Vermilion Flycatcher

Gallery: AvianPosted June 26, 2011157 views18 comments

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Place: Water Ranch, Gilbert
Date: October 2, 2009
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 320, aperture priority spot metered @ -1/3rd stop, 1/160th @ f/5.6
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, moderate crop

This was the most cooperative Vermilion Flycatcher I've encountered, and I have posted better shots of it here in the past. But as the triple digit temps keep climbing here in Phoenix I'm not getting out much to shoot so I'm digging images out of my backlog. You can see these previously posted images in the Vermilion Flycatcher gallery on my web site - its the bird on the post.

This needed some rotation to make the perch level and I ended up doing some repair to the fence but I don't have the details on how much of a crop that required.

If possible please view the larger version before commenting. Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on June 26, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Heck, Rich, I would be freaking out just seeing a Vermilion. I never have seen one. From you techs it must have been a pretty dark day. Very nice detail and sharpness in the head where is counts most. Nice comp with the perch wood going clear across and the smooth brown BG to compliment it and the bird. I assume a tail wag caused the blurred tail, but that is not an issue with me. Nice shot, one I wish I had in my files.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on June 26, 2011 at 1:52 PM

I like the details that you got in the reds especially. Not always so easy to do in the bright Arizona sun.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 26, 2011 at 1:54 PM

Superb detail, Richard and I love the pose with the uptilted head. Great job on the colors as well.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on June 26, 2011 at 2:03 PM

Beautiful image of a gorgeous little bird.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on June 26, 2011 at 6:45 PM

Lovely little bird, beautifully captured, Richard. Great pose. Plain perch not offering any distraction. The tail blur is the only nit I see. It really doesn't matter much because the image is "sharp where it counts". However, it does raise the question of the cause: bird motion or DOF effect? This is a pretty small bird and it's partially turned, so I think I'd bet Ron is right about the tail wag. Just dwelling on a nit: fine shot as usual.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 26, 2011 at 6:54 PM

I also have never even seen one - great detail here on this fellow, nice eye and pose, and who cares about the fence or tail?
Lovely -
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 26, 2011 at 8:13 PM

I like it as posted Richard, the important parts are sharp and detailed.
I especially like the birds colors against this complimentary smooth BG

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 26, 2011 at 8:34 PM

Lovely background, great detail in the bird and the pose is quite nice. The reds are handled nicely too

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on June 26, 2011 at 9:07 PM

The red channel has been handled brilliantly, Richard! However, if this bird was a co-operative one, a much better perch could have easily been found.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 26, 2011 at 9:27 PM

The red channel has been handled brilliantly, Richard! However, if this bird was a co-operative one, a much better perch could have easily been found.

Please read my commentary on this post and follow the provided link to my web site.

It is my practice and policy to not provide perches anywhere for the birds I photograph; instead I take my photos where the birds choose to be of their own volition. As anyone who visited my web site can see this bird preferred to use one of two stumps at this location, where I took other images of it as circumstances allowed. At one point it flew down to this low rail almost at my feet where I managed this one shot before it moved on.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 27, 2011 at 12:03 AM

What a cute and beautifully coloured little bird! I love the alert pose and the detail you've managed to capture. Thanks for sharing Richard :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 27, 2011 at 12:07 AM

Very artistic feel to this wonderful image Richard. I like the repetitive lines in the perch juxtaposed with the soft brown background. That's a great head position. Isn't it great when you are gifted with a cooperative bird every once in a while, almost gives one some hope.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on June 27, 2011 at 6:35 PM

Wow Richard!! What a great shot. I mean, I know most of you are into so many details. But to pick out where the bird landed?? Sometimes, it gets SO competitive on here, a great shot gets nit picked.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 27, 2011 at 7:20 PM

Wonderful images on your web site of the vermilion. I have seen these at Sweetwater but have never managed to get a good shot of the male. Always nice to have a cooperative bird. I like the way the reds are showing as this can be a difficult color to processes, nice job in getting this, well done.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 27, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Cute little flycatcher, the pose is wonderful and the details are excellent.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on June 27, 2011 at 8:48 PM

I wouldn't be out in the heat either, Richard. This is a beauty, though.......thanks for digging in the files and posting.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on June 27, 2011 at 10:11 PM

Beautiful colors and lovely detail! Like this one very much Richard.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on June 30, 2011 at 9:28 AM

A beauty Rich. Really like the looking up head position and the rich and true colors.

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