Pigeon Guillimot

Gallery: AvianPosted July 12, 2011196 views17 comments

I had a nice shoot yesterday afternoon with Ken Archer up near the north end of Hood Canal. We were photographing a group of this species. It was a bright overcast day and we were somewhat backlit shooting against bright water. To get a better angle I put on my chest waders and went into the water so I could shoot back at the beach and get better lighting and a nicer background. This is cropped to about 80% of FF.

7D 500F4 1/1250 F5.6, iso 500, manual exposure, AI Servo, handheld

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 12, 2011 at 3:18 PM

Love the position of the wings and the bird looks pleased to be the subject. Excellent work.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on July 12, 2011 at 4:26 PM

Exquisite Nate. I love these birds and don't see enough of them. You caught the red inner mouth which I think is one of the Guillimot's nices features. Very well done.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on July 12, 2011 at 5:25 PM

Neat shot, Nate. I like how the red in the mouth complements the red feet very well. He seems to be laughing at you as he goes by......

Good placement and action in the wings, too.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 12, 2011 at 5:26 PM

Thanks for your comments guys!

Dave, he was probably thinking to himself "what's that joker doing in the cold water?"

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 12, 2011 at 6:49 PM

Very nice capture, ditto on the capture of both the red mouth and red feet

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 12, 2011 at 7:57 PM

Wow!!! I can't even tell you were shivering

Sweet flight photo Nate!!! I had a great time photogaphing these guys with you, thanks for sharing.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 12, 2011 at 8:38 PM

I like this image Nate. Matching mouth and legs give it a nice pop at both ends. Congrats on going to the extra effort in the water. I certainly paid off.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 12, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Nice flight image, Nate. Excellent detail and eye contact. The bg works nicely.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 12, 2011 at 11:02 PM

I like it, Nate. the open bill and sideways look he's giving you are nice touches. love the red feet on these guys. really nice comp on this.

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 13, 2011 at 12:12 AM

I have never seen one of these. What an interesting look! Echo the other comments that the red mouth really makes it.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on July 13, 2011 at 6:54 AM

Nate, great shot! Hood Canal seems to be a mecca for birds.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on July 13, 2011 at 11:50 AM

I like that little bit of red inside the beak that matches the feet so perfectly.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 13, 2011 at 2:09 PM

Good job reacting to the scene and light conditions, wonderful flight shot of a bird I have never heard of before. I like the black & red color contrast from the feet and mouth and placement in the frame, well done.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 13, 2011 at 2:27 PM

Thanks for your comments!

Bill, this is a fairly common species in Hood Canal of Washington state

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 13, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Your going into the water was rewarded with a great flight shot!

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on July 17, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Nice flight shot of a species I was not familiar with.
Good background and feather detail.

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 18, 2011 at 5:18 AM

Wonderful action, focus is spot on and I like those red legs and feet.

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