It's the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens, the one I've been using for all my nature and bird photos for the last 2 and a half years! For some reason it has decided to stop focusing on my Nikon D500, and the Vibration Reduction is also messing about.
So instead I have had to go back to using my old cheap Nikon 70-300mm VR lens.
Now, whilst this is a major disappointment, it does have it's up sides too. I'd forgotten what a delightful lens the 70-300mm is to use! Obviously it doesn't have the reach of my Sigma 150-600mm, but it is so much smaller and lighter, and if you can get close enough to your subjects you can capture some lovely shots.
Proof of this was when I used it to photograph the beautiful long-staying female Black Redstart at Brean Down in Somerset. I managed to get one of my best ever shots of it in mid-air about to catch a fly, which I probably would never have got with my Sigma lens!
It's also ideal for taking action pics of birds around feeders, such as the Tits and Finches at RSPB Greylake reserve on the Somerset Levels.
I did manage to use my Sigma lens briefly on my Nikon D7200 camera to get some shots of a roosting daytime Tawny Owl at a private property near Bridgwater.
Thank you very much to the owner of the house for letting me know the Owl was about as I was having breakfast yesterday morning!
Below are shots of everything mentioned above using both my Sigma and Nikon lenses (I will specify which lens was used under the photos!), plus shots of Shelduck, Buzzards, Redwings and a Heron with a Cetti's Warbler in it's beak!
^Above^ - One of my fave ever shots! Black Redstart after a fly, taken at Brean Down. Taken with my Nikon 70-300mm VR lens.
^Above^ - More shots of the Black Redstart at Brean Down, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Tawny Owl near Bridgwater, taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Rock Pipits at Brean Down, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Wren at Brean Down, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Robin at Brean Down, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Jackdaws at Brean Down, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Grey Heron with a Cetti's Warbler as prey!!! Taken near Yatton in North Somerset with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Redwing at RSPB Greylake, taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Robins at RSPB Greylake, the bottom and 2nd bird has a deformed beak! Taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Starlings at RSPB Greylake, taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Chaffinches at Greylake, taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Great Tits at Greylake, taken with the 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Blue Tits at Greylake, taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Lapwing at Greylake, taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Cormorant at Greylake, taken with the Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Bathing female Blackbird in my Somerset garden, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Lambs in my Somerset village, taken with my Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Snipe flying over my village, taken with my Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Black Headed Gull at Chew Valley Lake, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Shelduck at Chew Valley lake, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Tufted Duck at Chew Valley Lake, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Canada Goose at Chew Valley Lake, taken with my 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Pied Wagtail at RSPB Ham Wall, taken with my Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Kestrel near Aller in Somerset, taken with my Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Buzzard at Burrowbridge in Somerset, taken with my Sigma 150-600mm.
^Above^ - Blue Tits at Greylake, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Chaffinches at Greylake, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Great Tits at Greylake, with Reed Bunting (3rd bottom pic) and chaffinch (Bottom 2 pics) taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - House Sparrow at Greylake, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Robins at Greylake, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Pied Wagtail at Greylake, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Starlings at Greylake, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Kestrel hunting at Greylake, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Dunnock at Greylake, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Reed Buntings at Greylake, taken with my Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Goldfinches at Greylake, taken with my 70-300mm.
^Above^ - Buzzard near Middlezoy in Somerset, taken with the Nikon 70-300mm.
^Above^ - A view of Burrow Mump from Aller Moor in Somerset, taken with my Sigma 150-600mm.
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