Hidden treasure

Gallery: AvianPosted January 7, 2011107 views12 comments

We have had quite an influx of these wonderful birds during the cold weather, but even when you have found them they are the absolute devil to get clear shots of. Their camo is so effective that it makes the stuff we wear look like day-glo paint. When they are wary of what is going on around them (shutter noise in this case) they tend to point their heads upwards like this to look around.

LARGER VERSION
FEATURE

5D2; Sigma 500 mm
iso 800; f6.3; 1/60
full frame; spot metered; manual exposure & focussing.

C&C very welcome as always.

eric

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by richard remington on January 7, 2011 at 8:54 AM

Eric,

I love this photo and think it portrays the bird perfectly. It really is perfectly suited to its habitat which is clearly illustrated here. Great shot!

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 7, 2011 at 9:08 AM

This is very nice. The habitat is fantastic and you captured the bird in the clear enough to make this really work.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 7, 2011 at 9:17 AM

I like how he's hiding in the vegetation since that is what I am told they do. Still quite visible in the image. I really like the eye contact.

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 7, 2011 at 9:58 AM

Terrific Eric. A perfect shot for showing the great camoflague capabilities of the bird, with wonderful characteristic habitat around him. Nicely done!

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

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on January 7, 2011 at 10:11 AM

Eric, I think this is a great shot. And aptly titled.

I like how the neck of the bird is turned so that it's looking upward.

It blends in with the habitat and yet is visible.

Well captured.

Carol

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on January 7, 2011 at 11:35 AM

Eric,
I agree with the others -super shot!

Dan

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 7, 2011 at 7:09 PM

really nice, Eric. nice pose, nice setting, and I love how the bird's colors match the habitat. If you have more room on the right, I might take a little off the left and add some there, but very nice as is.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 7, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Wonderful setting Eric. The oof don't distract from the bird and add to the 'feel' of a reedbed.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 7, 2011 at 11:55 PM

Excellent habitat shot, showing quite well both the behavior and the cryptic coloration of the bird.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 8, 2011 at 2:50 AM

Wonderful natural history and camouflage.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 8, 2011 at 8:08 PM

Beautiful bird in camo habitat image. Very nice warm colors. Composition works for me.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on January 10, 2011 at 1:36 PM

Great shot, I just got to see and capture my first American Bittern. I wish it was this nice. You have shown me to keep trying. Thanks for posting.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments