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Saddlebill Storks
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Saddlebill Storks

by SandyRichardsBrown

Gallery: AvianPosted May 27, 2016274 views6 comments
Saddlebills are, IMO, one of the most beautiful African birds. Standing 5 feet tall and  in the swampy areas, they are fairly common and hard to miss - but usually behind grasses and trees. 
This is a pair - the sexes are similar,  but the male is larger and has a dark eye, while the females have a bright yellow eye.
I was fortunate to capture the two together, and also get an angle that the beautiful sheen on the sides is visible.

2014:05:12 23:13:02
D800
500mm
1/500 sec, f/14
Mode: Av
Metering: Spot
Exp comp: -1/3
ISO: 400
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO1
Flash: Off

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 27, 2016 at 5:54 PM
Superb job on the exposure of this pair, Sandy, and I like the poses and composition.  Excellent image.

devil
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on May 27, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Very bright birds with nice iridescent colors along their flanks. Nice image.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Jake Alletson on May 27, 2016 at 11:06 PM
A beautiful image of the pair.  It is quite hard to get them in the open and not partially obscured by vegetation.  Congratulations.
Registered on May 3, 2016, 12 Posts, 163 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 28, 2016 at 12:15 PM
Indeed wonderful birds, almost not real in their colored bills. I like the fact that you have two of them in your shot ! Cheers, Hans
Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 28, 2016 at 1:25 PM
Surreal, Sandy. Just shows what happens when sexual selection gets carried away. Excellent photo, great poses, fine management of the light and a very effective composition. Terrific photo.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 30, 2016 at 5:53 AM
A great photo of this unique pair of beautiful storks in their habitat. Perfect poses and excellent details!

Excellent Work Sandy!
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments