Haubenlerche (Crested lark, galerida cristata)
Seidenreiher (Little egret, egretta garzetta)
Krähenscharbe (European shag, phalacrocorax aristotelis)
Seidenreiher (Little egret, egretta garzetta)
Hausrotschwanz (Black redstart, phoenicurus ochruros)
Zwergadler (Dwarf eagle, aquila pennata)
Junger Austernfischer (young eurasian oystercatcher, haematopus ostralegus)
Schwarzkehlchen (Stonechat, saxicola rubicola)
Amsel (Common blackbird, turdus merula)
Fitislaubsänger (Willow warbler, phylloscopus trochilus) [maybe?]
Weiblicher Hausrotschwanz (female black redstart, phoenicurus ochruros)
Weiblicher Turmfalke (female common kestrel, falco tinnunculus)
Blauelster (Azure-winged magpie, cyanopica cyana)
Mönchsgrasmücke (Eurasian blackcap, sylvia atricapilla)
Rotkehlchen (European robin, erithacus rubecula)
Mäusebussard (Common buzzard, buteo buteo)
Mäusebussard (Common buzzard, buteo buteo)
Weißstorch (White stork, ciconia ciconia)

 

Wespenbussard (European honey buzzard, pernis apivorus) [unfortunatley not well caught]
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Nikon D7200 and Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary

Simply spoken – WOW. This lense is a total stunner. It is very sharp, easy to handle, relatively lightweight and yet cheap. Also autofocus is convincingly fast. Works great with the peak design stripes when right-side connector ist attached to the lense handle instead of base plate. Weight becomes an issue after a while, thow.

Currently, it is my favorite lense when I am outside.

Some impressions?

Red deer | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 600mm f6.3 1/1000s ISO 2800 | CC-BY
Moon | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 600mm f8 1/8s ISO 100 | Rollei C6i tripod | CC-BY
Kids on playground | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 230mm f5.3 1/6400s ISO 180 | CC-BY
Robin (Rotkehlchen) | Nikon D7200 and Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 600mm f6.3 1/500s ISO 1000 | CC-BY
Ducks (Stockenten) in the gras | Nikon D7200 and Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 600mm f6.3 1/500s ISO 900 | CC-BY
Pseudo-macro of a hoverfly (Schwebfliege) | Nikon D7200 and Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 150mm f5 1/800s ISO 200 | CC-BY
Cycle paradise | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 150mm f5.0 1/400s ISO 100 | CC-BY
Silent turn | Nikon D7200 and Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 150mm f5 1/250s ISO 1400 | CC-BY
Great woodpecker (Buntspecht) | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 150mm f5 1/250s ISO 1400 | CC-BY
Flowers | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 500mm f6 1/800s ISO 500 | CC-BY
Great woodpecker (Buntspecht) | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 500mm f6.3 1/1600s ISO 16000 | CC-BY
Great woodpecker (Buntspecht) | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 600mm f6.3 1/1600s ISO 18000 | CC-BY
Cormorant (Kormoran) | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 340mm f5.6 1/1600s ISO 320 | CC-BY
Airplane | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 340mm f5.6 1/1600s ISO 400 | CC-BY
Stone splash | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 150mm f5 1/1250s ISO 200 | CC-BY
City bike closeup | Nikon D7200 | Sigma 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary | 150mm f5 1/800s ISO 400 | CC-BY
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Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140 mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR

I have bought the Nikon D7200 with the bigger kit zoom lense, the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140 mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR. Time to give some credit, because it is a perfect companion to the D7200 in the hand of a beginner.

For birds, you have to be very lucky that one decides to pop up right in front of you, or you cheat and go to the zoo. All of the following pictures are from the Cologne zoo, though only the stork is actually hold in an aviary.

Robin (Rotkehlchen) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140 mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR | 140mm f1:5.6 1/250s ISO 2000
Black stork (Schwarzstorch) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140 mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR | 85mm f1:4.5 1/320s ISO 100
House sparrow (Haussperling) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140 mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR | 140mm f1:5.6 1/250s ISO 200
House sparrow (Haussperling) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140 mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR | 140mm f1:8 1/800s ISO 800

 

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Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500 mm f/5.6E ED VR

I had the chance to try out the AF-S Nikkor 200-500 mm f/5.6E ED VR on my Nikon D7200 camera. Here some of the results I took in the botanical garden of Kiel, Germany.

Jay (Eichelhäher) | Nikon D7200 with Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500 mm f/5.6E ED VR | 440mm F8 1/1000s ISO 800
Carrion crow (Rabenkrähe) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500 mm f/5,6E ED VR | 500mm F5.6 1/250s ISO 640
Squirrel (Eichhörnchen) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500 mm f/5,6E ED VR | 500mm F7.1 1/800s ISO 800

 

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Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR

I have checked out the incredibly cheap tele-zoom lense Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR. I was looking for a reasonably priced and lightweight zoom glas for taking bird pictures in the park and in the woods. Unfortunately I had to return this product since the quality concerning sharpness on the long end did not quite please me. Although it was really close. I did not expect much and the lense is really light with a good vibration reduction and an ok focusing performance. Finishing and manual handling however were not acceptable for me, though of course the overall price of around 200€ has to come from somewhere.

Nevertheless I was able to take some good pictures, like this nuthatch (Kleiber) at the Rheinpark in Cologne, Germany.

Nuthatch (Kleiber) | Nikon D7200 with Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR 300mm f5.6 1/800s ISO 720

Or this hawk (Habicht) in the Johannes-Giesbert-Park in Cologne. Here the reduced quality at 300mm becomes obvious, because it is zoomed to almost 100%. Wide aperture was not a good idea, thow – not only the lense to be blamed, here.

Hawk (Habicht) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm F4.5-5.6G ED VR | 300mm f1:5.6 1/500s ISO 250
Hawk (Habicht) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm F4.5-5.6G ED VR | 300mm f1:5.6 1/500s ISO 160

This robin is probably the best picture I took, because I could stop down on the aperture. Makes a great difference, as I learned after a while.

Robin (Rotkehlchen) | Nikon D7200 and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm F4.5-5.6G ED VR | 300mm f1:9 1/250s ISO 100
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New binoculars: Nikon Sportstar ex 10×25

For localizing birds in parks, in the woods, in the zoo, for hiking and trekking tours. I was looking for a moderately prized lightweight pair. The overall quality is absolutely satisfying! The only little thing that annoys me is that the spacer for the eyes (if you are not using glasses) are so loose that I have to check if they are extended and not pushed backwards. Every time. I already thought about fixating them with glue.