Crested Caracara

Gallery: AvianPosted September 28, 2011179 views16 comments

Hi all, this is my first post to NPN... here goes...After watching the first Caracara land I positioned myself to capture a flight shot as it left it's roost. While waiting it's mate joined it allowing me to capture this shot just before it landed. Viera Wetlands, Florida.

Canon 7D, 100-400mm f5.6 shutter 1/4000 f5.6 ISO 400, hand held

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 28, 2011 at 5:33 PM

Bill, welcome to NPN. Good to have you here. This is a very nice first post. Of course I know a bit about the circumstances of this image as we were standing right next to each other when these birds came in to perch. The larger version shows nice detial and I love the comp. Exposure looks good too. Well done. I look forward to seeing more of your work here on NPN.

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

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on September 28, 2011 at 5:44 PM

Ron, Thanks for the great critique. It was a good day!

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 28, 2011 at 7:20 PM

Welcome Bill. Very nice first post. I like the splayed tail and left wing position of the incoming bird. I also like the seemingly inquisitive cock of the head of the bird on the left in reaction to the mate coming in. The catch light of the perched bird looks a little funky to my eye but that happens sometimes. Well done and keep posting. And commenting.

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

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on September 28, 2011 at 9:11 PM

Ron D, Thanks for the comments and agree that the eye on the perched bird looked "funky" had not really noticed that, so good catch. The head cock is cool!

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 28, 2011 at 9:53 PM

Excellent first post, Bill. Wonderful landing pose and I like the somewhat quizzical look of the perched bird.Exposure and detail both look good. Composition wise I think it could use a bit more room on the left and maybe a touch less on the right. I do find myself wishing this were about a tenth of a second earlier, so there was some separation between the birds, but they probably wouldn't have both been in the frame then.

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

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on September 28, 2011 at 10:13 PM

Thanks Dennis for the suggestion on the crop, will experiment with that. I would have loved to have seen the second one coming a little sooner, but the only warning I got was when the other tilted it's head.

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Hussain Nalwala on September 28, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Bill this is a nice picture...

Registered on April 18, 2011, 298 Posts, 339 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 29, 2011 at 1:43 AM

Wonderful first post !!. If you're near Ron, you're extremely fortunate!
Great flight pose, fine detail, and good comp.
Well done!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on September 29, 2011 at 6:15 AM

Thanks Hussain from UAE...been there once many moons ago.

Sandy, thanks and yes I'm down/over/up here with Ron, have had the pleasure of shooting with him a couple of times. He is the one that introduced me to NPN.

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on September 29, 2011 at 11:03 AM

Welcome! A very nice first post as well!! I lvoe the extended legs/talons on the bird coming in, and it's such a beautiful pose by the bird. Also like the quizzical look on the 2nd bird, as if to say, "ummm...you DO know this perch is occupied??"

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 30, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Welcome to NPN Bill, a very nice first post. Interesting to see how two large caracara are going to fit on that small perch. I like the wing spread and open talons. The detail, light and colors all look good on the larger version, way to go. Looking forward to more of your images.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on September 30, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Bill,
Welcome aboard. Very, very nice first post. What I like the most about this image is the incredulous look on the bird already on the post. Too funny. Beautiful detail. I'd like to see a little more room on the left side of the image and a little more room below. Looks a little bit tight to me. Looking forward to seeing more of your stuff.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on September 30, 2011 at 5:37 PM

Terry/Jim/Dave, Thanks for the welcome and the comments.

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 30, 2011 at 10:24 PM

Wonderful capture, excellent images of both birds, great work.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 2, 2011 at 1:09 AM

My belated welcome to NPN Avian, Bill. Lovely first post.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by David E Lester on October 2, 2011 at 8:33 AM

Welcome, nice photo, purch does not bother me. Great landing and interaction shot between the birds!!! Well Done!!!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments