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Gallery: WildlifePosted August 6, 2011182 views11 comments

The buffalo does not mind the yellow-billed oxpecker as long as it restricts itself to picking off ticks and other biting insects on the body, but when the pest starts to get into its nose and ears, it has over-stayed its welcome! I clicked this as soon as the buffalo shook its head to get rid of the bird.
Species: African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus)
Location: Masai Mara, Kenya
Date: May 2011
Equip: Canon 1D Mlll, Canon 500 f4
Specs: ISO 400, f6.3, 1/2000s, beanbag on vehicle

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/critiques.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 6, 2011 at 2:04 PM

Ajit...I opened this without noticing the bird in the thumbnail (hope other people don't make the mistake of not opening it because they don;t see the interaction) and started to laugh my butt off! LOVE the action here! Excellent techs as usual and the comp is terrific!

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on August 6, 2011 at 2:36 PM

Perfect timing, nicely executed!

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 6, 2011 at 5:02 PM

Excellent action and perfect timing!
Nice detail in both buffalo and bird.
The dark areas at the top distract me a bit; you might consider cloning more of the nice BG over then.
Really nice image!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on August 6, 2011 at 9:56 PM

Ajit, great sharpness in the larger version, really nice exposure and light.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on August 7, 2011 at 2:04 AM

Ajit,
I must confess to not being a great fan of Bufallo, but this is a good one with great detail, Oxpeckers often bring something extra and this is no exception

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

Comment posted by Lennart Augustsson on August 7, 2011 at 4:19 AM

Very alert of you and nice comp.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 7, 2011 at 9:07 AM

Nice image Ajit, you caught the oxpecker in a perfect pose! Not really a nit as such, but I do wish the eye of the buffalo was (wide) open.Well, you can't always have it all can you?

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on August 7, 2011 at 10:36 PM

Great light and color! Really like the interaction!

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on August 8, 2011 at 1:50 AM

Excellent timing Ajit, great to see you caught the Oxpecker's eye so well!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on August 8, 2011 at 11:12 PM

Really nice shot here Ajit, excellent sharpness and great comp - very interesting!

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on August 9, 2011 at 7:49 PM

What a great photo! The expression on the face of the buffalo is perfect as is the pose of the bird. The color of the oxpecker's bill really gives a nice splash of color. I might prefer just a hair more space on the left of the image as the shadow from the horn is awfully close to the edge but otherwise I wouldn't change anything. Perfect timing on the shot and great behavior.

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments