The birds at that shoot are all stockies - I should ask the keeper what determines the 'make-up' of them. At the time I pinched a couple of birds, the cocks were about 80% what I would call standard, about 15% 'Michigan blues' and there were just 2 of these 'claret' birds like the one in your photo. Not one melanistic in 3 visits either - whatever happened to them?

Col

__________________
My hovercraft is full of eels

Lovely one of the pheasant Andy. As Col says, tack sharp.

Cheers Stuart appreciated

Andy.

Here are some shots from the snow:







Enjoy

N

God it would ave froze the b###s off a brass monkey today



Andy

A few more kite shots

Colin, in answer to the question regarding true ring neck pheasants, I am agreeing with Boorod on this one, I dont think we have any true strains of what we call the ring neck pheasant due to mass breeding to supply the present day demand, at the end of the shooting season the cocks and hens are caught up and released into the breeding pens at a ratio of approx 7 hens to 1 cock, these birds are a mixture of various strains, Michigan blue backs, Ring necks, Melanistic, Bohemians, Whites, Black necks, Greens, so you can see why any chance of producing true strains are quickly diluted, some breeders claim to have closed stock of true breeds, but I have my doubts if they are indeed pure blood, or if similar looking birds are penned together to produce a uniform looking bird, pure bred or not we have some bonny pheasants which produce some interesting variations in plumage for fly tying

There are some truly outstanding and wonderful photos posted on this thread!
Some of them are Jaw-Dropping-Fantastic! Which brings me to the point of this post. Gentlemen, do you think there could be a library of nature photos created on this forum? Perhaps without the return comments etc. Just a section of the top 100, photos, to begin with! The photogrphers name and subject also where taken. then the next photo without dialog between members inbetween.

I find myself going back to view some of the photos posted on this thread many times. Would be so nice to have them in a Photo Library on the forum.
We could open it up to members for selection of the photos to be included.

Just a thought

M

I think that's the idea of the stickies Mostyn. Besides; when people go to the trouble of creating, editing and posting their pictures it's always nice to receive a little C&C on them. Can I suggest using the permalink feature to store the location of your favourite pictures.

Photography is very subjective Mostyn, and there's no such thing as the 'top' 100. We should all take the time to view everyone's contributions.

I agree Stuart, perhaps I didn't word it well? I was thinking of something along the lines of a Picture (photo) Gallery on the forum with some of the photos you guys have taken; who have the knowledge of using the modern DSLR photographic equipement! Some of the photos on this thread; and the "Anything Goes" thread, Deserve a gallery they are worthy of a library of photos.

A separate section?

I also enjoy reading the comment and technical dialog between members on the two photo threads.

M