Secretary Bird in flight

Gallery: AvianPosted May 17, 2011208 views27 comments

Sorry for my absence, I was on extended road-trips and safaris and am now back in the swing of things.

This one was captured in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa. Got a pair of them chasing snakes in Golden Gate Highlands National Park a few days ago. This one gulped down what looked like a puff adder...and then its mate took off into the updraft from the edge of a cliff. I knew this one would follow, and was ready for it.

Light could have been better (overcast) - but happy to get this as my first BIF of this species. (Got the whole takeoff series but this is the best pose for me - and to get this is quite rare).

Shot this using the new 2x TC-mk3 wide open...

Techs:
Canon 7D with 300mm f2.8 L IS USM + 2.0xTC-III (600mm)
f5.6 @ 1/1250 SS @ ISO-800
Cropped slightly from RHS and top

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on May 17, 2011 at 5:19 PM

What a beautiful bird and well captured. Great composition/pose, excellent technicals, complimentary BG, you nailed it. Interesting species that looks like a cross between a great blue heron and an eagle. If this bird lived in the US we would have to rename it something more PC.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 17, 2011 at 5:38 PM

Really sweet Morkel. Super sharp and a great flight position. Love the nice look at the whole bird from face to feet. BG tops it off for me. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Karen Summers on May 17, 2011 at 5:50 PM

Excellent image love the detail in this

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM

Very nice image. Excellent detail in the feathers. BG adds to the image. I wouldn't mind just a touch more room on the right. Adding a touch of light to the eye would take an already excellent image up even more for me. Nicely done.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on May 17, 2011 at 6:47 PM

Great stuff!. To be really nit picking I reckon a bit smaller in frame and more canvas on the right but no big deal.

Cheers
John R
Wyre Forest
UK

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 17, 2011 at 7:06 PM

Excellent flight shot Morkel. The bird is nice and sharp.
May

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 17, 2011 at 8:09 PM

Excellent! Sharp throughout, nice pose, and a great BG.
Nice!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on May 17, 2011 at 10:14 PM

Terrific! Sweet shot.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on May 17, 2011 at 11:56 PM

Very impressive image and bird. Love the colors and complimentary OOF BG. Well done Morkel!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 18, 2011 at 12:11 AM

Well done getting this species in flight, sharp and well exposed too. Might benefit from a pinch more room at the bottom and right for slightly less centered comp. Impressive sharpness for a 2X wide open.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on May 18, 2011 at 6:56 AM

thanks very much for the kind comments everyone...

unfortunately most of the space I cropped out was from LHS (misspoke in my original post)

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 18, 2011 at 7:51 AM

Superb Morkel - wonderful detail and wing position. Like the terxture of the grass in the background

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 18, 2011 at 9:27 AM

Really like this Morkel - especially the flight posture, background and exposure. Sharpness looks good. A bit more room on the right would be ideal.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on May 18, 2011 at 9:36 AM

Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on May 18, 2011 at 10:02 AM

Wow Morkel, I've never seen this bird which is quite an interesting one at that--but the details and comp look absolutely nailed. Great job!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on May 18, 2011 at 10:27 AM

Looks to me like a perfectly executed shot other than space on the right issue. Beautiful.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on May 18, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Love the position of the wings. The vegetation really makes for a nice background.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 18, 2011 at 1:56 PM

Interesting name for an interesting looking bird. Wonderful flight shot with good details and a very complimentary background, way to go.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 18, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Wow Morkel,
You did good!! Terrific looking bird captured perfectly. Great detail in larger post and the background couldn't be better.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on May 18, 2011 at 11:12 PM

Neat shot. Don't think I've ever seen one of these fly before.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 18, 2011 at 11:17 PM

Morkel, I have only seen these in a zoo and love these birds. I think it is the first flight shot I have seen of one also. Very nice details. light and colors. Techs are superb!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 18, 2011 at 11:35 PM

Great detail in the moving subject. I like the wing detail and body pose . Great detail on the face as well.

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on May 19, 2011 at 12:00 AM

Very nice flight shot, Morkel. Good job capturing the wings in their down position. Nice head-turn and background.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on May 19, 2011 at 11:27 AM

quite rare to be seen a secretary in flight. nice shot, good details and composition.
Cheers, Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on May 19, 2011 at 4:37 PM

thanks a million for the kind comments everybody! glad you enjoyed it!!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on May 22, 2011 at 4:16 AM

NIce capture Morkel. Your image is sharp and well composed. Nice to see the 2x TC working well with the 300mm. Well done!

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on May 31, 2011 at 5:07 PM

thanks Neal!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments