Black-billed Magpie

Gallery: AvianPosted March 12, 20101,293 views51 comments

A common species in these parts but one that has frustrated me immensely for its exposure difficulties and its tendency to bolt as soon as it sees anything pointed its way.

Mia and I have had a grand time with a few of these birds the last two days. They're in the midst of nest building and flit from sagebrush to sagebrush gathering nesting material.

7D, 1/2000, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, shot from pickup window yesterday, cropped to 56% of original image, increased exposure in ACR slightly then brought up the blacks a bit in CS4, sharpened, no other processing

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

51 comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on March 12, 2010 at 6:20 PM

Wonderful flight shot! It looks like nest building time. Very nicely done and presented.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 12, 2010 at 6:25 PM

Beautiful!
Great pose and habitat!
EP material for sure.

Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on March 12, 2010 at 6:28 PM

Excellent flight shot Ron! the eye is nice and sharp and the composition is pleasing. I love the piece of sagebrush in its beak! Well done!

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 12, 2010 at 6:30 PM

I don't know what to say—from black to white, background to subject—except absolutely top notch!

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 12, 2010 at 6:54 PM

Sweet shot Ron. Great exposure on a tough subject. Feels like I just said that somewhere else not too long ago. I am sure glad that stick it is carrying did not obscure the eye. The colors and bird position in this shot are really great. You have to love that tail. Nice habitat and BG too. Very well done for sure.

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

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on March 12, 2010 at 8:13 PM

I could just paste my comment to Mia here! Excellent shot!

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 12, 2010 at 8:14 PM

Wings and tail superb Ron

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 12, 2010 at 8:37 PM

Excellent (almost awesome).

They may be common in Utah, but they are difficult to find in AZ. I had to drive all the ay to Teec Nos Pos near Four Corners to add one to my AZ list, along with Black-capped Chickadee, where they both just slip into the state.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 12, 2010 at 8:55 PM

Is this good or what!

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 12, 2010 at 8:55 PM

This is just great . Love all the feather movement and great metallic colors you've captured

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

Comment posted by Sue Eberhart on March 12, 2010 at 9:20 PM

The iridescent quality of the feather color is gorgeous as is the body shape and underside view of the left wing....just a wonderful image.

Registered on June 9, 2009, 44 Posts, 208 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on March 12, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Big congrats Ron!!! Very well done indeed! Perfect habitat and BG too!!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 12, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Sweet One Ron!!!

I know how frustrating it is getting good photos of these guys.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 12, 2010 at 9:51 PM

Ron,

You already know that I love the fantastic pose you caught here and the great iridescence I also love the sagebrush in the bill, the setting, fanned out tail and the position of the wings. I like the comp you used, the details and sharpness.

These magpies have been enormous fun and photographing them with you is too. Frozen fingers & all

Excellent image!

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 12, 2010 at 9:52 PM

Beautiful bird very well captured in this image, Ron. Great color, detail and background too. I just checked the migration map: looks like they never make it to Toronto. Too bad. I have mixed feelings about the branch in this image. It's o.k. because it doesn't conceal the eye. Also, it does show interesting behavior. However, a smaller branch would be better I think. However, that's a nit and one you can't do anything about at that. This is obviously a very fine BIF image.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 12, 2010 at 10:20 PM

Just plain awesome, Ron.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 12, 2010 at 10:32 PM

wow, Ron--very cool. love the fanned tail and the iridescence. as Ron B said, it's very nice that the stick is not blocking the eye. I might back off the crop just a bit. nicely done.

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 12, 2010 at 10:54 PM

That's just great Ron

The spread out tail , the nesting material in the bill. I love it.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 13, 2010 at 2:30 AM

Simply excellent, Ron. Brilliant work on the iridescence. The full extension of every feather is amazing.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 13, 2010 at 4:03 AM

Wow!!!

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 13, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Very nice flight shot! The nesting material in the beak is an excellent bonus. You captured the iridescence in the feathers very well. Good job.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on March 13, 2010 at 12:33 PM

A beautiful shot Ron. Certainly a new species for me. Great composition, I can't say I have any nit with your shot here. Nice one.

Neal

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Ted Swem on March 13, 2010 at 1:09 PM

This is wonderful, Ron. I love the curvature in the tail feathers. One of the great things about flight shots is that they sometimes show beautiful shapes in the feathers that occur too fast for our eyes to see. This image epitomizes that, especially in the central tail feathers. Nice work.
As far as the nesting material goes, it would have detracted significantly if it had obscurred the bird's eye, but because it does not, it is nothing but positive, in my opinion.
Ted

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 13, 2010 at 4:12 PM

Interesting bird, Ron. Glad y'all are having fun with these.

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

Comment posted by Clayton Musgrove on March 13, 2010 at 5:55 PM

Nothing short of spectacular Ron. I saw six within range of my car a week ago and every time I lifted the camera they flew. Deffinately a tough capture. Well done!

Registered on February 6, 2010, 55 Posts, 235 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on March 13, 2010 at 9:04 PM

Can't say anything that has not been said.
This is just a WOW image!!!

Congrads
Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 13, 2010 at 9:23 PM

Wonderful curves, lines and color. A winner for sure. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on March 13, 2010 at 9:34 PM

The sheen in the tail feathers and the wing is unbelievable. That combined with a sharp behavioral image make this fantastic!

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

Comment posted by Rick Bowers on March 13, 2010 at 10:24 PM

Definitely the best magpie shot I have ever seen! The wing and tail details are stunning. Great job!

Registered on September 29, 2009, 9 Posts, 18 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 13, 2010 at 11:47 PM

Ron, I have had the same frustrations trying to properly expose and photograph these birds. This is a fine one to add to your collection!!! Did you go with spot metering?

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

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on March 14, 2010 at 8:04 AM

Awesome Ron....

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on March 14, 2010 at 8:40 AM

Beautiful Ron, did you us any exposure compensation to help with the blacks? the blacks have come alive. Hard to do, with a black bird.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 14, 2010 at 9:26 AM

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the comments and input.

"Did you go with spot metering?" Kurt - No, I used evaluative.

"did you us any exposure compensation to help with the blacks? Rohn - I was actually at -1/3 for this shot but probably should have been higher since I had to increase exposure in RAW. Because of changing conditions I'd been all over the spectrum of exposure compensation that morning, from -1/3 to +1.

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

Comment posted by Glenn Bartley on March 14, 2010 at 11:10 AM

Absolutely awesome!!! Love the colours and pose. BIG congrats!

Registered on June 29, 2004, 448 Posts, 1180 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on March 14, 2010 at 1:47 PM

Really beautiful!!!

Mauro

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 14, 2010 at 2:54 PM

Wow! Smokin shot Ron, the branch in the beak and the tail are spectacular

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

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on March 14, 2010 at 3:44 PM

This gets my vote for EP and probably photo of the month too Ron. Wow!

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on March 16, 2010 at 8:36 AM

Wow, what a fantastic image. Very well done.

Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 16, 2010 at 9:09 AM

Ron,

Don't know how I missed this. Amazing photo with crazy good colors and behavior. Congrats on the WP, you have stepped it up again.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 16, 2010 at 12:07 PM

Spectacular image Ron!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 16, 2010 at 1:23 PM

Thought so!
Congrats for a well-deserved win!

Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 16, 2010 at 1:53 PM

Well done on the EP. Yes.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 16, 2010 at 2:56 PM

Congrats Ron

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 16, 2010 at 3:54 PM

Wow, an excellent shot Ron, a real pleasure to view, nice action shot and feather display, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on March 16, 2010 at 4:22 PM

Amazing shot. I like everything about this photo.

Laura Stafford

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 16, 2010 at 4:28 PM

Tremendous shot, Ron! I'd say this is one of your best because of the flight, the behavior and the bit of habitat. It's a dynamic, engaging image.

on the EP for it!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 16, 2010 at 10:46 PM

Congrats Ron . Awesome shot buddy

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 17, 2010 at 12:44 PM

Another well-deserved EP, Ron.

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

Comment posted by Elisabeth Czwikla on March 17, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Superb!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 145 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 23, 2010 at 11:48 PM

Well deserved WP!!!

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on March 28, 2010 at 5:25 PM

Just now saw this. Wow, what a beaut. Those feathers are full of design and form.

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