Scavenger

Gallery: AvianPosted July 19, 2011267 views5 comments

I was sat a a dry waterhole in the Kruger National Park watching the elephants come and go when an African Fish Eagle came in to land in the mud. Upon closer inspection it became evident that in one of the very small holes containing minimal water a few barbel were struggling for survival in the mud. The Fish Eagle sized them up and then decided to take a Barbel that was already lying on the side covered in mud. I grabbed the fish and then flew straight at us. The light was less that perfect as the sun was going down and we had slight overcast conditions.

Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Shooting Date/Time 07/12/11 16:07:32
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/1600
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Partial Metering
ISO Speed 1600
Auto ISO Speed ON
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Focal Length 500.0mm
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on July 19, 2011 at 4:22 PM

Superb stuff indeed.!
Doesn't look too appetising a meal though !
JohnR

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

Comment posted by Verdon on July 19, 2011 at 4:47 PM

What a shot and very nice bird, sweet detail, on the head is lack of detail, other that beauty ......

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 19, 2011 at 7:55 PM

Wonderful pose and colours of this fellow!
the white head is pretty blown; you should be able to dampen this with a selective brightness adjustment, or - ideally - with Viveza which can also reclaim some detail.
The eagle is pretty centered - don't know if you have more room, but it would be good if there was more room on our left and less on the right.
Nice image!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 19, 2011 at 10:23 PM

Cool pose and behavior, Neal. To my eye, the whites on the top of the head look a little hot. The dof was excellent for this image.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on July 20, 2011 at 3:10 AM

Hi Neal.
The lack of detail on the head covered but that apart a real good shot.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments