Sage Thrasher

Gallery: AvianPosted February 5, 2010171 views23 comments

Typically I see these thrashers on the tops of sage or other brush and seldom on the ground (this one is elevated only an inch or two on its perch). I usually can't get close enough to them but this one kept walking toward us and eventually passed under my pickup to the other side. I assume it was bug hunting...

The creamy white in the background is OOF oolitic (egg) sand that is typical of the Great Salt Lake. It's formed of concentric oval shaped layers of calcium carbonate that precipitate around a core of brine shrimp fecal pellets. Pretty interesting stuff

40D, 1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 9-8-09 at Antelope Island, Great Salt Lake, cropped to 53% of original image, selective sharpening to the bird, cloned out three twig ends poking into the frame but attached to nothing, no other processing

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 5, 2010 at 5:28 PM

Terrific pose of the bird in this image, Ron. He looks like he's about to run out of the screen! Fine detail, great background. The twigs crossing his legs are not really a distraction: they fit well into the picture. I like the composition with the bird emerging from the left. All told: no nits, really nice shot of this bird. Interesting about the sand: calcium carbonate coated shrimp fecal pellets eh.....I think I'd avoid laying around on that....give me plain old silica any day...

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 5, 2010 at 6:02 PM

Nice differentiation from the background despite similar color range. Like the story of the sand!

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 5, 2010 at 7:50 PM

Great low angle and terrific lighting on the eye. The only thing I'd like different on this is a sliver more room on the left - though then you start to enter the "centering" territory

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 5, 2010 at 7:54 PM

One of the best Sage Thrasher photos I've seen in terms of detail Ron. A pity about the twig crossing over his legs , but nothing could be done about that.
The comp looks pretty good to me, I don't think I'd change the crop.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 5, 2010 at 7:57 PM

Ron,

I love this image, the great pose of the thrasher, the setting, light and the wonderful view of the bird's eye. The colors in the background show off this lovely thrasher very well.

The larger version is wonderful, thanks for posting it.

Excellent & appealing image.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Vance on February 5, 2010 at 8:16 PM

I love the colors and the details here. Beautiful bird captured in a natural environment.

Registered on October 31, 2008, 26 Posts, 136 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on February 5, 2010 at 8:20 PM

Ron I over looked this at first but its a really nice image. It all seems to just come together. The twig does not bother me because of the eye contact. You nailed the exp.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on February 5, 2010 at 8:21 PM

Great detail, Ron. The larger image is killer!

Some day I'll need to get a little further out of the mid-west and see some of these birds.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 5, 2010 at 9:12 PM

Wonderful detail, great alert pose and it seems like a perfect BG for a Sage Thrasher. Thanks for the interesting details about the sand.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 5, 2010 at 10:09 PM

Nice and sharp with great detail as usual

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 5, 2010 at 10:38 PM

A terrific look at the eye and head of this thrasher Ron, well done.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 5, 2010 at 11:51 PM

In a word, "Gorgeous"! I don't need those special glasses to see this as a 3-D image! Fantastic!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 6, 2010 at 12:26 AM

Very nice, Ron. It seems that when I look for these birds I never find them. Then, driving down the road there'll be one sitting there. Your photo is excellent. An alert pose captured with perfect timing.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 6, 2010 at 10:59 AM

It has all been said. Outstanding image!!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on February 6, 2010 at 11:33 AM

Ron, I love this photo. Excellent Techs and a very artistic composition.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 6, 2010 at 1:37 PM

wow, Ron--what a great look at that big yellow eye. I don't mind the twig in front of the legs--it seems like standard thrasher habitat. nice comp too.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 6, 2010 at 6:04 PM

Ron, this is great. I love the eye and how the BK and habitat colors and textures work so well with this bird. Great sharpness and detail, especially in the larger version. The branch across the legs does not hurt this at all IMO. No different than a wading birds standing in the water or some other species perched in a bush where you can't even see their feet.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 6, 2010 at 6:33 PM

Good work with this. I only see one every 2-3 years here as migrants and have no images. I'd be very happy with this.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 6, 2010 at 9:24 PM

Nice one Ron - like the detail and that eye really stands out. Isn't it a thrill when the birds are so engrossed and totally unaware of your presence.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 6, 2010 at 11:56 PM

Love the detail and pose here, Ron. Nice light too. I wish the twig wasn't in front of the legs. I guess you wish that too.

Great shot overall. I would be happy to get something like this.

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 7, 2010 at 11:01 AM

I love the curious pose. That eye is incredible. Makes the bird really stand out. Love the muted colors of the rest of the bird and its environment. Excellent image.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Andrea Marzorati on February 8, 2010 at 9:07 AM

Great image Ron, love the pose, the eye contact and the BG too.

Registered on December 1, 2005, 86 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 8, 2010 at 12:24 PM

Wonderful detail and what a cooperative bird. The composition and background all work for me, a pleasure to view, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments