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the reed creeper

Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted January 7, 2011196 views16 comments

With this bird's reluctance to come clear of the reed line, I settled for a longer lens in an effort to get in there with it, visually at least. It took a long time and a lot of concentration to get the shots because chances where the head and eye were unobstructed were few and far between as he pushed through the reeds. I spent a couple of days with these and they really are the most fascinating birds. Very successful fishermen too this one caught about a dozen fish on the second day and missed only a couple.

LARGER VERSION
FEATURE

C&C welcome as ever.

eric

5D2; Sigma 500 x1.4 @ 700mm
iso 800; f6.3; 1/60
full frame; manual exposure and focus

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Bob Johnson on January 7, 2011 at 8:06 AM

A classic Bittern habitat shot Eric, excellent

Bob

Registered on December 8, 2010, 17 Posts, 169 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on January 7, 2011 at 8:44 AM

Eric
Well done with this shot. I spent a few hours at the London Wetland last week and saw one out in the open. Even then, I find very difficult to get a nice sharp image like you have here.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Fisher on January 7, 2011 at 9:13 AM

Eric,

Great image. The head poking out from the mass of reeds really illustrates the environment and behavior very well. I may be tempted to experiment with a slight crop or may be even a landscape crop to remove some of the reeds from the bottom of the frame.

Rob

Registered on October 15, 2006, 1 Posts, 27 Comments

Comment posted by Kim Connolly on January 7, 2011 at 9:19 AM

A superbly detailed shot Eric, great natural setting.

Registered on June 18, 2008, 14 Posts, 226 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on January 7, 2011 at 10:45 AM

Hi Eric, if the IQ can take it I might be tempted to go for a tighter crop, but still keeping the OOF reeds at the from and loosing the 'crappy' stuff above?

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Green on January 7, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Hi Eric, this is my favourite out of all your Bittern shots, I really like the tunnel effect of the reads, like the bird is looking through them at you. I like it as is.

Mark.G

Registered on February 6, 2008, 5 Posts, 49 Comments

Comment posted by Shaun Simpson on January 7, 2011 at 2:18 PM

An excellent image with complimentary tonality that really shows the bird in its habitat, nice one

Registered on June 6, 2010, 12 Posts, 110 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on January 7, 2011 at 5:33 PM

Great shot !
Habitat just right in my view.
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on January 7, 2011 at 6:11 PM

Framed nicely by the reeds - love it.

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by Edwin kats on January 8, 2011 at 4:37 AM

Beatiful Eric. Well done.

Edwin

Registered on April 24, 2006, 177 Posts, 399 Comments

Comment posted by PhilH on January 8, 2011 at 11:55 AM

Like the framing just as it is... a classic view, I would however prefer the point of focus a little more forward so that the beak is within the DoF rather than the rear of the bird....

Registered on December 31, 2004, 51 Posts, 281 Comments

Comment posted by Maggie Campbell on January 8, 2011 at 12:58 PM

A lovely shot in its environment. Perfect as it is Eric IMO.

Registered on April 15, 2009, 8 Posts, 124 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 8, 2011 at 3:43 PM

Looks like a very difficult bird to see yet alone photograph.
Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Rogers on January 9, 2011 at 12:53 PM

Hello Eric.

Super capture and love the environment included, well spotted and tacken.

Registered on January 16, 2007, 450 Posts, 995 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Bartlett on January 9, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Super shot Eric, and well worth the effort!

Registered on March 9, 2008, 9 Posts, 113 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on January 10, 2011 at 6:34 AM

This is great Eric I like the way it draws you in the reeds and thats where it is hiding a good effect I think

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments