Goldfinches: wallet warning!

KentYeti · #1 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 08:42 AM

Yes, Goldfinches can harm your wallet!

I recently added a perching post, (the one nicked from Sunnydale

), and then a nijer seed feeder to my bird feeding station. Set up much closer to the house than the main station. Around 17 feet away from the bench seat that sits up against the outside wall of the kitchen.

Amazingly within a week of putting the nijer seed feeder in place I was getting Goldfinches! Three at least. One pair and a single one, (but I have seen all three together once).

I started taking photos through the open kitchen window. But wanting some real close ups found that by sitting on the bench outside the kitchen, partly behind a tripod with the camera on it, (swallowed my pride and started using a tripod for daylight photography for the first time in my life), they would still come to eat.

Nikon D80 plus 300mm lens and a 14 TC-IIE teleconverter gave good images, but not good enough for real close ups.

So I have just splashed out on a Nikon 17 TC-IIE. Initially just to get the close ups of the Goldfinches!

Quite pleased with the results so far. The real close up is a 100% crop. That lens and TC combo is very good indeed. Better than the 300mm plus 14TC-IIE. IMHO.

Now how about a total close up of just the head and eyes? Hmmmm... A Nikon 20TC-IIIE might get that. Or perhaps a Nikon 500mm F4 lens with the TC on................

Wow, Goldfinches sure hurt your wallet. But I think they are worth it.

Really am a happy Yeti this morning, being able to get close up photos of such a wonderful bird.

Bryan

PS. The 17TC is giving great results with other birds as well now. With the 300mm Nikon prime lens it gives me a 500mm f6.7 lens and superb results.

PPS. The little bird drinking vessel is half a coconut that Sunny got full of fat to hang up for the other birds. Seemed a shame to throw it away when it was empty.

moozy · #2 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 08:52 AM

Great shots yeti, a fantastic bird (one of my favs) keep up the good work

nickynoo · #3 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 09:18 AM

Yep I agree. Set up a nyjer feeder back in April and within a matter of days had 2 feeding. They didn't appear then for a couple of weeks and assumed they were egg sitting. Quickly went and bought another and now have 3 adults and 3 babies visiting most days. Boy dont the babies make a racket. Here is a pic of one baby being fed.

Nicky

KentYeti · #4 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 09:42 AM

I've spelt nijer wrong a couple of times in my opening post. If a Mod reads this thread I would be very grateful if it could be corrected for me, as I cannot now edit the post.

I certainly don't want to offend anyone with the erroneous and totally accidental spelling I have used.

Sincere apologies,

Bryan

moozy · #5 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 10:08 AM

Niger a beautiful country especially on the border next to lake Chad.

Murray30 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 11:28 AM

Hi Bryan,
These are simply stunning images the detail and colours are superb,it must be great to see these colourful fellows
landing in the garden,

as for the tripod situation i'm in the same boat i think further down the line i'll have to get one or even a monopod, im still very much a beginner and still getting used to all the settings on the camera for now,

Thanks for sharing these lovely colourfull characters Bryan

.

Regards Murray

Pipa · #7 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 11:35 AM

beautiful photos of a beautoful bird

i put up a tube feeder with some Nyger seed in, but no finchs yet come to eat any

for the first time ever i spotted a pair of goldfinch flying through my garden a couple week ago which prompted me to get the Nyger but they seem to have done off now lol, keeping my fingers crossed they come back, its only been up a few days so still time i think

forestwildlife · #8 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 12:52 PM

Brilliant shots. I put out nyger feeders and soon had goldfinches visiting every day. They also like the RSPB's no mess sunflower seed mix, as do the greenfinches and siskins which only seem to visit when I have this out.

Worth every penny imo tho, lovely birds that can allow for some great shots.

leon_heller · #9 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 02:08 PM

Very nice shots!

I'm using a Nikon D80 and 18-135 mm lens for the photos of the Herring Gulls and chicks on my balcony. Mine tend to be snapshots, though, as the parents don't like me opening the window and pointing the camera at the chicks, and screech their alarm call very loudly. It's a bit much when they are about 3' away.