Madagascar Nightjar

Gallery: AvianPosted October 18, 2011108 views7 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM MK II @ 200mm, Aperture Priority @ f/8 (1/400 sec), -2/3 EV, ISO 400, Handheld, JPEG from RAW, About 60% of Full Frame

For our ventures into the spiny tree forests of southeastern Madagascar last month, we ("we" being my guide and I) had along with us three local trackers who really knew the forest, their way around it, as well as the inhabitants and where to find them with confidence and ease.

One of the most amazing species they came across and brought my attention to was a pair of perfectly camouflaged Madagascar Nightjars laying stock still in the forest's litter … well, at least they were perfectly camouflaged from me, though fortunately not quite well enough from one of my trackers ;^)

The one you see here is the male; I'll post up the lady in 48 hours!

Critique and comments always welcome.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on October 18, 2011 at 4:30 AM

Wow, Ashley, that is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen! You are fortunate to be able to photograph such interesting birds and in such interesting places. I was really squinting and twisting my eyes hard to see what this was - because of its camouflaging technique, it is very difficult to see. In the large photo, I can see that it is very sharp and well composed. Many cheers!

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 18, 2011 at 11:24 AM

Ashley,
An amazing image. Glad your guides found it for you. The sharpness is outstanding. The larger image really shows the bird well. TFS.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 18, 2011 at 11:37 PM

Great image, Ashley. I see they have the same squinting eyes as their common nighthawk cousins in the US. The camo job they do is amazing. Sounds like a great trip indeed.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 19, 2011 at 12:08 AM

Excellent camouflage, excellent image,

Ray

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 19, 2011 at 7:03 AM

Congratulations with capturing this amazing species - a chance not many of us get ! Looks great and I cannot wait for the female

, Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 19, 2011 at 6:15 PM

Most interesting species and natural history well captured.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 23, 2011 at 10:46 PM

Thanks for your kind words and comments Mark, John, Angela, Ray, Hans, and Simon :^)

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