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Virginia Rail
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Virginia Rail

by Ed Williams

Gallery: AvianPosted February 5, 20186,752 views6 comments
This Virginia Rail was looking for dinner at the Colusa NWR in Northern California the week between Christmas and New Year.  I got a few shots, all except this one blurry as it was quickly moving through the weeds. There was a Wilson's Snipe that was calling within a few yards of this one as it came through. I will try to post one of it in a future post. Canon 60D, f16, 1/100 sec, iso 500, -1 EV, 100-400 ISLii, at 400 mm, Slight crop for composition.  I was trying to do a landscape of the refuge with the Sutter Buttes in the BG, and failed to switch to a faster shutter speed for this close up shot.  I am surprised it came out pretty clearly.

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 5, 2018 at 12:55 PM
Detail in the plumage is quite good, Ed.  I also like the light on the Rail.   A bit of a head turn toward you would have been nice, but these and most of the other birds with the same habits seem to spend all their time with their heads down or turned away.  I really like the habitat and it's a fine image of a hard to see bird.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on February 5, 2018 at 1:41 PM
A lovely setting and catching this rare bird in its habitat with good light is hard to do.  I think you could probably cut the saturation down the tiny bit in the greens and the reds and still maintain the integrity of the image.  I do like the glow and the reflections of the bird.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hansen on February 5, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Congratulations Ed, on getting this nice shot of a bird I hear frequently but very rarely see.  Nice work!
Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments
Comment posted by Debapratim Saha on February 5, 2018 at 9:07 PM
Beautiful in habitat shot of this shy bird.
Registered on February 4, 2018, 26 Posts, 101 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 5, 2018 at 10:14 PM
Very nice look at this Rail, Ed. The LP must be seen to really appreciate the detail you managed to capture, and fairly out in the open too boot. devil
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by David Bogener on February 6, 2018 at 6:17 PM
Unique image.  Almost looks painted.  A little more of a turn toward would be ideal, but nice as posted.
Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments