Bohemian Waxwings

Gallery: AvianPosted December 15, 20091,040 views32 comments

Taken 2 days ago with no sun and minus 14 degrees temp. It was harder to get good shots with the dark conditions but a few came out ok. Most were still staying puffed up because of the cold, so that made for some nice shots. I like the tongue action of the one on the left.

Olympus E3 50-200/2.0 TC ISO400 f7.1 1/320 handheld

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 15, 2009 at 11:14 PM

Very appealing image David! Your timing here is excellent, opposing poses and both birds with berries in the mouth - NOT BAD!!!

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

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on December 15, 2009 at 11:21 PM

Nice comp, detail in the birds, uncluttered background.... and those berries! Wonderful image.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 15, 2009 at 11:29 PM

Pretty rare to get 2 waxwings with berries at the same time - then you throw in the tongue on the bird on the left, PLUS front and back, PLUS waxwing tops... this cannot be improved on.

- Luke

And I feel for you with that -14. I spent 14 years living in Minnesota... I have no idea how I did it.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on December 15, 2009 at 11:44 PM

I agree with Luke's comments, and I would like to add that the colors of the berries and bg sure are complimentary to the Waxwings. Outstanding shot, I would be standing beside myself, if this were mine!

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on December 16, 2009 at 12:13 AM

This is really nice, David. A real feeling of Winter, and the action is superb.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on December 16, 2009 at 2:00 AM

I guess I know where our Waxwings are this winter.

Lovely work on those difficult, silky plumages. A great capture with the berry, the complementary poses and so puffed out their wing are away from their sides. And very good DOF considering the low light.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 16, 2009 at 6:35 AM

Very nice Dave. I go along with all the other comments. A well balanced and appealing shot. I might have to print this one if it were mine.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 16, 2009 at 8:17 AM

very nice complementary poses. you got some excellent detail in the birds, and I like the colors in the image a lot.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 16, 2009 at 8:32 AM

David,

This gives me a very good feeling when viewing it, peaceful & relaxed.

Wonderful that you captured both birds with a berry and I love how they seem to be snuggled up close to each other for warmth. Love the detail in the silky feathers, I know it is difficult to capture that with this species.

A very delightful image as presented.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on December 16, 2009 at 12:36 PM

Great catch, Dave. 2 birds/2 berries! nice detail and a wonderful wintery background.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on December 16, 2009 at 2:10 PM

The avian photos this week are really outstanding, and this image certainly fits into that category. Great work David!!!

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on December 16, 2009 at 2:59 PM

Great image, with perfect timing, pose of the subjects, BG and colours.

Congratulations

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on December 16, 2009 at 3:37 PM

Wonderful image. It's got it all, color, texture, pose, and best of all the action of them eating berries.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 16, 2009 at 6:08 PM

This is so nice, Dave! At -14F, I'd think the tongue was stuck to the berry!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 16, 2009 at 7:21 PM

Just a wonderful shot in every way Dave. Amazing to get both birds sharp in this light and at 1/320 during feeding activities. And HH to boot. Sure they're not frozen stiff? Excellent image!

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on December 16, 2009 at 9:39 PM

Dave:
It is a wonderful image, for all the reasons given in earlier comments. But .... I'm not sure I prefer it over your previous waxwing post, which was also excellent.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 16, 2009 at 11:08 PM

Great composition and setting Dave

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 17, 2009 at 12:21 AM

Excellent composition, David.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on December 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM

By far, your BEST post! I LOVE IT!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 17, 2009 at 2:27 PM

Very pretty photo Dave. All compliments have already been said. A berry in both birds mouths is something special to capture

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 17, 2009 at 3:14 PM

I like your composition David- and well done getting both birds with berries.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 17, 2009 at 4:41 PM

All said ,its great
A little chilly for me

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 17, 2009 at 5:21 PM

Neat timing, Dave, to get the both of them in similar poses with thier pickings. Even in the cloudy conditions, the color palette is kind of "festive."

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 17, 2009 at 5:38 PM

WOW!!! Incredible photo Dave

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on December 17, 2009 at 9:49 PM

You could not have asked for a better pose from these 2 birds. Great job capturing the action in some tricky lighting.

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 21, 2009 at 7:36 PM

Great image Dave, the twin berries and tongue make this one special

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

Big congrats on the WP Dave! It's a beautiful photo and very deserving.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on December 22, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Excellent choice for the weekly pick.
May

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 23, 2009 at 2:54 AM

Wonderful shot!
Congrats on the EP!

Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 23, 2009 at 10:57 AM

OMG so very inspiring Dave. What an amazing image. Congratulations

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

Comment posted by Angela Classen on January 18, 2010 at 5:57 PM

Beautiful photo and good catch to get both birds with food. Congrats on the EP!

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on February 21, 2010 at 11:34 AM

I love it... Wouldn't change a thing. The overcast adds that sense of winter that sunlight would only diminish...very natural feel...The orange throughout adds a nice balance...

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments