Merlin

Gallery: AvianPosted October 10, 2010234 views18 comments

I ran into Richard Ettlinger @ Jones Beach yesterday and the migration action was hot. Couldn't stay for long but got this Merlin which was being pursued by the Sharp-shined hawk in Richard's latest post.

Nikon D300s 300 f/4 + 1.7X TC HH
f/7.1
1/1250s
ISO 500

- Luke

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 10, 2010 at 9:23 PM

This is nice Luke. Great wing extension and head turn at this angle. Light and sharpness look good. I have zero shots of the species, perched or in flight...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 10, 2010 at 9:40 PM

Great job on this Luke, like that wings up flight pose & head turn

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on October 10, 2010 at 9:51 PM

Very Good

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 10, 2010 at 10:25 PM

I don't know how you guys get these - great shot! My personal preference would be a tighter crop.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 11, 2010 at 2:04 AM

Nice image. Love the position of the bird. With him flying away you get to see the tail and detail on the upper and lower side of the wing. Then he gave you that great head turn. May have been a short stay, but it was a productive one.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on October 11, 2010 at 4:17 AM

Fantastic shot of this species! Would love to have as part of my collection!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 11, 2010 at 6:11 AM

Really like the pose and fanned tail Luke - really sharp

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 11, 2010 at 7:54 AM

Luke, a nice flight position with just enough head turn to make this work. Small nits are the near wing tip not being as sharp as I would like to see it, and a bit closer view would make this stronger. You don't mention how large a crop this is, but if the pixels are there, I would crop in further if this were mine. Overall, a nice shot.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 11, 2010 at 8:59 AM

Great flight shot Luke. The head turn and wing position are excellent, the fanned tail an added bonus. I echo KC's comments "I don't know how you guys get these". Nice work!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 11, 2010 at 9:58 AM

Great capture, Luke. I really like the splayed tail, the dynamic flight pose and the head turn.

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

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

Nice one Luke, I have never seen a Merlin before, good detail where it counts.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on October 11, 2010 at 2:54 PM

That is gorgeous. Well done, Luke.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on October 11, 2010 at 4:19 PM

I too woukd like to see a closer crop but am thrilled with it as it is!

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on October 11, 2010 at 7:05 PM

Very well captured! Details look great! Head on shot would have been the icing.......

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 11, 2010 at 8:41 PM

Luke

Love the wing position, the flared tail and great eye contact.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 11, 2010 at 11:56 PM

Sweet Merlin Luke!

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

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on October 12, 2010 at 11:28 AM

Excellent capture, Luke

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on October 12, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Nice one Luke! That was some chase!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments