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Buff Crested Bustard
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Buff Crested Bustard

by Ken Watkins

Gallery: AvianPosted July 25, 201379 views11 comments
Our first ever sighting of a male doing his mating dance during which now and again he raises his crest. Unfortunately he could not have chosen to parade in a more awkward position, the dark patches are from a recent fire.Oh well, next time?

EOS 1DX
500mm F4 MkII + 1.4 EX MkIII
F8
ISO 1600
1/800
hand held from open vehicle

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 25, 2013 at 6:00 AM
What a great looking bird Ken - I don't mind the setting. We had Black-bellieds in the burnt areas around us all the time when we worked in Zim.
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on July 25, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Nice bird, Ken.
I liked the image, the bird position.
Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on July 25, 2013 at 12:13 PM
You can not place the bird were you want him, you can only compose the shot. Great job.

Peter
Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 25, 2013 at 4:22 PM
A remarkably weird bird. Really good detail on most of the Bustard. The head kind of fades into the BG. Some selective midtone correction of either the head or the BG might make the head more visible. Some more work on the black underneath might bring out more detail.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 25, 2013 at 5:24 PM
Interesting behaviour well captured.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 25, 2013 at 6:02 PM
This is a must see large, love the eye!
Great behavioral image Ken, very nice:toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 25, 2013 at 7:12 PM
Very nice, Ken. I don't mind the bg at all.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 25, 2013 at 7:51 PM
The large version is great, this species is so comical, nicely captured Ken :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 25, 2013 at 10:54 PM
Thanks everybody for your kind comments, which are much appreciated. Watching this birds "silly walk" was such a rarity we spent early two hours with them, and it did not impress the lady :biggrin:
I will try some more fine tuning :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 29, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Very interesting image and bird. I like the position and the setting.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 30, 2013 at 12:48 AM
Richard,

Thanks very much :toast:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments