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Slippery Snake
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Slippery Snake

by Ken Watkins

Gallery: AvianPosted October 20, 2014239 views13 comments
This Secretary Bird managed a fine meal of Puff Adder, even if it did prove difficult to eat,
Taken in Meru National,Park, Kenya.
EOS 1DX
200-400 mm F4 with 1.4 EX at 560mm
F7.1
ISO 1600
1/640

Comments

13 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 20, 2014 at 9:43 AM
Awesome action - the legs on these birds are incredible. I like the low angle and the shutterspeed which stopped the bird but put a bit of motion in the prey
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 20, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Weird bird and fabulous action. done just about right! :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 20, 2014 at 2:53 PM
Excellent behavior .. This species I have only seen far away in the fields or flying by - never managed to see something like this :mad: ... Great colors in the images and the orange red stands our really well :toast: :toast: , Hans
Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Thompson on October 20, 2014 at 3:30 PM
One of the strangest birds I've seen Ken! BG is oof enough not to distract, colors are sweet. Bird has great detail too. :smile:
Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments
Comment posted by John Launstein on October 20, 2014 at 4:02 PM
Way cool, Ken! What a great behaviour shot. My goodness when you think about what is actually taking place in this image it's pretty remarkable. Good job in taking care of all the techs while the action was happening to deliver this great capture. No nits of suggestions from me beyond it might have been cool to capture this with a lower camera angle if that opportunity was available (I'm guessing you were confined to your vehicle).
Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments
Comment posted by Tjie Poo on October 20, 2014 at 11:18 PM
Terrific behavioral capture Ken ! This exotic looking bird has 'super model' legs ! Lighting is beautiful and overall colors are very pleasant. :toast:
Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on October 21, 2014 at 1:42 AM
Some fine action here Ken ...Like the meal in the air...

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 21, 2014 at 5:12 AM
Thanks everybody for your comments, a once in a lifetime sighting,
Believe it or not they wanted to rename this as Long Legged Ground Eagle :smile:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by S Govindarajan on October 21, 2014 at 1:40 PM
Wonderful freeze action, Ken. Great behavioral capture. :toast:
Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 22, 2014 at 5:19 PM
Very cool shot to get this guy eating a Puff Adder Ken. Nice warm colors and detail on the bird. I wish the snake were in better focus but with the lighting you had that would have been a tall order. I almost stepped on a big Puff Adder right outside my room in West Coast Park recently. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 22, 2014 at 7:38 PM
Sweet action behavior you captured Ken. I really like the details visible in this super cool bird.

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 23, 2014 at 12:37 PM
Wonderful capture, Ken. Excellent work. :toast: :toast:
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy Aron on November 2, 2014 at 12:25 AM
Amazing—timing, subjects, composition.
Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments