Northern Shrike

Gallery: AvianPosted March 11, 2010210 views24 comments

I had my first opportunity to get close to an adult NSHR a couple of days ago locally - I only managed to photograph a juvenile previously.

Thanks for looking; C & C please.

1D4, 500mm + 1.4X, 1/3200 @ f8, ISO800, late afternoon light, tripod, almost full-frame.

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 11, 2010 at 12:51 AM

Well done. They sure are bloodthirsty to be as cute as they are.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Ted Swem on March 11, 2010 at 1:31 AM

Beautiful. Love everything about it.

Registered on August 19, 2006, 15 Posts, 90 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 11, 2010 at 2:22 AM

Excellent detail in the feathers, and a perfect view of that wicked bill. Nice habitat, as well.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 11, 2010 at 2:57 AM

Nice fluffed pose and eye contact, plenty of detail in that plumage too.

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on March 11, 2010 at 3:17 AM

Very, very nice shot. I like it.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on March 11, 2010 at 3:55 AM

Excellent shot, Kwan. Love the detail, pose and composition. Congrats on the new toy.

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 11, 2010 at 6:12 AM

Beautiful detail KC and I really like the comp

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on March 11, 2010 at 7:18 AM

Wonderful post KC, loving the head turn showing off his beak. Very pleasing comp, perch and clear blue BG. An excellent addition to your gallery.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 11, 2010 at 7:22 AM

A 1D4 now, awesome. How do you like it so far? I like the looks of this shot. Nice light, perch, and BG. Great sharpness too. Any chance you could get the end of the perch branch in the frame? Not critical of course, but not cutting it off on the right I think would add just the final touch to the great image.

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

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 11, 2010 at 8:00 AM

I really like this, sharp, and good detail in the feathers. Well done. If it were mine though I'd be real tempted to try to clone out that OOF twig in front of the tail. To me it's the only thing keeping it from being perfect. That, and maybe what Ron said about the perch branch, but that depends how long it is. I used to see this species often, but it's been a long time since I've seen one.
Anyway, Nice post!

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 11, 2010 at 9:04 AM

Very well done Kwan. I almost never see these guys close up like that. Great composition and detail

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 11, 2010 at 9:54 AM

Very nice shot KC....love the light, exposure and detail in the shot!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on March 11, 2010 at 9:57 AM

Beautiful, KC!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 11, 2010 at 11:05 AM

KC that is just beautiful. You captured great feather detail

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 11, 2010 at 12:46 PM

Frist rate in every way. I'd love to have this in my portfolio.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 11, 2010 at 1:03 PM

Sweet! Great head turn and I like the subtle details on the belly and breast, along with your comp.

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

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on March 11, 2010 at 3:16 PM

What a neat looking bird. I like his position in the frame. Great detail too.

Laura Stafford

Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on March 11, 2010 at 6:46 PM

Wonderful shot! Great details composition and perch. The blue sky makes a lovely background.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 11, 2010 at 8:08 PM

Lovely composition, even better details

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 11, 2010 at 10:26 PM

Sweet image, KC. I really like the composition.

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

Comment posted by Colin Smale on March 12, 2010 at 1:06 PM

Sometimes it helps if someone says "but" and perhaps points out something we can learn by but this is spot on IMO, relaxed, lovely head turn, catchlight, sharp, all the usual comments.

Registered on November 10, 2003, 48 Posts, 1158 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 12, 2010 at 6:31 PM

KC,

Three words...

This is excellent.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 13, 2010 at 11:00 AM

A wonderful image all around. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 13, 2010 at 7:53 PM

I've never seen a shrike this relaxed when I was this close Kwan. You got the perfect head tilt to show off the hooked beak and your comp is perfect IMO. Excellent.

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