Yellow on Green

Gallery: AvianPosted June 13, 2011102 views6 comments

This is a male Yellow Wagtail puffing himself up to frighten off another male.
Like John Prine said “ You come home big when you’re feeling small “
It seems to work anyway.

Interestingly the green is a solid mass of an alien plant which is causing problems in muddy habitats. Its Crassula helmsii or Australian Stonecrop. Being so invasive it has taken over large areas of mud and swampy ground.
D7000 Sigma 50-500mm 500 ISO f9 @400th sec
Crop off horizontal
Levels in Paint Shop Pro
White dropping cloned out in foreground
Cheers
JohnR

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Kim Connolly on June 13, 2011 at 8:31 AM

It's a beautiful bird John, what a fabulous pose, the alien plant makes a lovely contrast and I love the title - Yellow on Green - perfect! A superb shot.,

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on June 13, 2011 at 1:18 PM

Well done. I like the way the subject stands out against the background, the detail and the pose. I think a slightly larger focal opening might have blurred the near background more smoothly and avoided the sudden drop in focus better. As is, nominally distracting. I like the back story as well and the John Prine quote.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on June 13, 2011 at 3:09 PM

Good point Philip. The bird is actually standing on a slightly raised mound which has made it abrupt. I'll try blurring a bit later.
Cheers
JohnR

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on June 13, 2011 at 7:33 PM

Nice shot of this wagtail! I love the John Prine reference...one of my personal favs! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on June 14, 2011 at 3:56 AM

Lovely bird well captured - I especially like the pose and detail in the yellow plumage. I also liked the setting until reading that it is an Aussie invasive causing problems. Perhaps we can repatriate some rabbits to help with the problem.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on June 14, 2011 at 1:38 PM

Love the "feeling small" pose. Excellent color and detail too.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments