Northern Flicker

Gallery: AvianPosted December 1, 2010212 views17 comments

Quite a show again early this morning, the mockingbirds gave the Flicker chase a few times. In one instance they came right at me with the flickers yellow under wings highly visible.
First Northern Flicker "close" encounter of this kind for me.
In shade at ponds edge.
F/5.6, 1/200th, ISO 640, Canon 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x ext.
Original cropped to 3169 x 2535. Distance to subject < 15'

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on December 2, 2010 at 12:32 AM

Incredible detail in the feathers of this elusive bird. I have seen its beautiful yellow colors while in flight but have never been quick enough to capture him. Well done!!!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 2, 2010 at 6:56 AM

Great view of the eye Howard, love the head turn this bird gave you. I also like how well this shows the black malar of an adult male northern flicker. Love the setting.

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

Comment posted by Joe Paratore on December 2, 2010 at 7:06 AM

Howard Very nice capture.!!! Love the low angle and how well you handled the
BG.He give you a sweet pose

Registered on January 31, 2007, 40 Posts, 160 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 2, 2010 at 9:27 AM

Howard,
beautiful pose and great detail. I love the plumage pattern and the colors of this species you captured so well.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 2, 2010 at 9:36 AM

Nice one, Howard. Great detail where it's needed. Given the 1D's high iso performance,. I might have gone with a bit more dof for this (assuming you had time to adjust).

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 2, 2010 at 10:25 AM

Nice portrait of this guy, with a nice setting. Good job!

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 2, 2010 at 10:28 AM

Super detail on front part of the bird Howard. Love the setting too. Maybe up the brightness just a bit on the entire image? Well done overall.

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

Comment posted by Darren Colello on December 2, 2010 at 12:00 PM

This is a really good flicker image. I like the setting as well. Great job Howard.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 2, 2010 at 12:06 PM

Nice composition and detail.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 2, 2010 at 12:31 PM

I'VE TAKEN A SECOND LOOK, AND ADDED A TOUCH OF BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST.

SEE THE PURCHASE PRINT LINK FOR UPDATED VERSION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on December 2, 2010 at 5:20 PM

Wonderful head detail. Exposure is great and I like the head turn pose. Good work.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on December 2, 2010 at 5:49 PM

Good detail here, Howard. Decent lighting also.

Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on December 2, 2010 at 7:45 PM

Love the detail in this one. I do not know why we do not get more of these. They are awesome.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 3, 2010 at 12:59 AM

Upping the brightness really enhanced the image Howard, IMO. Nice pose on the rock perch-the BG works well and the image is tack sharp. Great capture, congrats!

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 4, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Perfect head turn for this body position Howard. Wonderful detail too. I also like the boulder perch and your composition. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on December 4, 2010 at 3:12 PM

Wonderful portrait, Howard. I like the perch too.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on December 4, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Great detail, nice pose, fine view of this bird, Howard. I do prefer the second version....although both are really fine. You might consider removing one catchlight. Although they are natural, for some reason I think people expect only one....

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments