Un-Nat. Mistake+Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted February 12, 2012219 views7 comments

I photographed this bird last week near Holguin, Cuba. There wasn't really much pollution in the area but this tin can sure misled this guy. The bird may be a young Clapper Rail. However, I'm not sure and would appreciate help with the identification. I considered posting the image in a forum but I think that the image is of wider interest and the quality is sufficiently high to post here and invite criticism.

All comments most welcome.

1D Mark IV, 400 mm f/5.6, 1.4x TC, hand held: ISO 1250, 1/1000s, f/8, +1/3 EV, 9.4 MP (59% of 16 MP full frame), NR, exposure adjustment, sharpening; one branch cloned out.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 12, 2012 at 9:03 PM

hey Steve, it's good to see you. It looks to me like you've got an immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron here. definitely an interesting behavior shot (I hope there's a crab in that can!). it does look rather dark overall to me.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 13, 2012 at 2:15 AM

Very interesting image! Definitely a young YCNH. Sure hope he/she quickly learns that not all bright shiny things in the water are edible, before it gets into trouble.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 13, 2012 at 10:23 AM

I agree that it is an immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. I'd also like it to be brighter.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on February 13, 2012 at 7:58 PM

Steve,
Juv, YCNH in my opinion. Like others have suggested, I think this could be globally lightened a half stop or more. Interesting capture for sure. Larger version provides plenty of good detail. Nice capture.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 13, 2012 at 8:38 PM

You should post this one a bit brighter in EPJ. I agree that it's a young Night Heron. I'm looking forward to some more exotic species from your Cuba trip.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 13, 2012 at 10:57 PM

Thank you everyone. You are unanimous in recommending a lighter version....and are right as usual! (Please see attached: definitely better than the original. ) Posting too dark a version is an old problem for me. In this case I had checked previous to posting by running a levels adjustment layer and it seemed that some of the reflections in the water might be too much with a global increase in brightness. However, I can see now that it looks fine.
It's great to have the right identification of this bird too. This one was a real mystery for me!
Thank you for your suggestion about posting this image in EPJ, Nate. I'll give it a try.
The Cuba trip was great fun: just me with birds and sand fleas in the early morning and late afternoon in a swamp. I think there are some images that you all would be interested in. I'll be posting over the next few months in between more vacation time.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on February 15, 2012 at 9:24 AM

A very good behavior shot. Too bad it wasn't a nice big fish but the old tin can tells a different kind of story and one just as interesting. I definitely like the lighter version.

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