2016 09 29 Bad Hair Day by pamknowler

2016 09 29 Bad Hair Day

I looked out of my window and saw this blackbird eating the mealworms I had just put out. I thought his beak looked large and grabbed my camera to get a closer look at him. Once I put the shot up onto the laptop I realised there was something wrong with his head. I am hoping he is moulting and that he will get his glossy black feathers back. I hope he hasn't got a disease.

I am so disappointed as this was the only shot out of 20 I took this morning of birds in my garden using the Lumix FZ330. The others were all out of focus!! I am rethinking my plans now for what camera to take to Nova Scotia next week. I think my Canon 5D is definitely coming with me. I would like to take my 100-400mm lens but it is very heavy. Tempted to put it in my suitcase but I am a bit nervous about doing that.

Many thanks for your lovely comments on yesterday's shots especially the one of Finlay who was on the PP today. How lovely to see him there!!
I think this may be a bird beginning his moult before getting his winter coat (at least I hope so). A lot o the birds look quite tatty at the moment before getting smartened up for winter Fav
September 29th, 2016  
A super capture. Fav!! 😃
September 29th, 2016  
@pamknowler Did you have the focus set to AFFf or AFC? As I was using the camera at Bluewater today and seem to struggle with the focus on AFC. Otherwise I love the camera, how about you? ( Only had the camera a couple of weeks o needs practice I think, but loved it at the zoo recently.

Lovely capture
September 29th, 2016  
@bizziebeeme I was trying both settings but just could not get good focus on the birds in the garden. Even the ones that looked ok on the camera were soft on the laptop. So far the only thing I am happy with is the pano effect which I love.
September 29th, 2016  
Neat shot, details
September 29th, 2016  
Wonderful shot.
September 29th, 2016  
Nice to see this young blackbird and now will look forward to pics of Nova Scotia! Love that place!
September 29th, 2016  
That head does look a bit unusual Pam, perhaps he's not got his proper feathers yet, hopefully time will give him his glossy beautiful head soon.
September 29th, 2016  
Oh, but that eye . . . !
September 29th, 2016  
lol but a great shot :)
September 29th, 2016  
fun title
September 30th, 2016  
Bummer re the LUMIX though it makes sense to me. Is your lens insured?
September 30th, 2016  
What a pest about the Lumix Pam. But this shot is certainly clear. Looks to me like the moulting season.
September 30th, 2016  
@jgpittenger I have all my camera equipment covered by house insurance as seperate cover. Shame about the lumix but the quality just not good enough - or I cannot work out how to use it properly! Not enough time to learn it properly before I go to NS next Friday! I don't want to be disappointed with out of focus shots on this special trip!
September 30th, 2016  
Oh, this makes your decision tricky. The head does look like it has moulting feathers. Do all the other photos on the Lumix work out?
September 30th, 2016  
Great close up
September 30th, 2016  
@888rachel The pano setting on the Lumix is fabulous. I just am not happy with the quality of the image when I am zooming. Perhaps it needs to be on a tripod/monopod? That seems to defeat the whole object in having it as a travel camera. I am sure it is ok but I just don't have time to work it out!! The menu system seems overly complicated to me. Using my SLR is second nature to me and i can change settings very quickly. Not with the Lumix. Also there is a delay between shots which I find very frustrating. I am using he eye pice to take my shots but have to open the screen to view the shot - such a waste of time!! Oh well you win some you loose some!! Loving your holiday shots Rachel!!
September 30th, 2016  
A lovely sharp blackbird, perhaps he's just going grey! Enjoy Nova Scotia- we loved it!
September 30th, 2016  
Jane raised a good point...if stolen from your suitcase, you're covered. Just make sure to document that you put it in there -- photos of it perhaps? OF course that's not proof, but at least it shows something. I agree...I had some good shots from my P&S in Hawaii, but not sufficient for actually using as a primary camera. Totally fun to have with me on the golf course, though. And when in places shooting people photos.
October 2nd, 2016  
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