Regal Caracara

Gallery: AvianPosted April 5, 2017211 views8 comments

I had hoped to get a decent shot or two of a Crested Caracara this trip and this one was most obliging. I took a boat tour on the Jack Flash of Aransas Bay Birding Charters (highly recommended) on Monday and we came across this one perched on an old post on Aransas NWR. It let us get quite close in the boat and we still had some nice early morning sun. Unfortunately, I clipped the tail when he did take off, but it posed very regally for a wannabe vulture.

7D2, Sigma 150-600 C @ 403 mm, hand held form boat, f/8, 1/2000, iso 800 aperture priority, pattern metering, -1/3 EV. Processed in LR & PS CC. I was playing with crops and somehow ended up with a 6x5 horizontal quite unintentionally, but I liked the way it worked in this case. Cropped size was 12 MP. Taken April 3rd at 7:59 AM.

Comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on April 6, 2017 at 2:58 AM

Spectacular. I love the title. Exquisite color and details, really nice background.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on April 6, 2017 at 3:30 AM

Hi Dennis, yes these birds are both great to photograph and to see hunting. Great perch, like the rustic look & feel. Techs looks spot on, especially when on a boat too. Your choice of frame/crop works and you were fortunate to have an unclutter backdrop which helps isolate the subject. The morning light worked in your favour too, although personally I find it a tad warm, but no deal breaker, just my take. Posting some cracking and diverse subjects thanks.

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on April 6, 2017 at 7:59 AM

Good picture Dennis.
Like the warm light too. Only ever seen these at displays in France but they always put on a comical show.
Good stuff
John

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on April 6, 2017 at 10:20 AM

Spectacular shot of an unusual subject, at least for me. My only suggestion would be to clone or use content aware to minimize the "8" on the stump. Probably all natural, but draws my attention aware from the bird.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on April 6, 2017 at 11:48 AM

Really nice light on this Crested Caracara. Superb detail and color against a good background to make the bird stand out well in the frame. Yes it probably could have given you a little bit of a head turn but you'll have to communicate a little better with it to do that.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on April 6, 2017 at 2:08 PM

Regal, indeed! The light looks quite nice!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on April 6, 2017 at 5:09 PM

Very cool shot of this Crested Caracara Dennis. Great light and I didn't even notice the "8" in the post until I read the comment. Really nice detail with good separation from the background.

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 8, 2017 at 3:07 PM

Really nice - tack-sharp, great pose, nice perch, and neat BG.
Fine image!
Sandy

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