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Juvenile Bateleur
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Juvenile Bateleur

by Ken Watkins

Gallery: AvianPosted June 3, 201395 views10 comments
I keep seeing loads of these quite nondescript youngsters, one day they will grow up into splendid adults and fly my way.

Taken in Kwando Botswana
EOS 1DX
500mm F4 MkII
F5
ISO 800.1/3299
EV +0.67
hand-held from open vehicle

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Martin Dunn on June 3, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Shouldn't you be calling it a short tailed eagle now? :biggrin:
Nice capture but I think the bright blue sky as a BG works against you a bit, making the bird look quite dark. Also a shame that the tail is obscured by that branch .
Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 3, 2013 at 2:45 PM
I like the perch and the bird. Something about that sky doesn't feel right. It feels a bit too perfect.

Edited: Looking at this image again, there is a pretty strong blue cast. I pulled the larger version, did a color correction and it looks much better. Let me know if you're interested and I could e-mail a copy.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 3, 2013 at 8:43 PM
The youngster looks pretty impressive to me, Ken. Nice composition, and that's an awesome perch it chose.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 4, 2013 at 1:18 AM
I agree with Keith on the blue cast; easily fixed. One tough looking bird, even as a youngster. Lovely perch and capture, and a sweet sky.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 4, 2013 at 2:53 AM
I agree with the comments regarding the blue cast, clearly something went wrong here. Whilst the sky can be very blue at this time of year in Botswana, I think that this is just too strong.

Here is a repost which I hope is a little better?

I always try to use the "real" name and take no notice of the renaming!
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on June 4, 2013 at 7:39 AM
Nice pose and perch. I like the repost better. Though I don't know the color of the bird as I have never seen one, it looks more "natural" in the repost. It also helps separate the tail from the branch. Thanks for posting and reposting.
Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Maile on June 4, 2013 at 7:57 AM
Lovely capture of a bird I don't think I've seen before, even on here Ken. I can see the minor nits about the blue, but extremely sharp and wonderfully comp'ed.
Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 4, 2013 at 8:22 AM
Roger and Bill,
Thanks very much, I am happy to share a "new" bird with you both :toast:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on June 4, 2013 at 8:36 AM
Very nice Pose, sharpness, composition and perch. TFS.
Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 5, 2013 at 2:38 AM
Basri.

Thanks very much for your comment :toast:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments