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Merlin w/Robin prey
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Merlin w/Robin prey

by Nate Chappell

Gallery: AvianPosted March 25, 2010202 views15 comments
It was almost exactly a year ago that I found this female Merlin with a fresh robin kill. I previously posted one image of the Merlin with a feather in it's beak. The Merlin stayed on the kill while I was able to back my Prius into position and photograph it out the car window. The Merlin finished almost the whole bird in my presence and I filled up a card. I have a few other shots that I think are quite dramatic but Angie told me they were too grisly to post. This is cropped to about 85% of FF

50D 500F4 1.4X 1/500 F8, iso 320, evaluative metering -0.3, lens resting on car window.

Comments

15 comments
Comment posted by Greg Cope on March 25, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Nice! Just graphic enough to know what's going on, but not enough to gross one out. I love the pose of the bird
Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 26, 2010 at 12:01 AM
A very messy eater, Nate. Perfect dof and exposure. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 26, 2010 at 1:01 AM
Good get Nate - sometimes everything just falls into place.

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 26, 2010 at 1:07 AM
Nate- I left Whum a comment about posting an image of a bird doing what they must. Many might think that such images are a tad undesirable, but that is Nature. Great image, congrats. :toast:
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 26, 2010 at 7:38 AM
The pose of the bird and the detail here are really great, Nate. I bet that the exposure here also shows exactly what you observed. However, this is a pretty dramatic scene and so you could consider trying to figure out how to focus more attention on the bird. Possibly just decreasing the exposure selectively on the foreground grass, including the highly reflective little leaf on the LHS would help. It looks to me like a very fine capture that should have more impact on the viewer. :toast:
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 26, 2010 at 7:50 AM
Super shot Nate. Merlins have become one of my fav raptors. I just wish I would see them more. I still don't have a good image of one. Great comp here. Well done.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on March 26, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Just perfect! No nits at all and hey, they have to eat. :smile:
Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 26, 2010 at 11:59 AM
sweet, Nate! I'd be thrilled just to watch this, let alone shoot it. nice comp, great detail, and a dramatic scene.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 26, 2010 at 1:17 PM
Nice Merlin, poor Robin....but love the action and behavior of this shot Nate! The Merlin looks as if he is gaurding his prey.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by denise ippolito on March 26, 2010 at 2:45 PM
Details, exposure and composition are all great. Nice capture.
Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 26, 2010 at 6:18 PM
Sharp, detailed image Nate with a nice good low ground angle, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 26, 2010 at 6:23 PM
Wow ,he tore that up. Great shot with nice light
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 26, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Neat! Post some more from the series - we can take it.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 27, 2010 at 10:29 AM
A very special moment to behold Nate. You got a great shot there with wonderful eye-contact :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on March 28, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Poor robin, lucky Merlin. I have seen the Merlin chasing the robins in one of our local parks but have never seen them catch one. Excellent detail in the bird. Very well done.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments