Blue Grosbeak

Gallery: AvianPosted May 5, 2010268 views19 comments

This one is to motivate Kwan for future San Diego birding. He just missed it by a couple of days.

D700
500mm vr
1.4x
f9
1/200
iso 640
blind
no flash

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 5, 2010 at 12:24 AM

Great pose and perch Charlie. I'm envious of the diversity of birds you have to photograph. Blue is such an exotic color to see on a wild creature, no exception here. Is this a natural perch Charlie, asking because you are in a blind, just curious. Thanks for posting another great photo.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on May 5, 2010 at 12:35 AM

Hi Gary, yes... a natural perch. I basically set up in an area with a lot of natural perches, and wait. One sobering thought I had while taking this photo. It was taken only some yards away from the place where a young girl, Chelsea King was murdered just a few weeks ago. Blue was her favorite color and you can see a lot of places in the park that still have blue ribbons placed by her friends. For some reason there is a small congregation of these birds in this area.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 5, 2010 at 2:29 AM

Another beauty, Charlie!
I'm also envious of the wide variety of birds you have down there.
If I could, I'd live S. Cal or Florida in a heartbeat..

Sandy r

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on May 5, 2010 at 7:26 AM

Great technical execution as usual and the posture of the bird keeps the plane of focus from tip of beak to tip of tail.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 5, 2010 at 8:03 AM

Wonderful Charlie - love the pose it's striking on the vertical perch

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on May 5, 2010 at 8:43 AM

a beauty, Charlie. no nits here.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 5, 2010 at 9:22 AM

Great pose and color, the BG works very well Charlie.
Nice work, no nits here

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on May 5, 2010 at 9:56 AM

A beauty! Really pops with that warm background.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 5, 2010 at 11:22 AM

Very nice Charlie, I really like the head turn away from the branch. Well done.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 5, 2010 at 11:58 AM

Brilliant, Charlie! I am so, so envious as this is one Grosbeak that I really want to see, let alone photograph. I am going to stay longer next year!

As for the blue colour and the tragic event that took place there, it happens....

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 5, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Terrific image. Very clean; nice image quality; good pose; nice colors and light.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 5, 2010 at 2:37 PM

Great shot, Charlie. Really stands out nice with that b/g. Good work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on May 5, 2010 at 8:07 PM

Gorgeous Charlie. Makes me want to come to San Diego. Wonderful color, detail, perch and bg. And what a stunning bird.

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on May 6, 2010 at 12:03 AM

Sweet capture all around, Charlie. The pose has a sort of "Audubon" feel about it.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on May 6, 2010 at 8:13 AM

A stunning capture, absolutely brilliant !!!
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on May 6, 2010 at 3:33 PM

Wonderful image! Made even better by the wing dip and head turn.

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on May 6, 2010 at 11:12 PM

What a great shot...I love it! Virtually flawless in composition, and the bokeh is incredible, especially where color of the bird and background is concerned.