Blue Grouse (Dusky)

Gallery: AvianPosted May 29, 2013212 views12 comments

Just returned a couple of days ago from a incredibly wonderful visit to Yellowstone. This dusky grouse was the first wild creature we encountered and he sure wasn't shy.

D300s
Nikkor 300mm f4, 1.4 TC (420mm)
ISO 400
1/125 @ f/6.3
Exposure Compensation -.3EV
No crop(yes we were that close)
Tripod

Comments appreciated.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on May 29, 2013 at 9:56 PM

John,
Impressive subject and well captured.
My compliments . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on May 29, 2013 at 10:08 PM

Looks like your trip started off well - nice shot in a nice setting - well exposed. My only nit is to wish for a little more room on the bottom for the feet. Very nice shot John.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 29, 2013 at 10:49 PM

John,
What a remarkable looking bird giving you a great pose, a little more room at the bottom would be great

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 29, 2013 at 10:55 PM

Great low angle here John, agree that a little more room at the bottom would make this even better but a beauty as is.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 29, 2013 at 10:58 PM

Great angle and pose, John. Sweet image.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 30, 2013 at 12:10 AM

Great encounter with this handsome fellow John. Very nice display, very sharp photo. I'm wishing more too, but I understand how this type of thing happen's in the excitement of such an experience.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 30, 2013 at 12:38 AM

Is this the famous grouse at Lake Butte Overlook? Nice job capturing him in his courtship regalia, John. I agree that a bit more room at bottom may improve the image slightly.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on May 30, 2013 at 4:16 AM

Well captured John. The display is quite remarkable. Great colours and detail - well exposed throughout. Like a few others a bit more space around the bird would be nice but with a fixed lens it is not always possible.

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

Comment posted by John Neukirch on May 30, 2013 at 9:13 AM

Max,

Yep that would be the fellow, I gather he must be a regular visitor there.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on May 30, 2013 at 11:10 AM

What a wonderful bird, John.
Very nice shot!

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 30, 2013 at 3:40 PM

John, he's become somewhat of a mythological figure in my book, both because I rarely see him (though everyone else does), and someone once reported him "doing backflips" in an attempt to attract the ladies. Ever since then, my friends and I refer to him as the Blackflipping Grouse.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 30, 2013 at 6:38 PM

The large view look very nice John, congrats!

Yellowstone must be wonderful this time of year

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments