Long-billed Dowitchers

Gallery: AvianPosted October 27, 2011124 views9 comments

They could also be short-billed, it is really hard to tell them apart in flight like this. Anyway, I went for something different this post. I like up close BIF shots, but I also like flock flight shots. The hard thing about flock shots is getting a grouping that is attractive. I like this groups angled flight pattern and all the bird's angled flight.

Please view the larger version, it makes all the difference with these small birds.

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x tc
ISO 800
1/2000s
f/7.1
Manual exp.
Hand held
75% of FF

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 27, 2011 at 6:02 PM

Very nice grouping. I find it very difficult when working with a flock for the reasons you mention - too much random positions, overlaps, cutoff birds, etc.

I suspect these are short-billed; at least we'd never see this many long-billed at one time in NJ. Here in the west it is the reverse with long-billed the default dowitcher and short-billed a rare encounter.

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

Comment posted by Scott Frye on October 27, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Good job getting all the birds in the picture -- that is often a problem in group shots. The larger version doesnt seem to be the same as the original with a small bird showing in the upper left corner -- your words are covering the extra bird in the larger version. Perhaps you cloned the bird out of the original?

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 27, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Scott, the bird in the ULC of the larger version is an osprey and the osprey is part of my copyright logo. It is not in the smaller version because I do not put my copyright in the 720px versions.

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

Comment posted by Scott Frye on October 27, 2011 at 9:04 PM

Ahh -- I would have never guessed that the bird was part of a copyright logo -- confused me -- but now I understand

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 28, 2011 at 9:30 AM

Great shot of the osprey coming on towards this flock

I like your grouping here and the birds' angles. The treetops really help give this perspective. All the birds are nice and sharp, and no cutoffs, either. Well done. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 29, 2011 at 10:43 AM

Ron, I really like the grouping - you got great separation of that many birds and they're angled nicely. I also like that all the dowitchers are sharp - nice of them to all be on approximately the same plane for you. Must admit that my eye wants a bit more room at bottom left, given the angle and direction of flight but I'm not sure what you had down there. Well done!

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 30, 2011 at 4:05 AM

The diagonal angle of these birds in flight is indeed captivating, nicely seen and executed Ron.

I have to say I too did a momentary double-take when I clicked open the larger version wondering how I missed the Osprey zeroing in on the flock of Dowitchers in the original shot, then I remembered it is in fact a part of your logo. Still, always pleased to have a little chuckle, even if it's at my own expense ;^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 2, 2011 at 7:04 AM

Love the pattern and the strong diagonal the flock makes.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 9, 2011 at 7:19 PM

Nice work Ron..Like that new trademark too

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