The Dance

Gallery: AvianPosted May 29, 2012201 views18 comments

Black-necked Stilts. One of my favorites from our time in Malheur NWR a few weeks ago. This is the cool little dance that several shorebird species perform after copulation. I have photographed this several times with stilts, but this is the first time in such a clean environment and facing toward me.

Canon MkIV, 600mm @f9, 1/3200, ISO 640, manual shutter with spot meter off white feathers

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated

Ken Archer

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 29, 2012 at 7:08 PM

This is wonderful! I got to see this this year also...but got nothing this good! I think it needs just a little CW rotation. Great exposure and detail, and you just couldn't have caught the pose any better! Very, very nice! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 29, 2012 at 7:26 PM

Along with the excellent exposure and sharp detail this shot really captures the essence of courtship behavior. Great image Ken.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Sally Wood on May 29, 2012 at 7:34 PM

This is quite something..... love the way their bills are crossed, and their legs n unison! also love the blue for the back ground. nice job.

Registered on March 8, 2012, 39 Posts, 509 Comments

Comment posted by Vanessa Caccamise on May 29, 2012 at 8:03 PM

Stunning capture!

Registered on February 7, 2012, 17 Posts, 57 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on May 29, 2012 at 9:42 PM

Picture perfect! Good job catching this with a clean background. I like the individual poses of the stilts and the fact that you captured an eye for each of them. Nice work!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on May 29, 2012 at 11:58 PM

Wow, Ken, this is fabulous. Clean background, nice bent legs and red eyes. Overall, just great.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on May 30, 2012 at 1:32 AM

Very nice. I like the way their heads touch and their beaks cross and I like the pose and the leg position. I always like exotic dancers.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on May 30, 2012 at 10:46 AM

Ken, great shot! Bird poses, composition & light are all excellent.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on May 30, 2012 at 10:50 AM

I love it Ken. Looks like they are enjoying themselves

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on May 30, 2012 at 6:43 PM

Love it!! Ken, this is way cool. I totally agree that the clean surroundings is a real plus. I have stilts in my neck of the woods but have never seen this behavour. Great timing. My only nit is it seems to need a bit of CW rotation, but that's minor compared to the wonderful moment you captured. Wish I had a frame like this in my files. Excellent

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 31, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Very cool behavior, nicely captured. Love the way you caught the colors here, perfect. Agree about needing some rotation.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 31, 2012 at 10:34 AM

Wonderful behavioral shot ! Tops !Cheers, hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 31, 2012 at 10:13 PM

Ouch! This rocks Ken, love the crossed beaks and the raised foot of the bird on the right

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on June 1, 2012 at 5:01 AM

Ken you have an excellent capture here!

Keith.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on June 2, 2012 at 3:53 AM

Thanks everyone for your encouraging comments about this photo. I agree that it needs some rotation and will certainly fix it.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 2, 2012 at 11:19 PM

Great behavior capture. I love the blue water and raised foot. I just wish for a little brightening on the face area of right side bird and eye area. Nice job.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on June 3, 2012 at 8:46 PM

Absolutely love it Ken.
May

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 26, 2012 at 8:22 AM

Sweet interaction!, your tech's look spot-on Ken.
Very nice work & sure to please

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