Mouthful

Gallery: AvianPosted December 14, 2010231 views11 comments

The merlin bit off a few more feathers than it could chew (figuretively of course) and had to open wide to expel them before getting to enjoy the fruits of its labor...

Nikon D300s 300 f4 + 1.7X TC resting on a pillow shot from car window
f/8
1/2000s
ISO 500
-.33 EC

Cropped to about 85%, sharpened

- Luke

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on December 14, 2010 at 10:00 AM

Hi Luke,

Great capture. How nice that the Merlin was willing to pose for you. The larger image looks really good.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 14, 2010 at 12:42 PM

Oh Luke, the poor, poor sanderling. However, all that aside it is a great action image.
May

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

Comment posted by Karen Summers on December 14, 2010 at 1:09 PM

very well caught a great bird

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 14, 2010 at 1:34 PM

So cool! Very nicely captured. Agreed a better perch would be ideal, but the action makes up for it.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 14, 2010 at 1:47 PM

Well done Luke! Great behavioral shot that in a way is somewhat comical in the way the Merlin is spitting out the feathers- seemingly almost choking on them.

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

Comment posted by Phillip Tomkinson on December 14, 2010 at 2:05 PM

Great capture luke.

Phil.

Registered on July 14, 2005, 194 Posts, 427 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 14, 2010 at 4:54 PM

Yummy! Some good roughage there Luke. My only nit is a few of the whites look a bit bright.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 14, 2010 at 6:55 PM

Great behavioural image!

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on December 14, 2010 at 8:23 PM

Great capture Luke. I love the mouth full of feathers!

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 14, 2010 at 10:52 PM

That certainly is a mouthful, Luke. A very cool image.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 14, 2010 at 11:10 PM

Wow Luke, a great post. Love that mouth full of feathers.

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