Surf Scoter

Gallery: AvianPosted October 4, 2010593 views33 comments

We get rafts of Scoters here beginning from late Autumn/Fall. Clambered down some rocks at a jetty to get a lower angle - this one male decided to take-off fairly close to me.

1D MkIV, 300mm f2.8 + 1.4X, 1/3200 @ f8, ISO800, hand-held, morning light, just a touch of S & H.

Thanks for looking; Your comments welcomed.

Comments

33 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 4, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Smokin shot Kwan, great action and detail. Was this at Point Roberts?

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

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on October 4, 2010 at 2:00 PM

Sweet action and species. I wish I lived somewhere we I could see rafts of these birds! Love the running/lift off pose. Good job on the exposure.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 4, 2010 at 2:08 PM

Was this at Point Roberts?

It was at our local sewage jetty, although I did see Scoters at Point Roberts, WA earlier.

Thanks, Nate.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 4, 2010 at 3:03 PM

Superb action shot, KC. I like this image a lot. I'd like to see one of these birds sooner or later.

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

Comment posted by Glenn Bartley on October 4, 2010 at 3:15 PM

Very cool KC!!

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

Comment posted by Dan Walters on October 4, 2010 at 5:08 PM

Great action! Like the clear shot of the head and the way the feet are positioned just above the water.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 4, 2010 at 5:09 PM

Sweet paddle action KC. Love the feet on this shot. Bird looks nice and sharp and the reflection adds IMO. Well done.

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

Comment posted by John W. Wall on October 4, 2010 at 5:19 PM

Fantastic. Definitely not the way one usually sees these guys.

Registered on July 25, 2006, 53 Posts, 179 Comments

Comment posted by Axel Hildebrandt on October 4, 2010 at 6:02 PM

I like the running on water pose, wing position and the calm water.

Registered on October 16, 2006, 66 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 4, 2010 at 6:03 PM

Walking on air? The action pose is wonderful, Kwan.

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

Comment posted by Christine Adams on October 4, 2010 at 8:00 PM

Just.....plain.....WOW!!! Stunning shot!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 4, 2010 at 8:13 PM

Wonderful image KC, how nice that this scoter decided to take off so close to you! Great action & eye contact. Love the comp, reflection and the eater. Would love a chance with this species closer than the 200 yards I'd usually got to see them at in Florida

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 4, 2010 at 9:53 PM

One of the best flight shots I have ever seen. Superb shot.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 4, 2010 at 10:15 PM

Your hard work paid off here KC. Nice low angle, great wing position and the feet put this ove the top for me. Congrats on a super image KC. Nice job!

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 4, 2010 at 10:16 PM

Great image. Looks like he's running rather than flying. Interesting feather pattern.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 4, 2010 at 11:38 PM

KC - you may be envious of the recent Long-tailed duck flight shot, but man I'd trade that for this! The fact that the feet are above the water without it being broken is visually awesome and the detail is stunning. The best Scoter photo I've seen.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 5, 2010 at 7:14 AM

Amazing KC - love the mid-stride capture and the sharpness

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 5, 2010 at 9:23 AM

Superb Kwan! Love everything about it!

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on October 5, 2010 at 4:52 PM

Wonderful! Beautiful shot technically, and with the position of those feet, it really tells the story of the bird taking off.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on October 5, 2010 at 10:35 PM

Really good almost whimsical pose. Killer exposure.Two thumbs up.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 6, 2010 at 11:14 AM

Kwan...this is sooooo cool! Love the flying water from the back foot, the low angle and the reflection!

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

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on October 6, 2010 at 2:42 PM

Superb capture, KC. Great wing and leg position, one of these turned up off the cornish here in the UK.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 7, 2010 at 8:30 PM

simply AWESOME

Killer photo Kwan!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by May Haga on October 8, 2010 at 3:20 PM

Totally fun and a great image to boot KC.
May

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 12, 2010 at 12:24 PM

Brilliant, KC. Easily worth the EP. Congratulations.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 12, 2010 at 3:01 PM

Big congrats on the WP Kwan! I love this shot and think it's very deserving.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 12, 2010 at 7:22 PM

Big congrats on the EP KC, this is simply wonderful.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 12, 2010 at 7:34 PM

Excellent!!

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

Comment posted by denise ippolito on October 14, 2010 at 9:17 AM

Beautiful KC. Congrats on the EP!

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 14, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Congrats Kwan

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 16, 2010 at 5:18 PM

Exceptional - just great. Water, pose, colors, comp - all work perfectly.
Congrats on the EP!
Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 20, 2010 at 8:31 PM

Most outstanding to get this running take off and have everything so sharply focused. Congrats, KC!

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on October 20, 2010 at 10:52 PM

Great work Kwan. I love this one

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