Black-billed Magpie

Gallery: AvianPosted March 14, 2011186 views14 comments

The magpies around here are busy with nest building and don't let something like last weeks snowstorm slow them down much. They're refurbishing last years nest with mud and twigs - in this case it's the mud, which makes for messy beaks but interesting behavior.

7D, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 3/8/11, cropped to 72% of original image, slight exposure adjustment, sharpened, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not set up or baited

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 14, 2011 at 6:46 PM

Nice shot Ron. Great exposure on the blacks and whites. Not easy to do. Love the snow and the mud. It looks like they shovel up the mud onto the top of their beak to carry it. Neat stuff. The BG is nice. The upper left looks like a small building of some sort with a doorway in the middle. The hashed line pattern attracts my attention a bit, but that is being very picky on a very nice image.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 14, 2011 at 6:57 PM

Fine exposure and good stopping of the flight. I agree with R.B. on the OOF structure - a little distracting once I notice it but not an image killer for me. I'd be happy to have taken this just as posted.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 14, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Action, behavior, spot-on exposure - this has it ALL! Congrats Ron, a nice change of pace from those big raptors.

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 14, 2011 at 9:24 PM

Very nice flight shot, Ron. The mud on it's bill is a bonus. Great detail in the blacks and whites. The bits of flying snow are just enough to add to the feel of motion.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 14, 2011 at 9:31 PM

Wonderful capture and interesting behavior, Ron. I too like the exposure here on blacks and whites, including the snow. The house shape in the bg doesn't bother me. However, I'm not sure what to make of the "hashed line" pattern. It's barely discernible but, when noticed, does draw attention away from the bird.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 14, 2011 at 9:51 PM

Very interesting nest building with mud. I love the snow falling from the feet and the action caught

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 14, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Nice job on such a difficult constrast shot. When I first looked at this I could not figure out what was in beak until I read your comments. I like the overall composition, the wings spread above the body and the larger image detail looks right on, well done.

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

Comment posted by Graham Brown on March 15, 2011 at 4:57 AM

Nice in flight shot Ron not easy to get the exposure right to show detail in both the blacks and whites. Our magpies build their nests high up in the trees and it's not easy to get this type of shot. Does'nt snow add to an image. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 15, 2011 at 5:14 AM

Wonderful frozen action, nice work with exposure,

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 15, 2011 at 5:43 AM

Great snowy perch Ron. Plenty of detail in the blacks and i like the spread feet.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on March 15, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Delightful. The mud carrying is crazy interesting. Great techs, and love the comp.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 15, 2011 at 10:07 PM

Nice job on this difficult exposure. I like the splayed feet and the snowflakes that trail the bird, the green iridescent feathers on the wing, and the mud in the beak. The image is a great study in avian behavior Ron.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 16, 2011 at 2:39 PM

Missed this - I like it a great deal! The behaviour is indeed interesting.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 16, 2011 at 11:06 PM

Another winner from you, Ron. Great handling of the blacks and whites. I love the snow flying from his feet.

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