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Little bit of bread and no cheese


Little bit of bread and no cheese
Photo Information
Copyright: Monika MvJ (thistle) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1317 W: 77 N: 3012] (9272)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4200, Nikkor ED 38-114 F/2.8-4.8 + Binoculars
Exposure: f/7.3, 1/322 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-02-07 4:11
Viewed: 1116
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I haven't seen too many pictures of these birds on TN. It's quite strange for me because these yellow fellows are, along with sparrows, the most common birds in my region.

As some of you probably know these are Yellowhammers
Emberiza citrinella.

These birds of the hedgerows and farmland gather in the late winter in big flocks. The ones from my neighbourhood usually fly in one huge flock with Tree Sparrows and feed together. In WS you can see a part of this flock in my garden.

The appearance of yellowhammers is very attractive. I sometimes call them Canaries becuase the males have so striking lemon-yellow colours that you have feeling they really escaped from a cage. The male yellowhammers have mustard-coloured heads streaked with feathers of dark brown. They have black, beady eyes and their breast feathers are yellowish with dusky-brown streaks. The females are feathered in softer shades than the males and have far less yellow on their heads. All yellowhammers have striking, rusty-coloured, unstreaked rumps which are most attractive (unfortunatelly you can't see them here).

Their main food are seeds and I never saw them eating anything else when visiting my feeder. Well, visiting is rather bad word because I have never seen any of them inside feeder. They just wait on the ground for seeds that fall from the feeder. And there's always lots of seeds on the ground because sparrows and jays fumble among bird food to find some tasty bits and grain is less interesting for them. Lately I just put the grain on the ground especailly for yellowhammers.

Why the title?
British country people used to call yellowhammers song 'a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese' which requires more than a little imagination to make the words fit the song ;)

The picture have been taken through binoculars. The technique is described here.

PS. I have a winter break now what gave me opportunity to take some new pictures and find some time for TN at last.
soccer, petrudamsa, wallhalla15, red45, AndyB, scottevers7, Dave, dew77, hummingbird24, PDP, loot has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To loot: digiscopingthistle 1 02-08 09:08
To red45: Commonthistle 3 02-07 13:39
To AndyB: Cold daythistle 1 02-07 06:42
To petrudamsa: Soft focusthistle 1 02-07 05:24
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Critiques [Translate]

A very crisp pic showing detail and clarity. The soft light adds to a good mood and use of colour too. Composition, POV are also good. TFS,
Sheriff

Hi Monika,
Good portrait of this kind of bird. Great lighting and colours. A bit soft in focus (maybe the compression).
Not so common here like in Poland. We have it too, but is heavily outnumbered by the sparrows.
How did the exam session ended up for you?

Regards, Petru

Hello Monika,
this is a lovely picture. Excellent details and sharpness, great composition and great colours. Very nice work! Well done, thank you.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2006-02-07 5:41]
  • [+]

Hi Monika!

Most common? I don't think so ;-) I think that I've never seen these birds before. Rare or well camouflaged in my region :-) Good news about your winter break - I hope you'll enjoyed it! Picture is very nice - I like almost similiar poses of these two with grain in beaks. Very sunny mood, warm colours of birds and clear BG. Thanks for inviting trznadle to TNers ;-)

  • Great 
  • honza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 537 W: 0 N: 716] (4191)
  • [2006-02-07 6:21]

Nice photo of the lovely birds. Perfect composition, sharpness and colors.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2006-02-07 6:23]
  • [+]

hello Monika,
A very nice capture of this duo.
Very good composition and POV,nice warm tones on what looks to have been a very cold day!
Good work,well done.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-02-07 7:16]

Bonjour Monika!

Beau duo,l'éclairage est parfait et les couleurs sont parfaitement exposées.


Merci.

joseph

Hi Monika,
Excellent capture on this cute pair. Exposure is spot 0n on in this sunlit with shadow scene. Colors and detail are good. The composition and framing are perfect.
Scott

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-02-07 10:43]

A very pretty pair and nicely captured Monika!
Excellent job!
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-02-07 10:49]

Hello Monika!
Wonderful pair.Colors,POV,details,framing,
3D effect and composition are excellent.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2006-02-07 13:00]

it's so sweet Monika,
a well taken clear shot, in a fantastic composition, great pov, with nice details, very good job..
gr. jaap

This is a great and cheery image, Monika.

I like the way you titled this posting and linked it in your note as well.

Very sweet pair, these two, wonderful details, color, POV and bright and happy lighting.

Well done and thank you!

Great ws, thank you for including it.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2006-02-07 14:39]

Hi Monika,
Excellent shot on these beautiful birds,
the colours and details are very good.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • puciu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 519 W: 0 N: 16] (2603)
  • [2006-02-07 16:00]

Sympatyczna parka Moniko, dobra fotka fajny kadr i kolorki. Super.

Hi Monika,
I'm still very busy, so have no time for a longer visit to TN.
Very good capture, and as always good details, colours, sharpness and composition.
Thanks for posting, have a great perfect week.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-02-07 17:30]

Hi Monika, very nice shot. Even more so as you used binoculars. I'm always amazed at the good photos that can be got from these compacts with a little effort and thought. Very well done.

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3662] (10065)
  • [2006-02-07 22:05]
  • [+]

Hi Monika
Thanks for introducing me to these lovely little LBJ's. It may be common to you, but are totally unfamiliar to me. We do not see these birds here in South Africa and could not find it in any of my books about local or indigenous birds.
The composition, DOF, details and colour are all well done. Great note to accompany the photo. Excellent work.
I'm not much informed wrt the technique of using binoculars, but is this also seen as digi-scoping?
Regards
Loot

HI Monika,
you do very well wiht your "home-made" lens.
Very good details, nice colours and composition.
I like the POV too.
Well done.

Pl out of smilies

The picture that reaches out for a hug, straight to the heart!

dobre potrzeszcze podobaja mi sie te ptaszki sam mam kilka zdjec z nimi ladne foto

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