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Common Nighthawk
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Common Nighthawk

by Nate Chappell

Gallery: AvianPosted October 11, 2009246 views21 comments
Here's a Common Nighthawk from Malheur Refuge in Oregon taken last summer. It's about 90% of FF.

MkIII 500F4 1/400 F6.3 iso 400, evaluative metering at 0, Gitzo Tripod

Comments

21 comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 11, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Nate, this is just awesome. I love the bird, perch, and BG. The plumage details on the bird in the larger version are just super. What a wonderful image of a bird I really like. Super job on this one.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 11, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I'd love to have taken this - very nice.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 11, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Wonderful! And he blends in so well with that bough. Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 11, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Lovely and very interesting image, Nate. That bird looks like part of the branch! Even the strange eye matches. You certainly post beautiful images and quite a variety of birds! :toast:
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Greg Cope on October 11, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Fantastic find and photograph. I love that branch, and how the bird just blends together with it.
Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on October 11, 2009 at 10:52 PM
beautiful image, superb perch, everything here works for me.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 12, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Can't fault this image, it's a beauty. I especially like the subdued and similar tones of bird and perch, smooth background and detail captured.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 12, 2009 at 12:22 AM
I'd be hard pressed to believe it gets better than this. Camo, clean BG, sleepy look on the hawks face, incredible detail and a difficult species to find. Awesome.
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 12, 2009 at 1:35 AM
That horizontal rotting perch is wonderful Nate. Really suits the detailed patterns and earth colors of the Nighthawk. I don't think I have ever seen a background color like that, very unique! I would love to have this to my credit. :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Sally King on October 12, 2009 at 1:49 AM
Such fantastic details and subtle colors. I always love their hairy little beaks.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 12, 2009 at 2:05 AM
Wonderful textures Nate and I like the monchromatic feel

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on October 12, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Well done, Nate! It's not often we get to see this bird, or Nightjar, roosting on a tree branch like this.
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on October 12, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Awesome image, Nate. I'm still waiting and hoping to find one of these guys perched. Wonderful detail in the cryptic bird and in the bark of the perch. The colors feel very wintery despite knowing when you made the image.
Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on October 12, 2009 at 4:47 PM
I'd love a shot like that of this species . Congrats Nate :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on October 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Great find and wonderful capture. Love how he blends so well with the branch.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Lana Hays on October 12, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Nate
I just love this. A wonderful bird with an excellent perch and oh how those colors make this one a real gem.
Registered on November 12, 2003, 0 Posts, 38 Comments
Comment posted by David Williams on October 12, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Beautifully done, Nate.......this is how we see them here every year.
:toast:
Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on October 13, 2009 at 4:23 AM
What others have already stated - the blending of the bird and perch, beautiful color scheme, detail in the bird, and I like the triangle formed by the bird. :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 13, 2009 at 9:37 AM
How wonderful to get this species out in the open like this! Very well done.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Mason on October 13, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Wonder shot of a bird I believe is very hard to find even when you know it is about. I can undersatnd that from the camouflage.
Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 13, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Beautiful, Nate. I love the combination of the juniper branch and the coloration of the Nighthawk. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments