Curve-billed Thrasher

Gallery: AvianPosted October 23, 2011501 views19 comments

Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)

Place: Water Ranch, Gilbert, AZ
Date: October 7, 2011, 6:52 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 plus TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/250th @ f/11 natural light
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 89% of frame
No bait, no tape, no setup

A typical shot for the Water Ranch, taken 20-30 minutes after sunrise.

Please view the larger version before commenting if at all possible. Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 23, 2011 at 1:10 PM

A superb image! Excellent perch and the pose and comp are wonderful. Very nice capture! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 23, 2011 at 1:11 PM

Great habitat with perfect lighting. The addition of the flower and the head turn put this image over the top.

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

Comment posted by Scott Frye on October 23, 2011 at 1:58 PM

Great perch -- the green cactus with the blue sky frame the thrasher well -- brings back fond memories of the cactus garden at GWR

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 23, 2011 at 3:13 PM

Beautiful image, love the composition and the cactus perch. The light and details are remarkable.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 23, 2011 at 3:19 PM

Great lighting and detail as well as a very interesting bird and perch, Richard. The comp works really well. I've never seen this bird and looking at a map showing its habitat I understand why! Curious curved beak. Apparently they like to dig holes with it. Fine shot.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 23, 2011 at 5:03 PM

Tack sharp and this early light's grand Rich.
Excellent comp and great DOF that brings the cacti perch in really well..
Nice

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

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on October 23, 2011 at 6:43 PM

A perfect setting for this species.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 24, 2011 at 12:31 AM

I like this a lot Richard, great setting with the flowering cactus and I like the slightly open beak.

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

Comment posted by David Hemmings on October 24, 2011 at 12:10 PM

Love the pose and the light on this one Richard, excellent image

Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 24, 2011 at 2:40 PM

Beautiful light, sweet perch and a cool bird with an attractive head turn against it's body. Sweet Photo Richard!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 24, 2011 at 2:48 PM

Wonderful pose and comp with the soft light. I like the head turn and the upward angle is not to severe. Nice detail on the larger image on both the bird and the saguaro, well done Rich. (Strange to see a saguaro blooming in Oct.)

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 25, 2011 at 11:07 PM

Very nice Rich. Great light. The perch is fantastic and the pose and head turn just right. Well done.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on October 26, 2011 at 4:59 PM

Cool setting. Nicely captured.
May

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 29, 2011 at 7:46 PM

Nobody does these better than you Rich and this one is simply superb.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 3, 2011 at 8:55 AM

Big congrats on the WP Rich! A very deserving honor.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 3, 2011 at 3:45 PM

Superb, Richard. Congratulations on a well-deserved EP!

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 3, 2011 at 7:07 PM

Really love this image, congratulations on the EP, well deserved!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 4, 2011 at 5:04 PM

Congrats Richard

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 7, 2011 at 1:50 AM

Delightful! Wonderful pose, perfect light, great typical flower for the thrasher, your usual fine detail.
Congrats on a well-deserved EP!
Sandy

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