Hunter

Gallery: AvianPosted July 25, 201146 views8 comments

I think that this is an adult female cowbird. About a month ago, she was very determinedly walking along the edge of a park lawn obviously hunting something. I ran to get ahead of her and lay flat as she marched towards me.

I noticed more than the normal number of insect bites that evening. Maybe whatever she was hunting was also hunting me…..

All comments most welcome.

1D Mark IV, 400 mm f/5.6, 1.4x TC, hand held: ISO 1250, 1/640 s, f/13, 0 EV, 13.9 MP (87% of 16 MP full frame), NR, exposure adjustment, sharpening.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 25, 2011 at 10:14 AM

You paid the price in bug bites, but got a really nice perspective and shot for your troubles. The composition is really well done here. I like the veg almost completely surrounding her, but with nearly all of the bird in the clear.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 25, 2011 at 11:19 AM

I too like the composition and the way the grass frames the subject.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 25, 2011 at 1:48 PM

Steve, I like how the grasses fame the bird, the way it appears she is looking intently at some thing to eat and the comp you used. I agree with your ID.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on July 25, 2011 at 2:39 PM

Can't beat this pov. As has been mentioned the surroundings really point to the bird here. Bet you wouldn't try that laying down in grass trick in the Everglades right now. Never seen so many mosquitoes. Bug jacket, head piece, gloves, thick blue jeans, and they still get in.
Nice work, Steve.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 25, 2011 at 4:32 PM

Great angle, Steve, and I do like how the grass frames the subject. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on July 25, 2011 at 4:55 PM

Steve,
Love the BG. Very different with the focus and the angles of the grasses. She is definatly determined!

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 25, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Steve, I agree with the others - the way the grasses frame the bird is great. The photo almost brings us into her world, to the point that I found myself looking for her quarry in front of her.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 27, 2011 at 9:50 PM

Thank you all for the comments. Looks like the bug bites were worth it! (....and I'm glad it's not the Everglades...)

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