Merlin w/Sanderling

Gallery: AvianPosted December 11, 2010318 views19 comments

Went to Dune Rd. in search of Bitterns that Mike Lotito has been finding with ease and came up empty handed...on the drive back I spotted this Merlin. Only the 5th or so time I've seen a merlin along this stretch and to get it with prey was awesome. Shortly after this shot someone on a bike rode by and flushed the bird a hundred or few feet down where it then faced the other direction and allowed for a head-on view. More photos to be posted in the upcoming week, but for those who can't wait, checkout my bird blog. Thanks.

Nikon D300s 300 f4 + 1.7X TC HH from car
f/8
1/2000s
ISO 500
-.33 EC

This is FULL FRAME

levels adjustment on sanderling to tone down some brightness, sharpened with Smart Sharpen and USM. Checked threshold layer to ensure no halo. Processed in CS5 on a 27" iMac

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 11, 2010 at 2:09 PM

Luke, great detail on both birds. Nice head turn too. Expose looks good. Would rather see a natural perch, but no way not to take this shot. I would have in a heart beat. Cool shot.

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 11, 2010 at 2:19 PM

Censored for the squeamish types too.

Nice one.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM

Good work on this unique opportunity.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 11, 2010 at 4:24 PM

Well done getting this, Luke.

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

Comment posted by David E Lester on December 11, 2010 at 5:57 PM

Excellent...!!!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 11, 2010 at 8:11 PM

Boy that Merlin doesn't look too happy with you. Love that look he is giving and that you got him with nicely censored prey. You handled the exposure quite well as it looks like the light was doing you no favors. Well done.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 11, 2010 at 8:51 PM

Luke,

I love the look you appear to be getting from this Merlin, I also like the bird's pose and the combination of predator and prey in the image.

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on December 11, 2010 at 11:13 PM

Very nice capture, Luke! Wonderful blue sky and expression on the bird's face. Beautifully sharp too.

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

Comment posted by dan elster on December 11, 2010 at 11:32 PM

Love it. I just checked out the whole series on your website....very cool..I love witnessing the life and death stuff in nature, even when it seems a bit brutal. Good sharpness, comp, etc too.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 11, 2010 at 11:53 PM

Cool catch. Looked at your blog. I like this one, with a bit of mystery hiding behind that wire. Image is very sharp. well done.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 12, 2010 at 4:53 AM

Great glare from merlin and interesting natural history.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on December 12, 2010 at 1:47 PM

Great Shot Luke!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 12, 2010 at 2:14 PM

Oh, the poor sanderling. Great capture.
May

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 12, 2010 at 4:48 PM

Luke,
great capture with very nice eye contact and excellent detail.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 12, 2010 at 8:49 PM

I'm not real fond of the perch but I like everything else I see here Luke. My first reaction was that you should level the powerline but that didn't last long - they aren't level through most of their span and I actually prefer it sloped.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 13, 2010 at 11:13 AM

What an interesting encounter, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on December 13, 2010 at 2:46 PM

Excellent capture. As Ron B stated a natural perch would be nice, but these guys love the power and cable lines if around!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 16, 2010 at 10:45 PM

Didn't realize there was a series until I saw you post today. I really like this one.

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

Comment posted by Lindy Martin on December 19, 2010 at 8:58 PM

Great one Luke

Registered on March 10, 2009, 60 Posts, 169 Comments