Long-billed Curlew

Gallery: AvianPosted July 28, 2011500 views25 comments

Numenius americanus

This was taken on July 1st of this year on Antelope Island State Park here in Utah. This adult had been perching on a boulder keeping an eye on the juvenile birds foraging in the grasses and sagebrush below.

I have read that the female long-billed curlew often leaves the male and juveniles at this stage and the shorter bill on this bird possibly indicates that this is a male.

The adult would lift off once in awhile and fly off for a bit then land back on the same boulder. Might have needed to stretch its wings. In this frame the bird was coming back in for a landing. I had prefocused on the area where I expected to the bird to land.

Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, 65% of original frame.

As always I sincerely appreciate your comments and critiques, thank you for looking.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 28, 2011 at 7:46 PM

Fantastic Mia - wonderful detail and I like the subtle tones in the background and how they contrast slightly with the brighter tones of the bird

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 28, 2011 at 7:47 PM

oh, wow, Mia--I absolutely love this. the contrast of the warm tones of the bird with the sage greens is really nice, the dof both in terms of the bird and for showing some of the habitat is just excellent, the comp is perfect, and the bird's pose is fantastic. really nice.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 28, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Excellent. Nice position, good sharpness, nice natural colors.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 28, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Terrific detail and capture, Mia, with your usual impeccable techs. And you get the greatest color palettes. The layering the photo is also very nice.

Have I mentioned how pleased I am to see you posting again?

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 28, 2011 at 8:45 PM

Thanks for the comments thus far!

Jim, thank you for the wlecome back, that means alot.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 28, 2011 at 9:17 PM

Awesome image - never seen a Curlew shot that holds a candle to this in regards to detail, habitat and pose!

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

Comment posted by Harry Harris on July 28, 2011 at 9:27 PM

Mia, What I really like is the sharp Curlew with the sage background. The only ones I have captured are in the mud flats and pickle weed at low tide. The pose of the bird and your techs really show off its colors.

Harry

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 28, 2011 at 10:37 PM

Wonderful! I don't think I've seen manty flight shots of these guys, and this one is just first-rate. The pose is terrific, especially with the bird moving towards you a bit. The lighting is great as well, and you've got some terrific detail in the plumage under the wings even. And the sage background is terrific as well.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 28, 2011 at 10:59 PM

Nice lighting and detail, Mia. I like the hint of structure left in the bushes that provides a good sense of habitat without being obtrusive.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 28, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Beautiful flight shot Mia, love the colors and the wonderful feather detail.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 29, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Heck of a photo Mia!!! Very nice delicate detail on the bird, very sharp. You must have really nailed the focus. It's helpful when birds exhibit repetitive behavior so you can prefocus. Still takes some planning and good observational skills, not to mention patience.

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

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on July 29, 2011 at 12:55 AM

Wow Wow Wow
All I can say Mia. I LOVE IT

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 29, 2011 at 4:11 AM

Only one word for this SUPERB.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on July 29, 2011 at 8:23 AM

Excellent shot. Everything comes together very nicely.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 29, 2011 at 10:08 AM

Just login' the rich warm tones of brown on this bird. Your larger version shows wonderful detail ...I never realized they had tail feathers like this. Nice capture!
Glad to see you back! Your presence here was greatly missed! Sharon

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 29, 2011 at 12:15 PM

Congrats, Mia! I have failed whenever I've tried this pre-focus method; the birds never seem to return the same flight-path or focus plane!

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on July 29, 2011 at 3:07 PM

Beautiful capture. I saw one of these for the first time this year. It was love at first sight. They have so much ungainly grace and I think you've caught that quality perfectly.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on July 29, 2011 at 9:45 PM

Really nice Mia !

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on July 29, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Great work, Mia, on what in my neck of the woods is a difficult species!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 30, 2011 at 6:59 PM

Beeeauutiful Mia! I use the same technique with the pre-focusing, it works fairly well.
I can't find any fault at all..I might go ahead & take out that little dandelion head down there bottom left corner. It look so lonely

Very well done!

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 30, 2011 at 8:09 PM

Nicely executed, Mia. The overall color palette works well with the curlew. My only minor nit is that darker spot ULHC, but that's nature. Well done!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 31, 2011 at 8:48 PM

Ahh, this one brings back memories - of us trying to get the right angle on the incoming curlew, of the juvies and of us cussing the biting gnats. This is one heck of a strong image Mia and I agree with all the previous superlatives. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 1, 2011 at 12:03 PM

Excellent shot all the way around, wing spread, catch light, feather detail and background all come together, well done.

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

Comment posted by Rajan Desai on August 3, 2011 at 6:29 AM

This is a lovely flight shot... I love the flight pose and sharp bird, but I really like the hint of habitat in the background.

Registered on March 25, 2005, 32 Posts, 395 Comments

Comment posted by Lennart Augustsson on August 5, 2011 at 12:04 PM

It is not the easiest thing to get a sharp picture of a flying Cutlew.
Well done Mia!

Registered on July 29, 2011, 21 Posts, 137 Comments