Play Time

Gallery: AvianPosted May 16, 2013257 views13 comments

I'm not sure if this southern yellow-billed hornbill ever actually ate any of this carcass. It just kept tossing it about.

This was one of the more action-packed moments of my visit to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park last August. It was great visiting a new environment and seeing some new species, though overall it was a somewhat "mild" trip in terms of action and memorable moments. Next time I'll have to follow Morkel around, I guess.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x TC
ISO 800
1/500th
f/5.6

Max

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on May 16, 2013 at 12:41 PM

Unusual image Max. Never seen a hornbill looking so aggressive.
( you won't be the only one following Morkel around mate)

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 16, 2013 at 12:52 PM

Very neat image Max, nice action.

Crop works well as it runs with the strong diagonal.

Young Morkel has a fan club, oooh he's going to get some ribbing, LOL.

He's a good guy.

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 16, 2013 at 3:37 PM

Interesting action/behavior shot and I like the low perspective, nice timing to get this, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 16, 2013 at 4:16 PM

The look and pose you captured on this bird just says "I'm full of all kinds of antics"! Nice capture! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Bill Marsh on May 16, 2013 at 4:41 PM

Good action shot Max. Maybe the hornbill just wanted to get some blood on his bill to look tough.

Registered on December 29, 2012, 21 Posts, 225 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 16, 2013 at 7:27 PM

Great action, eye, and prey - excellent work

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Claude Dagenais on May 16, 2013 at 7:40 PM

Action packed and great techs, what more to ask for?

Registered on April 10, 2013, 56 Posts, 571 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 17, 2013 at 1:57 AM

Looks like he's competing in the hammer throw, you captured the perfect moment Max

You know how kids are, they would rather play with their food than eat it. Excellent Techs!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 17, 2013 at 2:15 AM

Max,

Great capture of behaviour I have never seen before, Kgalagadi is somewhere where you can be lucky or not.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 17, 2013 at 3:09 AM

I really do like the action on this shot that bird sure as got a mean eye.

Keith.

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

Comment posted by Tjie Poo on May 17, 2013 at 3:32 AM

A wonderful action shot. An excellent job to have the head and the eye in perfect focus.