Carrot Top

Gallery: AvianPosted January 24, 2011197 views18 comments

I've been watching the Ruby-crowned Kinglet closely the last few days. There are just two, I believe a male/female pair. We've had cloudy overcast mornings when it's active, so not the best shooting conditions.
This represents the first time I've ever seen the bird raise its crown, and only for an instant. Not as originally sharp as I would like, but the "carrot top" look does it for me

F/8, 1/400th, ISO 640, Canon 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + Kenko 2x ext, no flash.
Overcast/mostly cloudy this morning. 75% of FF.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 24, 2011 at 7:56 PM

This is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet; not an Orange-crowned Warbler. Note the tiny bill, wingbars, and elongated eyering.

Their small size and frantic movement makes them hard to capture, and the crown isn't raised all that often, so this is a reasonable image to get.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 24, 2011 at 8:08 PM

My first thought was this was a Ruby Crown and Richard D. confirms that. Either way, it's a touch species to get especially on a nice perch like this as they prefer to forage on the ground and the crown is never easy.

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 24, 2011 at 8:43 PM

Thank you Richard, you shown me I need to be more discerning.
This shot should've raised an alarm, but many times I'm so focused on the image itself, I miss the forest for the trees..

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

Comment posted by Pete D on January 24, 2011 at 8:59 PM

The is a nice shot of a very small, hyperactive bird. I recently had these IDd for me. We have one that occasionally visits the suet feeder. The best I could do was a shot of a tiny OD green bird with a red "dash" visible as it fed. The out-of-focus branch with out-of-focus berries is quite distracting, but as I said: this is a small bird. They are also very active.

Pete D.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 590 Posts, 1794 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 24, 2011 at 9:17 PM

Tough bird in tough conditions. Kudos for that. I agree with your assessement Howard, could be sharper, but hey, this is much better than anything I have of this species. Really fast and never stop moving.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 24, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Hi Howard

Thanks for sharing this beautiful bird, The colors and detail are well done. , and The crown is icing on the cake

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on January 24, 2011 at 9:58 PM

A really fine image. I like everything about this image. The red on his head makes this a really great photo.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 24, 2011 at 10:32 PM

Very nice capture, Howard. As we all know, obtaining a clear shot like this of a lively little bird is not so easy! The crest up is really interesting to see too.

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 25, 2011 at 3:56 AM

Nice shot, Howard. I like it.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 25, 2011 at 8:05 AM

nice work with a difficult subject, Howard. a little more shutter speed would have benefited you, but it looks like there wasn't a whole lot of light. comp and setting are very nice.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 25, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Wow-that's a pretty vivid "carrot top"! I agree the raised crown makes the shot-nice capture Howard

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 25, 2011 at 11:13 AM

I have yet to get a decent shot of this bird. Interesting display with the crown raised up, I did not know they did this, nice job in getting this, way to go

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 25, 2011 at 2:49 PM

Great to get the crown up on this guy Howard. Really nice image, maybe a touch more sharpening on the face.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 25, 2011 at 4:29 PM

I'll take one! Excellent catch Howard

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 25, 2011 at 6:28 PM

Very nice one of this flitting Kinglet! The raised crown is a major bonus.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on January 25, 2011 at 7:46 PM

Very nice indeed!
Good title -good capture!

Dan

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 25, 2011 at 8:24 PM

Nice work on the raised crown and getting this dynamo to hold still long enough to get some shots off, they don't stay still long Howard. Maybe a little more selective sharpneing of the face?

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 27, 2011 at 4:06 PM

A great capture, looks a bit like a Punk Rocker

Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments