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Bird Pictures 1

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Bird Photos - Pg2

As a late-developing wildlife enthusiast, I often feel overwhelmed by the expertise of my bird-watching companions when we're out in the bush or on safari.

These are guys who don't need a spotting scope or even binoculars to spot a tiny Chestnutbacked Finchlark in the scrub and grass 20 or 30 meters away.

All I see is the scrub and grass, never mind trying to photograph the little creature!

Long Lens Adds New Dimension
But the purchase of a Canon EF 100-400mm image-stabilized lens has allowed me to start taking better bird photos.

Coupled to a crop-sensor Canon EOS 450D SLR digital camera, this awesome piece of glass gives me the equivalent of a 640mm F5.6 lens when fully zoomed.

Camera Shake Remains a Threat
On various safaris to Kruger National Park, Chobe National Park in Botswana and Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park, I've had to photograph from a vehicle, so use of a solid tripod is impossible, making a beanbag essential to keep the camera steady.

Essential Reference Guides
Taking bird photos forces one to identify the subject. Previously neglected books like Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa, the Field Companion to Roberts, and Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa, are now in constant use as I go through images on my monitor.

These books have different strengths: Roberts is still regarded as the "bible" and contains in-depth information; the Field Guide is handy for finding information quickly, while Sinclair's book offers actual photos of birds rather than drawings, so is useful for comparisons.

For more information about African birds, you can try the search box further below.

Bird Photo Captions
Row 1:
1.Yellowbilled stork, Kruger National Park, South Africa
2.African Spoonbills, Tala Private Game Reserve, South Africa
3.Blackheaded Heron, Tala Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Row 2:
1.Hooded Vulture, immature, Kruger National Park, S.Africa
2.Hooded Vulture, Kruger National Park, South Africa
3.Southern Ground Hornbill, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Row 3:
1.Helmeted Guineafowl foraging, Kruger National Park, S.Africa
2.Helmeted Guineafowl, Kruger National Park, South Africa
3.Crested Frankolin in tree, Kruger National Park, S.Africa

Row 4:
1.Bateleur Eagle in flight, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
2.Lesser Masked Weaver, Kruger National Park, South Africa
3.Male Ostrich foraging, Tala Private Game Reserve, S.Africa

Row 5:
1.White Faced Owl, Kruger National Park, South Africa
2.White Faced Owl, immature, Kruger National Park, South Africa
3.Scops Owl, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Use of Gallery Pictures
Photographs on this page are published for readers' enjoyment.
They may only be downloaded for personal use and
non-commercial educational or conservation purposes.
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