Kirstenbosch Gardens

Posted by Graham Russon (Cape Town, South Africa) on 24 February 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

Sunbird on giant protea.
Had family down from Johannesburg, and we had a picnic at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. I went on a walk with a mission of only taking close ups with my 75-300mm telephoto lens, and these are some of the results.
I may have the name of the bird wrong (Jaynee any ideas?)

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Comments (15)

Frankie from Boxmeer, Netherlands

Wow, this is a beauty. The bird looks like a hummingbird, but as far as I know they do not live in South Africa.

24 Feb 2008 8:55pm

@Frankie: Thanks Frankie, according to the expert (Jaynee) this is a Sunbird. She thinks it is related to the hummingbird.

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Spectacular!

24 Feb 2008 9:04pm

@Ana Lúcia: Thank you for your feedback

Ron from Saint Louis, United States

Beautiful close up. Stunning shot!

24 Feb 2008 9:40pm

@Ron: Thank you and thank you for visiting

pLusOne from Cheonan, South Korea

So Cool shot!
It's really nice close up!

24 Feb 2008 10:44pm

@pLusOne: Thank you

Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa

Absolutely stunning! Well captured, like the detail!

24 Feb 2008 11:38pm

@Ina: Thanks Ina

Tracey from White Hall, United States

Fantastic! Beautiful colors for bird and flower!

25 Feb 2008 1:12am

@Tracey: Thank you Tracey :)

JC Retief from Somerset West, South Africa

Also like the colors and detail.

25 Feb 2008 6:33am

@JC Retief: Thanks JC

June from Cape Town, South Africa

Wow - Nice shot. The bird is a nice added touch.

25 Feb 2008 7:03am

@June: Thank you June, and thank you for visiting

Jaynee from Cape Town, South Africa

What a delightful shot with the bird peeping out. Yes its definitely a sunbird, very tiny, very noisy and very busy. They shine beautifully in the sun. You were lucky to catch him keeping still.

25 Feb 2008 8:11am

@Jaynee: Thanks Jaynee, and thank you for your abundant source of knowledge on local plants and birds.

DaveB from Exeter, United Kingdom

I would've tried to get the bird in sharp focus rather than the front of the plant, but I know it can be very difficult with shots like these!

25 Feb 2008 9:58am

@DaveB: Yeah I agree with you. This was literally yank camera out of bag, point and shoot and hope that all the camera settings were correct. I only got 4 shots before the bird flew off.

Melissa from Warsaw, United States

Oh my gosh, Graham...the colors are exquisite! Well done!

25 Feb 2008 3:24pm

@Melissa: Thank you so much

Elisa from Massachusetts, United States

beautiful capture! I like the light on the little bird!

25 Feb 2008 7:12pm

@Elisa: Thank you Elisa

Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia

Graham... You're as good at catching a bird in a flower as you are at catching those kite surfers in mid air! Great timimg, excellent compostion and processing, and the lens obviously stands up to the test.

25 Feb 2008 9:24pm

Sandrine from Cincinnati, United States

Beautiful bird anyhow whatever it is! excellent capture!

27 Feb 2008 12:02am

Suzanne Labbé from Granby, Canada

Incredible shot ! I love it - did I say that I love it ?
Bravissimo.
Suzanne

10 Mar 2008 10:42pm

@Suzanne Labbé: Thank you so much.

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Canon EOS 400D
1/320 second
F/5.6
ISO 100
300 mm