Snowy With Sea Cucumber

Gallery: AvianPosted April 4, 2011268 views10 comments

Taken on Sanibel last year during a late afternoon neap tide. This area is out about 80 feet from the normal shore line. This Snowy started hunting in a little trough and came up with a Sea Cucumber. They are edible, but I'm not sure he knew what to do with it. He never did swallow. The sun was pretty much gone at this point, hence the ISO.

7D 100-400 at about 365mm ISO 400 1/250 F11 IS on HH. Had to rotate it to level the water ring so this is what remains after that process without adding any canvas.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 4, 2011 at 6:16 PM

Nice, Rick. Interesting prey and a nice composition.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 4, 2011 at 6:30 PM

Interesting feeding behavior and nice white exposure Rick. I like that we can see some of the yellow foot. I do think it's a bit tight top, left and bottom but you've explained the reason for that.

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

Comment posted by Dan Walters on April 4, 2011 at 7:11 PM

Nice detail in the whites and I like the sea cucumber in the bill.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 4, 2011 at 8:55 PM

I like the action in this Rick and the techs look great. I also feel the tightness of this. I think this one would be worth the time to add the extra canvas

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 4, 2011 at 9:59 PM

a cool pose and prey, Rick, and I like the ripple too. I agree about it being pretty tight and would consider trying to add a little canvas.

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

Comment posted by Karen Summers on April 5, 2011 at 6:14 AM

shame its a bit tight but nevertheless a lovely well exposed image

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 5, 2011 at 8:18 AM

Being a large bird, I feel quite comfortable with the tight crop. Well done!

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 6, 2011 at 8:50 AM

Exposure looks excellent with very nice details in the birds white plumage Rick
Great light & color and the sea cucumber with corresponding concentric ripples makes it special..
Only minor nit would be the lack of space bottom & left side..
Well done!

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

Comment posted by Jay Levin on April 6, 2011 at 4:20 PM

I really like the raised foot and the water ripples, and the exposure is excellent. Are you sure it's a sea cucumber, Rick? I didn't know they had shells.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 6, 2011 at 4:27 PM

I like the pose and a wonderful job getting detail out of the whites, it does seem a little tight as others have mentioned but a find shot as is, way to go.

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