Dipper In Habitat

Photo showing the male Dipper collecting moss from the riverbank and surrounding stones.Captured him here just enjoying the morning sunshine,wanted to try and convey/capture a little of the fast-flowing habitat in which these birds live.Numbers are really down on previous years,with nest building,courtship coming later than expected too,lots of postive measures have been done in this area by Natural England eg ringing,new signs,nestboxes placed away from the 'hotspots' etc all great for these birds in this troubled area,but as I was there two dogs entered the water,and two people dipped their feet in the water to cool off feet away from Dippers, as the sun came up and tempertures where raisng including my own
I am photographing 12 months in the life of the Dipper which started in early January of this year.I am hoping to capture these birds and their behavioural patterns throughout the seasons,getting abetter understanding through the medium of photography of how and where they spend there time etc.If you visit this area you can help these birds by just showing people the signs there if you witness any issues,which have increased in numbers, being straight to the point within their wording.

All Comments And Advice Welcome

Nikon D3S
Nikon F4VR600
F5.6,1/160
iso 1000,-0.7ev
Matrix
PP-LR2.6,CS3,Full Frame Image

Thanks For Looking

A lovely image Craig. Interesting story as well. I was in my local town the other day and a dipper was feeding and displaying itself on a weir directly in front of the Council Offices with what seemed hardly a care in the world. It seems strange that some populations carry on life as normal when humans are around whereas others are affected adversely.

Lovely picture showing the bird at home as it were. I would like to see it with 25% off the top this would add a little more prominence to the bird in my view.
Bob.

Nice picture Craig. The background is unobtrusive and recognisable at the same time. Is his white breast a little blown out? Agree with Bob with the top crop, but as it is now makes for a good magazine title page!

Very nice image Craig, one of the best you've posted on UKNP IMO - great to see a different approach with this species.
My only nit is the whites appear to be very hot in this jpeg. Other than that, it is a successful animal in habitat shot.

Cheers,
Chris

Cracking shot Craig and all the best on your project, look foward to seeing the project pictures as they progress ,I hope they do not get predated or desert from people's interfearence.

Dale

nice dipper shot. Agree whites look blown out but disagree that it needs more of a crop, it shows the habitat nicely.

I think you have achieved exactly what you set out to do and the movement of the stream sets the whole image off well. Looking forward to seeing more as the project progresses.

Thank you all for your kind comments and on the Raw image the whites look ok and at -0.7 exposure comp it was fine

Craig. This is the image that has made me stop lurking and decide to post on UKNP after over a year of just reading! I love the composition and think the environmental element of the image really works. As others have said, its a classic cover shot. Sadly, the whites do look blown on my screen but that could be part of the JPEG process.

Nice to see you at last Paul lets see some images now!! I hope you are well and all the best

Hi Craig not a bad image, could do with it being slightly bigger in the frame,the whites do look blown but that happens.

Phil.

I really like this image Craig a great habitiat shot

Hi Craig. Lovely image and with it, a story, which every pic should have. Minor nits covered.

Look forward to more from the saga - especially, how they coped during the winter at that spot where you took the shot - having been there a couple of times myself, I can only imagine how cold it was during the winter

An arresting image Craig.

Sad to hear the 'saga' is still going on, this just highlights the lack of respect people have these days.

A very nice dipper in habitat shot. I like it as it is.

Delightful Craig, this is excellent all round.


Phil Newman

A lovely habitat shot Craig, I agree with a little off the top though!
Paul.

Excellent behavioural shot along with a good story. I wish you well with your project.

A wonderful habitat shot, made better by the beakful of moss. I vote for a crop.

Thank you all for your kind and helpful comments much appreciated

A top-drawer image. Great composition.

Simon

Nice shot with Dipper in Habitat. I vote to see a cropped version too.

Ian