Sora

Gallery: AvianPosted April 11, 2010203 views25 comments

On Saturday afternoon I was with Kwan deep in the desert as we searched the canyons for new subjects. I had heard the Sora's calls the evening before. By chance we stopped at a small fresh water pool which happened to be in the Sora's dining room as we spotted one coming in to feed. We came back early the next morning when the light was better and spent a good few hours watching these birds hunt Pollywogs, Mayflies, and small Mussels. I think we each took close to 1000 photos. While I have a lot of "clean" shots with little vegetation, this one shows the catchlight in the eye of the Mayfly. A first for me.

D700
500mm vr
1.4x
1/1000
f10
iso 640
no flash

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 11, 2010 at 6:59 PM

Geez Charlie, A Sora in the open, with interesting prey and then the bird even raised it's tail for you so it wouldn't be too close to the frame edge. Sounds like you got a bushel of wonderful shots of these guys. Pretty neat about the mayfly catchligh.! Excellent!

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 11, 2010 at 7:07 PM

phenomenal shot - aside from the real bright area on the tail (such a minor nit) this is perfect. Catchlight on both is fabulous. Guess you got nice and low for this one huh?

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 11, 2010 at 8:25 PM

I was wondering which one you'd be posting, Charlie. This is one prey I did not get - must have been dreaming! Wonderful shot - this bird does not come "clean"...ever! Catchlight on the Mayfly is fantastic! Well done!

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 11, 2010 at 8:47 PM

What great shot Charlie. Love everything about this one including the habitat. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on April 11, 2010 at 9:27 PM

Wonderful Shot I love the biology artisticly presented

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 11, 2010 at 10:36 PM

Wow. A Sora in the open is an accomplishment. One with a freshy captured bug is just outstanding. Excellent work.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 11, 2010 at 11:04 PM

Fabulous capture. Nicely done. Veggies don't bother me! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 11, 2010 at 11:08 PM

Very cool catch of the mayfly in the beak Charlie! Also love the low angle and the detail in the image.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 11, 2010 at 11:43 PM

Fine pose and the mayfly is a huge bonus. Very nice find indeed.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 12, 2010 at 12:51 AM

A unique image - awesome!

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 12, 2010 at 6:08 AM

Very nice indeed Charlie - great setting and detail

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 12, 2010 at 8:42 AM

what a shot, Charlie! great pose, great details. catching a Sora in the open is great, but catching one in the open with a nice prey item is fantastic. a catchlight on the prey? now that's just too much. great job, Charlie.

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

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on April 12, 2010 at 9:39 AM

Wonderful shot Charlie. I love the shot with the food in the mouth.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on April 12, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Nice one Charlie. I love the bonus cranefly !

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

Comment posted by May Haga on April 12, 2010 at 11:59 AM

It is hard enough to get these guys out in the open but to get them at eye level with prey. Beautifully sharp and no reeds obscuring any part of the bird. Amazing.
May

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 12, 2010 at 12:00 PM

This is the first image I've seen of a rail with prey so big props on getting this Charlie, I'd have preferred a little more blurred bg and fg but that's personal taste. Great detail in this shot.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on April 12, 2010 at 1:15 PM

Charlie,
a Sora in the open is a great capture and with the prey is outstanding! Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on April 12, 2010 at 1:46 PM

That's a very nice behavioral/action shot.The fly is an extra nice touch and I like the habitat included in the picture.

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

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on April 12, 2010 at 3:40 PM

So, like others, I don't see rails like this in the open too often. Perhaps Sora a bit more than others. A catchlight on a Mayfly, a first for me and I am sure for this forum.

Great one Charlie. I am sure you and Kwan had a good time.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Roy Bailey on April 12, 2010 at 3:51 PM

I would have enjoyed watching this,nice amount of habitat and you have captured this busy bird very well. Like the way the prey legs are wrapped arround the birds face.

Registered on November 16, 2008, 24 Posts, 486 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on April 12, 2010 at 9:17 PM

Over the top Charlie!
Thanks for sharing!!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 12, 2010 at 10:20 PM

Wow, very cool capture.Great bird detail and Ilike that he's over the water .

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 12, 2010 at 11:54 PM

Very neat, Charlie. Fantastic detail and perfect dof for the subject, plus lots of intersdting stuff going on.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 13, 2010 at 1:28 PM

Outstanding shot Charlie, congrats!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 15, 2010 at 4:16 PM

Great job on this Charlie, wonderful detail and light along with the composition and the mayfly tops it all off, a pleasure to view.

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