Slug toss

Gallery: AvianPosted March 6, 2012310 views17 comments

I saw this African Darter repeatedly tossing something in the air. It looked like a small piece of wood, but I believe it to be some kind of invertebrate.

1D MKIV
Canon 500mm
1/1600
f/7.1
ISO 640

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 6, 2012 at 2:06 PM

What a great catch! (pun intended)
Maybe birds really do "play" sometimes.
Nice detail , bright colours, and an image with great interest.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Harry Harris on March 6, 2012 at 2:46 PM

Love the action Neal. Good exposure and sharp also. I like your comp on this subject which focuses on the action. Good job.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 6, 2012 at 3:05 PM

Wonderful timing to get this. I like the overall composition and that is one very long neck, well seen and well done.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 6, 2012 at 3:11 PM

Great ctach for bird and photographer.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on March 6, 2012 at 3:37 PM

Wonderful action shot!
I wondere if that's an eye we can see on the left side of the "victim?" If it is, it looks like some kind of amphibian (tadpole?) or even a small fish. Whatever it is, you certainly captured some interesting behavior with excellent composition and details.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on March 6, 2012 at 4:03 PM

Neal the dtail on the large image is super,great action shot.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on March 6, 2012 at 4:17 PM

A fantastic bird image.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 6, 2012 at 4:18 PM

That's quite the neck. Nice timing, exposure, detail.

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

Comment posted by Claus Johansson on March 6, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Enjoyable action photo - well captured.

Registered on March 28, 2010, 18 Posts, 48 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 6, 2012 at 5:35 PM

Great timing and sharpness Neal

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 6, 2012 at 6:11 PM

Nice peak action capture of a cool looking bird. They ought to change this birds name to African Giraffe Darter.

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

Comment posted by Kenneth Foote on March 6, 2012 at 10:35 PM

Great capture.

Registered on February 12, 2007, 15 Posts, 38 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on March 7, 2012 at 8:39 AM

Excellent shot, wonderful catch,

Ray

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

Comment posted by May Haga on March 7, 2012 at 1:37 PM

Excellent timing. Very well done. Very interesting to see birds playing.
May

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

Comment posted by Don Bartram on March 7, 2012 at 2:17 PM

Great shot. It looks like a fish to me.
The Anhinga's in the states will flip their catch up until it is in lime with their throat and then swallow it. Looks as if that might be going on here.

Registered on August 21, 2006, 0 Posts, 3 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 7, 2012 at 9:34 PM

Cool capture of the action here. The bird has a great pre-historic feel in it's appearance.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 9, 2012 at 6:28 AM

Well , what can one say

. Brilliant action ! Cheers, Hans

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