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Ruddy on the rocks
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Hii..
This is Ruddy. Ruddy on the Rocks or Ruddy in front of "the Gates of Hell".
The spot is still the Seal colony at Cape Cross, Namibia.
In the blurred background you see the Atantic Ocean
and the Benguela Current.
From wikipedia...
Benguela Current
The frigid waters of the north-flowing Benguela current move from the western coast of South Africa, Namibia and Angola towards north and northwest up to the line where it joins the southern equatorial current which is already a warm current. Its waters are cold because there are very deep waters that were brought upward due to the rotation of Earth from west to east. This upward movement of deep waters are sometimes increased by planetary winds from east to west (southern Trade winds) which blow west from the Kalahari Desert towards the ocean. Obviously, this wind creates a displacement of top ocean waters from the African coast to the west deviating to the northwest (to the left) because of the Coriolis Effect and this displacement causes deep waters to move upwards to replace coastal waters moving west.
Back to Ruddy. As a matter of fact this is not Ruddy on the Rocks but Ruddy Turnstone. Sounds pretty good:-).
Thanks to Ivan, James, Pekka and so forth, I was able to provide the identification. So in the photo you actually see Mr. Turnstone in his winter outfit. A description...
From wikipedia...
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) description...
It is a fairly small and stocky bird, 22-24 centimetres long with a wingspan of 50-57 centimetres and a weight of 85-150 grams. The dark, wedge-shaped bill is 2-2.5 centimetres long and slightly upturned. The legs are fairly short at 3.5 centimetres and are bright orange.
At all seasons, the plumage is dominated by a harlequin-like pattern of black and white. Breeding birds have reddish-brown upperparts with black markings. The head is mainly white with black streaks on the crown and a black pattern on the face. The breast is mainly black apart from a white patch on the sides. The rest of the underparts are white. In flight it reveals a white wingbar, white patch near the base of the wing and white lower back, rump and tail with dark bands on the uppertail-coverts and near the tip of the tail. The female is slightly duller than the male and has a browner head with more streaking.
Non-breeding adults are duller than breeding birds and have dark grey-brown upperparts with black mottling and a dark head with little white. Juvenile birds have a pale brown head and pale fringes to the upperpart feathers creating a scaly impression.
Birds of the subspecies morinella are smaller with darker upperparts and less streaking on the crown.
The Ruddy Turnstone has a staccato, rattling call and also a chattering alarm-call which is mainly given during the breeding season.
Lastly some technical stuff:
In the digital worklow I modified somewhat the blue curve to get a more pleasing Atlantic Ocean color;
compared to my previous Ruddy posted yesterday.
Have a nice sat!. |
valy67, nglen, eng55, Jamesp, ferranjlloret, anilnediyara, samandi has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- valy67
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(8733) - [2009-01-17 11:02]
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Hello Annick !
I'm proud to be the first one to write a comment to this beauty ! First of all, the bird in itself is very beautiful, with his orange feet ; second the technical qualities of the piucture are excelle - sharpness, details, colors, POV, BG... But what I like most is the vertical composition, leaving lots of space above the bird, it is such a beautiful blue. Very well done !
Valerie
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- nglen
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2926 W: 34 N: 8678]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(32330) - [2009-01-17 11:14]
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Hi Annick. A good picture of the Ruddy Turnstone, You have taken this with a nice pose on the rocks with the birds head turned to one side. well done TFS,
Nick..
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- PeterZ
(17766)
- [2009-01-17 12:04]
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Hallo Annick,
Wat zou ik deze ook graag gemaakt hebben. Ziet er wat parmantiger uit dan onze Steenloper. Prachtige foto in een uitstekende kwaliteit. Erg goede POV en een voortreffelijke compositie.
Groet,
Peter
Annick,
Here is another shot to your wonderful, endless collection. I really like how you composed this shot. It is very different from a 'normal', bird photo. Of course colors, POV and details are excellent as well. Very nice work. TFS.
Best Regards,
Martin
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- eng55
(3688)
- [2009-01-17 13:01]
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Hi Annick,
Lovely capture.POV,eye contact,BG and compostion are excellent.
Thanks for posting.
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- Jamesp
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(16524) - [2009-01-17 14:09]
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Hello Annick
A great composition with excellent isolation of the subject. Nice pose and saturation too.
James
I will email you about the 1Ds - sorry keep forgetting.
Hello Annick,
Another excellent capture of this bird. Very good POV and compostion!!!!
TFS and Best Regards. Ferran
Another good capture of this Turnstone Annick.
Very nicely composed with excellent bokeh.
Good work and a good note as usual.
TFS & Cheers,
Steve
HI Annick,
Nice shot and composition, you rwork on Blue channel has come out very well. TFS
Regards
Anil
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- gannu
(14691)
- [2009-01-18 8:29]
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Hello Annick, The shot is so beautiful. What a lovely shot with a superb BG. This is really nice shot. Ganesh
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 223 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
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