Birds and cameras

Frances and I have been getting back into birding, aided and abetted by our friend of 40 years Bill Frey who can only be described as a birding fanatic. It is fun and gets you out walking and paying closer attention than usual to what is around you in nature. Santa Cruz is a great place to do this! Bill was over and without trying very hard we spotted 68 species on a nice Sunday in March. I have been using a Nikon 70-300mm F/4-F/5.6 VR on the D7000, but just recently upgraded to a 300mm F/4. There is a world of difference between these two lenses!

Update: picked up a 300mm f2.8

California Quail

green-violet swallow

Anna's Hummingbird in the front yard

California Thrasher UCSC Arboretum

Rufous Hummingbird

Kildeer trying to distract us from her nest Elkhorn Slough

Lesser Yellowlegs at Elkhorn Slough

Black Phoebe at Elkhorn Slough

nesting Brant's Cormorants at Natural Bridges

Marbled Godwit ad Moss Landing

Say's Phoebe at Elkhorn Slough