Green-tailed Towhee

Gallery: AvianPosted May 4, 2010177 views16 comments

Home again after a great trip to Southern California visiting Bob Steele briefly on the way down, and Charlie van Tassel many more times in the Anza Borrego Desert. We had seen a pair of these there but failed to photograph it, and Charlie wants one badly. I got this at Mono Lake on Saturday during a short stopover en-route home. Charlie, to thank you for your hospitality and great company, plus the many successes we had together, this one's for you!

1D Mk IV, 500mm + 1.4X, beanbag on car window, late afternoon light - no flash, ISO400, 1/1600 @ f8, natural perch of its choice.

Thanks for looking; comments always welcomed heartily!

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on May 4, 2010 at 10:29 AM

Why thank you, sir! What a beauty. I'll take it, and maybe sometime soon I'll get one too. I also had a great time while you were here, Kwan. It's always good to shoot with a pro like yourself. See you next year!

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 4, 2010 at 12:06 PM

I've yet to get a shot of this species that I like - they don't get up in the open like this for me!

I like tihs a lot as posted.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 4, 2010 at 12:41 PM

Kwan, this is simply fantastic! Love the color, detail, perch, head angle and so on. I only have one very minor nit...and it is VERY minor...but I have OCD, so bear with me. There is either a dust bunny or a long strand of hair/feather coming off the back of the birds head (draw a straight line back from his eye). Thought it was something on my monitor at first).

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 4, 2010 at 1:03 PM

There is either a dust bunny or a long strand of hair/feather coming off the back of the birds head (draw a straight line back from his eye). Thought it was something on my monitor at first).

Hi Kurt,

That is a bit of loose feather sticking out - it's on every picture that I have with the position of the bird at various spots on the frame. Hence, it is not a dust bunny. It was quite windy and I tend to leave such "loose ends" in my pictures.

There's also that "extension" of the OOF branch that goes through the bird's tail that I left untouched.

Many thanks for your comment! Kwan

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 4, 2010 at 3:16 PM

Kwan, thanks for telling me qwhat in the world it was...that was probably bugging me the most...lol. I have a bit of OCD, so I feel like I want to go pick it off the bird...kind of like picking lint off of someone's shirt.

and totally respect your choice for leaving it! Not sure I would call it a loose end though....I don't think your work has anything with those words in it.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 4, 2010 at 4:20 PM

Another wonderful capture, KC. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on May 4, 2010 at 4:29 PM

Superb detail, perfect head-turn.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on May 4, 2010 at 7:04 PM

Excellent as always!

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 4, 2010 at 10:34 PM

Beautiful composition, Kwan. The bird and perch fit one another perfectly.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on May 4, 2010 at 10:38 PM

excellent. love the pose, perch, and the detail in the worn plumage. congrats!

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 5, 2010 at 12:45 AM

Couldn't be better! I won't forget this photo, its wonderful. One of these actually showed up here in northwestern Alberta, in the town of Jasper this winter just before Christmas, way out of normal range and season.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 5, 2010 at 7:56 AM

Wonderful KC - great detail and just the slighest of head turns to give eye contact

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on May 5, 2010 at 8:50 AM

Gorgeous...what terrific detail.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 5, 2010 at 11:08 AM

Pose, perch, background and detail on bird all come together on this, well done.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on May 5, 2010 at 8:14 PM

This is splendid, KC. The olive greens and the rusty crown make for a beautifully understated bird. Nice pose, perch, bg and comp, too.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on May 5, 2010 at 11:56 PM

Spectacular capture, Kwan! Really nice!

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments