Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Snipe (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 bridge camera at 108mm zoom (35mm equivalent of 600mm), ISO 1000, 1/1000 sec at f/2.8, handheld)

Here is another of my favourite shots of 2017. This one is of a Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) taken at Loch Sandray, North Uist this summer. I like this shot because it is reasonably sharp and the background is nicely blurred. The bird sat quietly on the fence post wathcing me as I gradually approached it, taking shots as I went. Eventually it had enough and flew off. The colours of the background grass make the bird stand out well, showing off its wonderful speckled plummage. This photo was taken using my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 bridge camera at 108mm zoom (35mm equivalent of 600mm zoom), ISO 1000, 1/1000 sec at f/2.8, handheld. While not as good for detail as my DSLR this camera has the benefit of being relatively compact and a very good zoom range. Many of my best bird shots have been taken on this camera.