Sunset Avocet

Gallery: AvianPosted February 9, 2011221 views14 comments

Losing light fast, so I bumped the ISO for this last shot of the day.
Canvas added on the left, as the bird was almost out of the frame.

The avocets here are just starting to change to the red-headed breeding plumage, and a few males are starting mating dances.
Babies in April!

Baylands, Palo Alto

D300s
500mm
1/1600 sec, f/4
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 1200
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 9, 2011 at 11:57 PM

I am gaining more and more respect for the wonderous variety of birds in nature thanks to this forum. I love seeing the bill and shape of the avocet's head (which are very sharply rendered) in this shot and hope to see one in person some day. Well done Sandy.

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 10, 2011 at 2:04 AM

Lovely pose and light. Focus is spot-on too.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 10, 2011 at 3:46 AM

Great wing spread, detail and golden tones to the light Sandy

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Karen Summers on February 10, 2011 at 5:41 AM

Really lovely Sandy very well caught

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

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on February 10, 2011 at 8:11 AM

Well captured Sandy, I love the warm golden light on this fascinating bird and the great top-side BIF view - sweet.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on February 10, 2011 at 8:34 AM

Nice flight shot Sandy, was it gliding when you took this?

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 10, 2011 at 9:40 AM

Love the colors and the flight pose with that slight bank

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 10, 2011 at 11:04 AM

A lovely image - the light and pose and simplicity work together to make this special.

I think this is the best image I've seen you post here.

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 10, 2011 at 11:44 AM

Great capture, Sandy- nice pose, details and BG- well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on February 10, 2011 at 5:07 PM

Lovely shot. Great view of the color and plummage on the back and wings. Also very sweet light. Good job.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 10, 2011 at 5:25 PM

Well done Sandy. I really like the slightly banking flight posture to show the dorsal side in that nice light and the sharpness looks good. Not an easy species to capture well in flight like you've done here.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 11, 2011 at 7:44 AM

Well done Sandy. Love the light and flight position.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on February 11, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Now that's pretty. The markings are splendid and the light is marvelous.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 11, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Wonderful flight shot Sandy! Beautiful

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