It's A Rare Aplomado Falcon!

Gallery: AvianPosted March 26, 2011208 views12 comments

Update: Thanks Nate for the correct name for this bird.

Angela and I thought that is was a Merlin. (Not) We found this patient bird posing for us as we drove past. We shot, moved closer, moved closer shot again, and probably moved close at least two more time. We were losing light and I bumped the ISO up a bit. Cute bird!

I have other views that show the beak profile against the sky, but I like this image because of the eye contact. Comments welcomed.

7D, 100-400 mm F5.6L @ 400 mm
F5.6, 1/250, +0.67, ISO 640
Hand held from car window
Evaluative
18.1 m subject distance
Auto white balance
PP CS5

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 26, 2011 at 3:31 PM

Hi Dottie,
This is an Aplomado Falcon. They used to live throughout the southwest US but were extirpated many years ago. They have been successfully reintroduced into South Texas. Where did you find this one? I like your comp and I really get the feeling that the sun is going down here with the soft, slightly dark sidelighting. On the larger image it looks like you have lost some detail in the plumage, I'm not sure of the reason, 2 possibilities are because of cropping or perhaps running noise reduction on the whole image. Great to get this species!

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

Comment posted by Dottie Short on March 26, 2011 at 3:44 PM

Nate, Angel McCain and I were near South Padre Island on the road driving away from 'Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge'. It was a small crop but those feathers on the right were rather dark. I'll go back and see if I can find another image to edit. Thanks for the ID. Just look it up in Kaufman's, and am excited to see it rare!!
Dottie

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 26, 2011 at 3:47 PM

That makes sense Dottie because the main area of reintroduction has been at Laguna Atascosa. I saw one there years ago. Congrats on the find!

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 26, 2011 at 6:26 PM

I agree, Dottie, great eye contact. Lovely lighting. The three layer bg doesn't bother me here either: the bird commands our attention. Interesting to read your info and comments regarding this bird too.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 26, 2011 at 6:30 PM

great find, Dottie--and what a treat to see an Aplomado without leg bands. love the sunset light here and the pose is good too. I agree with Nate that it would be worth reprocessing to try to pull out a little more detail.

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

Comment posted by Ken Canning on March 26, 2011 at 7:29 PM

Very nice light and composition. I like the blurred background. I saw one of these guys at Bosque a couple of years ago, but my images dont compare to this one. Nice Job.

Registered on February 10, 2004, 88 Posts, 549 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 26, 2011 at 8:36 PM

oooo - nice find!!! I saw an Aplomado at Bosque a few years ago (likely the same one as Ken) , but didn't get as nice an image as this one - good job!
A little lightening of the dark right side with Viveza would improve this nice shot even further.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 26, 2011 at 9:07 PM

Congrats on the find and a nice image to boot! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on March 26, 2011 at 9:09 PM

I saw one in the same area this winter, a youngster like this. Maybe the same one. The big fence post is kind of overwhelming, but a nice shot of a rare falcon.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 27, 2011 at 12:54 PM

Love the light and pose Dottie

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on March 27, 2011 at 6:37 PM

That side lighting is fab. As has been mentioned it lost a little on the larger version. Really like the comp[.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 30, 2011 at 10:32 PM

Nice image, Dottie. Side lighting gives a nice glow to the falcon, especially the yellow legs. Great head turn here and nice catch light in the eye. I like the fence post and the asymmetry of the barbed wire wrapping it. It was a great day!

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