Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Favorite Tenants
‹ PreviousWeekly Challenge GalleryNext ›

Favorite Tenants

by Dennis Plank

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted June 16, 2017169 views4 comments
We have something in excess of 30 Bluebird/Swallow boxes on the property, with the predominant tenants being Tree Swallows and a fair number of Violet-greens.  We've never had more than one pair of bluebirds, so they tend to get favored status.  In 2015, they used a very handy box and I was able to sneak in and add a decorative perch to the top of the box post.  They started using it as a surveillance location prior to delivering food almost immediately and I was able to get some very nice poses with an assortment of prey in their beaks.  I really liked this pose of the female.  I posted a couple from this time, but I don't recall whether this was one of them or if I chose a different frame.

7D2, 500 mm f/4 + 1.4 TC, tripod and gimbal head, f/9, 1/500, iso 1000, aperture priority, pattern metering, -1/3 EV.  Processed in LR5 & CS6.  I don't recall the crop, but it wasn't particularly large as I was able to get quite close.  Taken June 20th, 2015 at 8:09 pm.

Comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 17, 2017 at 10:58 AM
This is a fine catch on this lady, Dennis.  The perch looks good, her details are fine, and the bug tells a great story.  The tree swallows chased the Mountain Bluebirds out of both of our Montana nest boxes this year...boooooo!
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on June 17, 2017 at 10:43 PM
Hi  Dennis  crying  Very  fine capture of the bluebird.    love the  excellent detail and natural  color..
devil


Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Moreau on June 18, 2017 at 9:03 AM
Dennis, beautiful capture of this lady bluebird. Everything that needs to be in focus is, and that bug is a great detail. I could see burning down that URC a bit, it competes with the bird a bit for my attention.
Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on June 18, 2017 at 7:36 PM
Hi Dennis,

No nits here.  She's a fine looking bluebird and you captured her very well....................................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments