Sora

Gallery: AvianPosted January 20, 20188,882 views8 comments

I have seen exactly two of these in the last 15 years in the open enough to get a halfway decent exposure. It was headed into the reeds and stopped for a snack at the edge. Even then it was partially obscured. I still get a thrill of satisfaction and thanksgiving when I am able to get an image like this. The Sora is the most populous of the Rail family in North America, but is seldom seen because of its penchant for remaining hidden in the reeds.

Thanks for looking and commenting! I wish the little guy had allowed a full body shot, but I am happy to get what I got!

Image Quality:   Lossless Compressed RAW (14-bit)
Camera Info:   Nikon D500, beanbag in SUV window
Lens:   VR 200-500mm f/5.6E
Focal Length:   500mm
Focus Mode:   AF-C
AF-Area Mode:   Dynamic, 25 points
VR:   ON
Aperture:   f/7.1
Shutter Speed:   1/320s
Exposure Mode:   Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.:   0EV
Metering:   Spot
ISO Sensitivity:   ISO 800
35% of full frame

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Jake Alletson on January 20, 2018 at 11:57 PM

I didn't even know of the existence of this bird but I do sympathize about the difficulty of photographing the Rails. So often they offer no more than just a glimpse of a form disappearing into the vegetation, or perhaps you only hear them calling. I would be very happy with this shot even with its obvious "flaw" which really is not that excessive anyway.

Registered on May 3, 2016, 12 Posts, 163 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 21, 2018 at 3:22 AM

I did have a complete view, but the head was moving too fast for the shutter speed. I copied the reversed head over the blurred head, feathered the edges and la voila, here is how it should have looked. The godlike powers of photoshop are just too much to resist at times! frown

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 21, 2018 at 8:48 AM

Great bird to see and frame.. and very difficult for us enlightened

, Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on January 21, 2018 at 9:50 AM

Congrats on photographing a difficult bird. I like the original: the detail looks fine and it does show the Sora's environment more and why it is tough to photograph them.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on January 22, 2018 at 10:47 AM

Nice look at this sora Phil. Good job with detail and colors in tough light. Like you, I have only seen two of these over the years, and both were this year, one in Sac NWR and one at Bolsa Chica. Both in low light and they move so fast it was tough to get any detail at all.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 22, 2018 at 2:44 PM

Excellent Phil. I've only seen these a couple of times and it is a thrill. You have superb detail and caught its typical foraging pose very well. A really cool job on the photoshopped version.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on January 22, 2018 at 3:04 PM

Phil, you got me beat, I've only seen one of these. Like the rail, they are elusive and well disguised even in the open.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 31, 2018 at 12:24 PM

I like both images, glad you were able to get good photos. Have never seen one. TFS.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments