Mid-winter at Hab's Bird Spa

[HAB911]

Here are a few new Bird Spa photo teasers, see them all at:
https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/SPECIAL-SLIDESHOW-HABS-BIRD-SPA

[SheltieLover]

1. Beautiful!

Ty, HAB!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Wonderful photos, my dear HAB! I love 'em all. Great action shots, great still shots, and so on!

And thanks for labeling them too. I like to know what I'm seeing!

[George McGovern]

3. You make it look like it's fun to be a bird! Splendid!!

[Gato Moteado]

4. wow.....lotta great shots!

i wish i could get in close to get some of the smaller birds and song birds here. maybe you could come down and design a spa for the tanagers and stuff.

[HAB911]

5. I have been tweeking the placement

for some time now. I am shooting through double pane glass, at about 12'-15' distance at 1200mm. Unfortunately the leaves that gave me the distinctive green reflection on the water, have now been turned brown by virtue of our recent frost. This happens on average of every 5 year or so. The setup is pretty simple, a couple of large matching clay pots, bottom one upside down, top one right side up, giving a hourglass shaped support with a large clay saucer that fits in the opening of the top pot.

I tried some white marble in the bottom but it killed the reflections, and I settled on slate and am getting nice results. The low winter sun helps with the glare, something you probably can't tell much difference between seasons.

Most important considerations are the backdrop for reflections, the base color under the water, and a little side light. If I could drive there, I would take you up on the invitation, but having traveled for work via flying for 43 years, I've made myself a promise to never get on another airplane, LOL.