Male Boat-tailed Grackle

Gallery: AvianPosted June 19, 2010159 views11 comments

These are very common in the swamp. They primarily nest in the patches of Johnson grass. For some reason the males are less cooperative than the females.

Model NIKON D200
Flash Used No
Focal Length 680 mm (Nikon 400mm f/2.8d AF-I + Nikon TC17EII)
Exposure Time 1/350 sec
Aperture f/5.6
ISO Equivalent 200
Exposure Bias -2/3
White Balance Manual Sunlight
Metering Mode matrix
RAW
Exposure Program aperture priority

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 19, 2010 at 8:44 PM

The centered comp works well for this, great exposure of the dark plummage with fine details.
Great bokeh, nice one

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 19, 2010 at 9:08 PM

Terrific pose; nice colors. I've got a female great-tailed in a similar pose; like you I find the females easier to work with than the males in this closely related species.

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

Comment posted by Jude Haase on June 19, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Beautiful shot Mr. Ronnie!! Cool pose there!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on June 19, 2010 at 11:20 PM

gorgeous light and iridescence, great "splits" pose, and really nice perches and bg too. I understand going with the centered comp for the splits pose, but I might prefer a more off-center comp, shifting the right edge closer to the vegetation at upper right and including a bit more on the left. Either way, a beautiful shot though.

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

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on June 20, 2010 at 4:38 AM

Very cool shot, Ronnie. I like the colors and pose here. Nice background too.

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

Comment posted by Chris Ross on June 20, 2010 at 8:11 AM

Nice one Ronnie, great pose and exposure annd comp both working well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on June 20, 2010 at 12:01 PM

Ronnie, great comp andI love that pose, wonderful background. Well done!!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on June 20, 2010 at 5:29 PM

The V shape of the branches and the way the crackle is perched on the branches make a great design. Nice color as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on June 20, 2010 at 9:37 PM

Ronnie:
I love the pose, smooth BG and the exposure that captured the blue iridescence.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 21, 2010 at 4:14 PM

Very cool and interesting shot, I like the center comp in this case and the light green background really helps bring out the dark grackle. Well done and in bright light no less

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on June 22, 2010 at 12:27 AM

Really great pose, wonderful colors, plenty sharp - nicely done all around, Ronnie.

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