Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

> 
>> The sparrow population in England has collapsed in recent years.
>> Perhaps they all evolved into something exotic and we never noticed.
> 

> Don't be silly, Bob.  There's no such thing as evolution.

Opps, sorry. Perhaps they were all intelligently redesigned.

-- 
Cheers,
 Bob

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Peter J. Alling]

They have a breeding population now.  Wild turkeys were more or less 
extinct in Connecticut, a few pairs were re-introduced, (I can't 
remember maybe 20 years ago), to a rural/forested part of the state.  
There seems to be a flock of 20 or so every couple of square acres...

Jostein wrote:
LOL
Seems like some people will never understand the risks of introducing 
foreign species.

These days, in Bergen, they are hunting for four racoons. Illegally 
imported as pets and currently on the run...:-)

Jostein
- Original Message - From: "Bob W" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

Hi,
However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
I'm afraid...)

Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.

If that's a pear tree then those must be partridges. Otherwise they
must be descended from Jimi Hendrix's pet parrots.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3869815.stm
during the summer I saw a couple of exotic birds on a pavement in
Southwark. When I approached them they flew up a tree where they
remained for quite a long time before flying out of sight. They were
not parrots, but had (iirc) blue, red, green and yellow plumage.
The sparrow population in England has collapsed in recent years.
Perhaps they all evolved into something exotic and we never noticed.
Bob


--
I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. 
During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings 
and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime.
	--P.J. O'Rourke

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Luigi de Guzman]

On Monday 20 December 2004 09:44, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Quoting Billy Abbott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> > Also, any advice on a free image manipulation program for Windows
> > would be great - my trial period for PSP ran out the day I got the DS
> > and I need something to tide me over until the new year, when I can
> > think about buying a real license. I'm using IrFanView at the moment
> > (and occasionally wrestle with the GIMP).

The WinGIMP was my program of choice.  Now, having made the switch to Linux, 
my program of choice is the plain ol' GIMP.

Had to save money somewhere.  There's a 35/2 I have to get!

How are you liking your DS so far?

-Luigi

>
> If you insist upon "free" -- doesn't something come bundled with the Pentax
> DSLRs? Pentax Photo Laboratory?
>
> ERNR

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[frank theriault]

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:35:19 +, Bob W <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> The sparrow population in England has collapsed in recent years.
> Perhaps they all evolved into something exotic and we never noticed.


Don't be silly, Bob.  There's no such thing as evolution.

cheers,
frank

-- 
"Sharpness is a bourgeois concept."  -Henri Cartier-Bresson

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[frank theriault]

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:00:14 +, Billy Abbott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I went a-wandering this morning to try and find a tree that would look
> nice for next months PUG. Today's the first sunny day that I've had a
> chance to go out with my new *istDS so I thought I'd have a bit of an
> experiment. Suffice to say, the experimentation didn't go too well and
> my tree shots were crap.
> 
> However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
> few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
> I'm afraid...)
> 
> Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
> Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.
> 


Geez, first Kens "nice rack" and now "a pair of birds".  (in the order
I opened the posts, not the actual posting).  Is this no longer a
family list?

Or maybe the real question is "was it ever?"  

Seriously, that's a seriously terrific shot, Billy.  I like the two
different body positions.  I like the vivid colours.  Like you, I
think it odd finding two birds like that in London this time of year,
but what do I know?

I have a version of your lens (perhaps not exactly yours, because I
think there were no less than three versions), but isn't it a terrific
lens?

You've used yours well:  great photo!

cheers,
frank


-- 
"Sharpness is a bourgeois concept."  -Henri Cartier-Bresson

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[ernreed2]

Quoting Billy Abbott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

> Also, any advice on a free image manipulation program for Windows
> would be great - my trial period for PSP ran out the day I got the DS
> and I need something to tide me over until the new year, when I can
> think about buying a real license. I'm using IrFanView at the moment
> (and occasionally wrestle with the GIMP).


If you insist upon "free" -- doesn't something come bundled with the Pentax 
DSLRs? Pentax Photo Laboratory?

ERNR

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[mike wilson]

Hi,
Bob W wrote:
Is there really such a thing as the Moulin Rouge bird? If so, do you
know its Latin name? Google results are swamped by references to the
recent film and the dance hall.
8-))  Luvverly plumage..
Sorry, should have smileyed that.
m

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Rob Studdert]

On 19 Dec 2004 at 21:21, Bob W wrote:
 
> The most surprising exotic creature I've seen in the UK was a wild
> penguin. Last year on Chesil Beach in Dorset I saw a bird swimming
> very quickly through the waves, chasing a fish. From my vast experience
> of penguins in S. Africa I identified it immediately. I was rather taken
> aback to see one so far north, so when I got home I went through my Observer
> Book of Birds (or whatever), and learned that it was in fact a guillemot, 
> which
> is not at all exotic (although I've never seen one in London, whereas I have
> seen penguins). Still, those things are pretty good examples of convergent
> evolution.

My friends Guillemot, taken with a Pentax of course :-)

http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/gallery/Lyall-Bogie

Cheers,


Rob Studdert
HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA
Tel +61-2-9554-4110
UTC(GMT)  +10 Hours
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~distudio/publications/
Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

> The only things I can think of that are a reasonable possibility are
> European Roller and Green Woodpecker, with the Roller winning for colour
> and the Woodpecker winning for form.  More likely is a pair of escapees
> of some exotica.  Maybe Moulin Rouge birds.  They have multicoloured
> plumage.

I know practically nothing about birds, although I'm forever seeing
interesting ones, and interesting behaviour - I saw a kestrel catch and
try to kill a starling last year, right on the pavement in front of
me. I would like to have the time to learn more.

When I was watching the brightly coloured birds I thought they were
not woodpeckers, which I've seen a lot of. It may have been a green
woodpecker, but I haven't seen a photo of one that really convinces me
- they don't show the blues and reds that I remember.

I thought they might be golden orioles, or some other type of oriole,
but the colours and the markings didn't match.

I've never heard of the European Roller before. Again, the colours and
markings don't match.

Is there really such a thing as the Moulin Rouge bird? If so, do you
know its Latin name? Google results are swamped by references to the
recent film and the dance hall.

> On the subject of what obscure animals people use as pets, did
> you know that the "Amazon" section of the London Aquarium is populated
> almost entirely by "cast-offs" from peoples' aquaria?  That is, the fish
> grew too large to remain in them.  Many of the fish are only able to
> reach their full size in something like the space given in the L A and
> they are upwards of six feet..

I didn't know that, but I'm not at all surprised. People keep some
very strange things in their bathroom.

> Like modern cars, which Cath is certain are all modelled on Kryten's
> head 8-)  Recommend the glassbottom boat trip along the Fleet next time
> you are there.  The guide is a proper marine biologist.  Not recommended
> after gale force winds, though.  Makes it too muddy. 8-(

Sounds interesting - I'll give it a go next year.

-- 
Cheers,
 Bob

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Mark Roberts]

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

>In a message dated 12/19/2004 6:02:05 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>Also, any advice on a free image manipulation program for Windows
>would be great - my trial period for PSP ran out the day I got the DS
>and I need something to tide me over until the new year, when I can
>think about buying a real license. I'm using IrFanView at the moment
>(and occasionally wrestle with the GIMP).

Haven't tried it myself but I've heard many recommendations for
PhotoFiltre:
http://photofiltre.free.fr/frames_en.htm

-- 
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

> The only things I can think of that are a reasonable possibility are
> European Roller and Green Woodpecker, with the Roller winning for colour
> and the Woodpecker winning for form.  More likely is a pair of escapees
> of some exotica.  Maybe Moulin Rouge birds.  They have multicoloured
> plumage. On the subject of what obscure animals people use as pets, did
> you know that the "Amazon" section of the London Aquarium is populated
> almost entirely by "cast-offs" from peoples' aquaria?  That is, the fish
> grew too large to remain in them.  Many of the fish are only able to
> reach their full size in something like the space given in the L A and
> they are upwards of six feet..

>> The most surprising exotic creature I've seen in the UK was a wild
>> penguin. Last year on Chesil Beach in Dorset I saw a bird swimming
>> very quickly through the waves, chasing a fish. From my vast experience
>> of penguins in S. Africa I identified it immediately. I was rather taken
>> aback to see one so far north, so when I got home I went through my Observer
>> Book of Birds (or whatever), and learned that it was in fact a guillemot,
>> which is not at all exotic (although I've never seen one in London,
>> whereas I have seen penguins). Still, those things are pretty good examples
>> of convergent evolution.

> Like modern cars, which Cath is certain are all modelled on Kryten's
> head 8-)  Recommend the glassbottom boat trip along the Fleet next time
> you are there.  The guide is a proper marine biologist.  Not recommended
> after gale force winds, though.  Makes it too muddy. 8-(

> mike






-- 
Cheers,
 Bob

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[mike wilson]

Hi,
Bob W wrote:
during the summer I saw a couple of exotic birds on a pavement in
Southwark. When I approached them they flew up a tree where they
remained for quite a long time before flying out of sight. They were
not parrots, but had (iirc) blue, red, green and yellow plumage.

European Bee eater?
http://www.birdfoto.fsnet.co.uk/beeeater/beeeater.html
We even had a pair nesting here last year.

Nope. The ones I saw were more crow-like, in size and shape. The
colour was more cartoonish (probably not a good biological term), and
I was particularly struck by how vivid the green was.
The only things I can think of that are a reasonable possibility are 
European Roller and Green Woodpecker, with the Roller winning for colour 
and the Woodpecker winning for form.  More likely is a pair of escapees 
of some exotica.  Maybe Moulin Rouge birds.  They have multicoloured 
plumage. On the subject of what obscure animals people use as pets, did 
you know that the "Amazon" section of the London Aquarium is populated 
almost entirely by "cast-offs" from peoples' aquaria?  That is, the fish 
grew too large to remain in them.  Many of the fish are only able to 
reach their full size in something like the space given in the L A and 
they are upwards of six feet..

The most surprising exotic creature I've seen in the UK was a wild
penguin. Last year on Chesil Beach in Dorset I saw a bird swimming
very quickly through the waves, chasing a fish. From my vast experience
of penguins in S. Africa I identified it immediately. I was rather taken
aback to see one so far north, so when I got home I went through my Observer
Book of Birds (or whatever), and learned that it was in fact a guillemot,
which is not at all exotic (although I've never seen one in London,
whereas I have seen penguins). Still, those things are pretty good examples
of convergent evolution.
Like modern cars, which Cath is certain are all modelled on Kryten's 
head 8-)  Recommend the glassbottom boat trip along the Fleet next time 
you are there.  The guide is a proper marine biologist.  Not recommended 
after gale force winds, though.  Makes it too muddy. 8-(

mike

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Brian Walters]

Billy


> IrFanView has only the one setting (that I've found so far) for
> sharpening and I was also thinking it was a bit too much, but it's
> better than without the sharpen. WHEN I get ps/psp everything will
> be
> better...well, less polar in sharpening at least :)
> 




In the meantime you might like to give Serif's Photo Plus a try. 
There's a free version which is not as powerful as PS or PSP but it
allows you to do lots of things that Irfanview can't.  (eg layers,
various levels of sharpening etc).  You have to register it with
Serif but registration is free and they don't inundate you with
emails urging you to buy the full product.

http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/



Great photo, by the way.



Cheers

Brian

+
Brian Walters
Western Sydney, Australia

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Kenneth Waller]

Great capture. The bird on the left is a little hot on my monitor.

Kenneth Waller

- Original Message - 
From: "Billy Abbott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 9:00 AM
Subject: PESO - A Pair of Birds


> I went a-wandering this morning to try and find a tree that would look
> nice for next months PUG. Today's the first sunny day that I've had a
> chance to go out with my new *istDS so I thought I'd have a bit of an
> experiment. Suffice to say, the experimentation didn't go too well and
> my tree shots were crap.
> 
> However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
> few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
> I'm afraid...)
> 
> Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
> Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.
> 
> Anyway, this is a) one of my first attempts at shooting wildlife
> (first for birds in trees) and b) the first time I've done much
> shooting with my DS, so any hints and tips much appreciated.
> 
> Also, any advice on a free image manipulation program for Windows
> would be great - my trial period for PSP ran out the day I got the DS
> and I need something to tide me over until the new year, when I can
> think about buying a real license. I'm using IrFanView at the moment
> (and occasionally wrestle with the GIMP).
> 
> Billy
> 

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob Sullivan]

I used to work with a guy we called Oran Utang.
His knuckles occaionally dragged on the ground.

And Jon is right, that parrot is just resting - not dead.

Regards,  Bob S.


On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:09:42 +, Bob W <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> > Ringnecked parakeets, breeding from a few escapees about 30 years ago.
> > Not heard of any records from London before.  They go along with the
> > scorpions in Sussex, the wallabies in the west midlands and the lowland
> > gorillas in the bottom reaches of the Clyde valley.  Guess which of
> > those is not true.
> 
> a couple of old silverbacks regularly drag branches through the office
> where I work in Essex, and pound their chests at each other across the
> photocopiers and shredders.
> 
> --
> Cheers,
> Bob
> 
>

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

>> during the summer I saw a couple of exotic birds on a pavement in
>> Southwark. When I approached them they flew up a tree where they
>> remained for quite a long time before flying out of sight. They were
>> not parrots, but had (iirc) blue, red, green and yellow plumage.

> European Bee eater?
> http://www.birdfoto.fsnet.co.uk/beeeater/beeeater.html
> We even had a pair nesting here last year.

Nope. The ones I saw were more crow-like, in size and shape. The
colour was more cartoonish (probably not a good biological term), and
I was particularly struck by how vivid the green was.

>> The sparrow population in England has collapsed in recent years.
>> Perhaps they all evolved into something exotic and we never noticed.

> I suspect the answer is rather more prosaic..

my approach to conspiracy theories, alien abductions and so on has
always been that the dullest and most boring explanation is likely to
be the one that's true, so I guess I have to agree with you.

The most surprising exotic creature I've seen in the UK was a wild
penguin. Last year on Chesil Beach in Dorset I saw a bird swimming
very quickly through the waves, chasing a fish. From my vast experience
of penguins in S. Africa I identified it immediately. I was rather taken
aback to see one so far north, so when I got home I went through my Observer
Book of Birds (or whatever), and learned that it was in fact a guillemot,
which is not at all exotic (although I've never seen one in London,
whereas I have seen penguins). Still, those things are pretty good examples
of convergent evolution.

-- 
Cheers,
 Bob

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Eactivist]

In a message dated 12/19/2004 6:02:05 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Also, any advice on a free image manipulation program for Windows
would be great - my trial period for PSP ran out the day I got the DS
and I need something to tide me over until the new year, when I can
think about buying a real license. I'm using IrFanView at the moment
(and occasionally wrestle with the GIMP).

Billy
---
Photoshop Elements (I or II) is cheaper and does a good job until you 
want/can afford more.

I believe you can find either highly discounted at various places on the Net.

Marnie aka Doe 

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

> Ringnecked parakeets, breeding from a few escapees about 30 years ago.
> Not heard of any records from London before.  They go along with the
> scorpions in Sussex, the wallabies in the west midlands and the lowland
> gorillas in the bottom reaches of the Clyde valley.  Guess which of 
> those is not true.

a couple of old silverbacks regularly drag branches through the office
where I work in Essex, and pound their chests at each other across the
photocopiers and shredders.

-- 
Cheers,
 Bob

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Graywolf]

Yah, one has to be careful. Remember what happened in Jurassic Park (grin).
graywolf
http://www.graywolfphoto.com
"Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof"
---

Bob W wrote:
Hi,

Seems like some people will never understand the risks of introducing
foreign species.

These days, in Bergen, they are hunting for four racoons. Illegally 
imported as pets and currently on the run...:-)

Over here the wild boar have us on the run:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4051477.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4056615.stm
The only solution is to re-introduce wolves.

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Billy Abbott]

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:10:14 +, mike wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Billy Abbott wrote:
> > However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
> > few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
> > I'm afraid...)
> 
> Ringnecked parakeets, breeding from a few escapees about 30 years ago.
> Not heard of any records from London before.  They go along with the
> scorpions in Sussex, the wallabies in the west midlands and the lowland
> gorillas in the bottom reaches of the Clyde valley.  Guess which of
> those is not true.

They are all true. If anyone days they're not, than they've been got
to by the secret government of the world. It's true, my tv told
me...through the speshul channel...

> > Anyway, this is a) one of my first attempts at shooting wildlife
> > (first for birds in trees) and b) the first time I've done much
> > shooting with my DS, so any hints and tips much appreciated.
> 
> _Maybe_ slightly oversharpened, otherwise I can't see any faults with it.

IrFanView has only the one setting (that I've found so far) for
sharpening and I was also thinking it was a bit too much, but it's
better than without the sharpen. WHEN I get ps/psp everything will be
better...well, less polar in sharpening at least :)

Billy

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[mike wilson]

Cotty wrote:
On 19/12/04, Jon Glass, discombobulated, unleashed:

They certainly look like a pair, however. I wonder if you 
could find them again, and try to "rescue" them with some food or 
something. I can't imagine that they will do well this winter.

Au contraire mon frere. We here in Britain bask in mild winter sunshine,
coconut palms waving idly in the breeze. Why just the other day a herd of
elephant loped gaily past my house.
I'm having a glass of that, this evening, too.
m

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[mike wilson]

Bob W wrote:
during the summer I saw a couple of exotic birds on a pavement in
Southwark. When I approached them they flew up a tree where they
remained for quite a long time before flying out of sight. They were
not parrots, but had (iirc) blue, red, green and yellow plumage.
European Bee eater?
http://www.birdfoto.fsnet.co.uk/beeeater/beeeater.html
We even had a pair nesting here last year.
The sparrow population in England has collapsed in recent years.
Perhaps they all evolved into something exotic and we never noticed.
I suspect the answer is rather more prosaic..
mike

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[mike wilson]

Hi,
Billy Abbott wrote:
However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
I'm afraid...)
Ringnecked parakeets, breeding from a few escapees about 30 years ago. 
Not heard of any records from London before.  They go along with the 
scorpions in Sussex, the wallabies in the west midlands and the lowland 
gorillas in the bottom reaches of the Clyde valley.  Guess which of 
those is not true.

Anyway, this is a) one of my first attempts at shooting wildlife
(first for birds in trees) and b) the first time I've done much
shooting with my DS, so any hints and tips much appreciated.
_Maybe_ slightly oversharpened, otherwise I can't see any faults with it.
mike

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Billy Abbott]

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 07:55:35 -0800 (PST), Jack Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Billy,
> Nice catch! Fortunate general lighting, to say the
> least.
> Did you note the focal length setting? Cropped?
> Anticipating possible surprises always enriches the
> hunt even when working a particular theme.

It was at the 210mm end of the zoom and had a resize, sharpen and
tweak to the saturation to get in more in line with the RAW shots i
took later - no crop.

The camera was on my tripod and pointing straight up - I got more than
a few funny looks from dog walkers nearby.

This was actually one of the JPGs I shot as a test before taking RAWs
(when I got the camera they only had 256mb SD cards...I so very badly
need a larger card). Apart from white balancing and pushing/pulling
sensitivity issues I am tempted to shoot JPG for the moment (until i
get some bigger cards).

billy

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Billy Abbott]

As soon as I mentioned to people here in London that I was shocked to
find parrots everyone told me about the mysterious breeding
populations with a surprised "didn't you know that? i thought everyone
did".

We've got a puma in Surrey though, why not parrots in Ealing? :)

billy

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Jon Glass]

On Dec 19, 2004, at 6:18 PM, Cotty wrote:
This parrot is dead:

No, no, no, no 'e's _restin'_. ;-)
--
-Jon Glass
Krakow, Poland
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Jostein]

hehe
Both of which once naturally belonged to the fauna of the British 
isles.
Sounds like a good idea. Could structure the rabbit populations a bit 
too, I suppose. :-)
Jostein
- Original Message - 
From: "Bob W" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 6:20 PM
Subject: Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds


Hi,
Seems like some people will never understand the risks of 
introducing
foreign species.

These days, in Bergen, they are hunting for four racoons. Illegally
imported as pets and currently on the run...:-)
Over here the wild boar have us on the run:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4051477.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4056615.stm
The only solution is to re-introduce wolves.
--
Cheers,
Little Red Riding Hood

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Ann Sanfedele]

cousins of these in this article in a New YOrk paper ???
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/brooklyn/nyc-birds0209,0,107050.story?coll=nyc-topheadlines-brooklyn

annsan

Billy Abbott wrote:

>
>
> However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
> few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
> I'm afraid...)
>
> Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
> Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.
>

(snip)

>
> Billy

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Cotty]

On 19/12/04, Bob W, discombobulated, unleashed:

>. Why just the other day a herd of
>> elephant loped gaily past my house.
>
>they'd be pink, then, would they?

By golly they were!

In fact I have a feeling that they'll be back this evening.




Cheers,
  Cotty


___/\__
||   (O)   | People, Places, Pastiche
||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com
_

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

> Au contraire mon frere. We here in Britain bask in mild winter sunshine,
> coconut palms waving idly in the breeze. Why just the other day a herd of
> elephant loped gaily past my house.

they'd be pink, then, would they?

-- 
Cheers,
 Bob

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Cotty]

On 19/12/04, Jon Glass, discombobulated, unleashed:

>They certainly look like a pair, however. I wonder if you 
>could find them again, and try to "rescue" them with some food or 
>something. I can't imagine that they will do well this winter.

Au contraire mon frere. We here in Britain bask in mild winter sunshine,
coconut palms waving idly in the breeze. Why just the other day a herd of
elephant loped gaily past my house.




Cheers,
  Cotty


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Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Cotty]

On 19/12/04, Bob W, discombobulated, unleashed:

>they
>must be descended from Jimi Hendrix's pet parrots.
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3869815.stm
>
>during the summer I saw a couple of exotic birds on a pavement in
>Southwark. When I approached them they flew up a tree where they
>remained for quite a long time before flying out of sight. They were
>not parrots, but had (iirc) blue, red, green and yellow plumage.

This parrot is dead:






Cheers,
  Cotty


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Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

> Seems like some people will never understand the risks of introducing
> foreign species.

> These days, in Bergen, they are hunting for four racoons. Illegally 
> imported as pets and currently on the run...:-)

Over here the wild boar have us on the run:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4051477.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4056615.stm

The only solution is to re-introduce wolves.

-- 
Cheers,
 Little Red Riding Hood

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Jostein]

LOL
Seems like some people will never understand the risks of introducing 
foreign species.

These days, in Bergen, they are hunting for four racoons. Illegally 
imported as pets and currently on the run...:-)

Jostein
- Original Message - 
From: "Bob W" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds


Hi,
However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got 
a
few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite 
(270kb
I'm afraid...)

Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.
If that's a pear tree then those must be partridges. Otherwise they
must be descended from Jimi Hendrix's pet parrots.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3869815.stm
during the summer I saw a couple of exotic birds on a pavement in
Southwark. When I approached them they flew up a tree where they
remained for quite a long time before flying out of sight. They were
not parrots, but had (iirc) blue, red, green and yellow plumage.
The sparrow population in England has collapsed in recent years.
Perhaps they all evolved into something exotic and we never noticed.
Bob

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Jack Davis]

Billy,
Nice catch! Fortunate general lighting, to say the
least.
Did you note the focal length setting? Cropped?
Anticipating possible surprises always enriches the
hunt even when working a particular theme.  

Noel,

Jack
--- Billy Abbott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> I went a-wandering this morning to try and find a
> tree that would look
> nice for next months PUG. Today's the first sunny
> day that I've had a
> chance to go out with my new *istDS so I thought I'd
> have a bit of an
> experiment. Suffice to say, the experimentation
> didn't go too well and
> my tree shots were crap.
> 
> However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in
> a tree and got a
> few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is
> my favourite (270kb
> I'm afraid...)
> 
> Although what rather tropical looking birds like
> these are doing in
> Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not
> sure.
> 
> Anyway, this is a) one of my first attempts at
> shooting wildlife
> (first for birds in trees) and b) the first time
> I've done much
> shooting with my DS, so any hints and tips much
> appreciated.
> 
> Also, any advice on a free image manipulation
> program for Windows
> would be great - my trial period for PSP ran out the
> day I got the DS
> and I need something to tide me over until the new
> year, when I can
> think about buying a real license. I'm using
> IrFanView at the moment
> (and occasionally wrestle with the GIMP).
> 
> Billy
> 
> 




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RE: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Don Sanderson]

Beautiful shot Billy!
I agree, looks like someones pets escaped.
Wrong country for those.
I'm not a bird fancier but I do know any
specimen of the parrot family is in the
neighborhood of $500-$1000+ around here.
Might even be some reward money there!
(Ooh, Ooh, a new lense!!)  ;-0

Don


> -Original Message-
> From: Jon Glass [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 9:25 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds
> 
> 
> On Dec 19, 2004, at 3:00 PM, Billy Abbott wrote:
> 
> > However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
> > few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
> > I'm afraid...)
> >
> > Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
> > Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.
> >
> Stunning photo (colors and texture--amazing camera) :-) Gotta get 
> myself a camera like that. :-)
> 
> Those are certainly tropical birds. I feel sorry for them. I suspect 
> that their owner "abandoned" them. I doubt that both would have escaped 
> on their own. They certainly look like a pair, however. I wonder if you 
> could find them again, and try to "rescue" them with some food or 
> something. I can't imagine that they will do well this winter.
> -- 
> -Jon Glass
> Krakow, Poland
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> 
> 

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Jon Glass]

On Dec 19, 2004, at 3:00 PM, Billy Abbott wrote:
However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
I'm afraid...)
Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.
Stunning photo (colors and texture--amazing camera) :-) Gotta get 
myself a camera like that. :-)

Those are certainly tropical birds. I feel sorry for them. I suspect 
that their owner "abandoned" them. I doubt that both would have escaped 
on their own. They certainly look like a pair, however. I wonder if you 
could find them again, and try to "rescue" them with some food or 
something. I can't imagine that they will do well this winter.
--
-Jon Glass
Krakow, Poland
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Paul Stenquist]

Great shot. They appear to be parakeets or some near relative of the 
same. i'm surprised that you find them in London.
On Dec 19, 2004, at 9:00 AM, Billy Abbott wrote:

I went a-wandering this morning to try and find a tree that would look
nice for next months PUG. Today's the first sunny day that I've had a
chance to go out with my new *istDS so I thought I'd have a bit of an
experiment. Suffice to say, the experimentation didn't go too well and
my tree shots were crap.
However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
I'm afraid...)
Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.
Anyway, this is a) one of my first attempts at shooting wildlife
(first for birds in trees) and b) the first time I've done much
shooting with my DS, so any hints and tips much appreciated.
Also, any advice on a free image manipulation program for Windows
would be great - my trial period for PSP ran out the day I got the DS
and I need something to tide me over until the new year, when I can
think about buying a real license. I'm using IrFanView at the moment
(and occasionally wrestle with the GIMP).
Billy

Re: PESO - A Pair of Birds

[Bob W]

Hi,

> However, I randomly spied a couple of birdies up in a tree and got a
> few shots. http://cowfish.org.uk/paw/birds.html is my favourite (270kb
> I'm afraid...)

> Although what rather tropical looking birds like these are doing in
> Gunnersbury Park in west London in December I'm not sure.

If that's a pear tree then those must be partridges. Otherwise they
must be descended from Jimi Hendrix's pet parrots.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3869815.stm

during the summer I saw a couple of exotic birds on a pavement in
Southwark. When I approached them they flew up a tree where they
remained for quite a long time before flying out of sight. They were
not parrots, but had (iirc) blue, red, green and yellow plumage.

The sparrow population in England has collapsed in recent years.
Perhaps they all evolved into something exotic and we never noticed.

Bob