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Not your average "LBJ"


Not your average
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 200, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 40-49 Points (Chapter 2) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-25 4:43
Viewed: 1469
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Orange throated Longclaw
Macronyx capensis

Macronyx derived from the greek word “makros” meaning long, and “onyx” meaning talon or claw. “capensis” is modern Latin for “of the Cape”.

Also known as: Afrikaans: Oranjekeelkalkoentjie; English: Cape Longclaw; German: Kapgroßsporn; French: Sentinelle du Cap.

They are small but build robust little critters. Being streaked blackish brown birds with a distinctively bright orange throat.

They utter a loud catlike “meew” alarm call, given in flight or from ground. Normally just a piping 2-syllabled deewit, deewit (sometimes calls in duet, deewit, meew; deewit, meew)

The birds can be found discontinuously from SW Cape to E Karoo, the highveld of the Free State, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, S Transvaal, Zimbabwe and S Mozambique. I believe it endemic to Southern Africa. Does anybody know of their existence somewhere else?

Usually in pairs; when not breeding, also in small loose groups of up to 5 birds. Forages by walking with big steps across ground or tufty grass; scratches open termite tunnels with feet, chases insects on ground or hawks them in air; beats larger prey on ground before swallowing; at times stands on top of tuft or low mound to look around. When alarmed crouches low; if pressed flies off with bouncing quail-like flight. They feed on insects and some grass seed.

I have never seen this bird in the wild before and when not careful it can easily seem like a “little brown job”. I hope you like it. This critter was so close that I had to get out of my vehicle on the other side and shoot it through the open windows of the car. It was very helpful and just sat there for a while posing as if nothing worried it.

Technical data
Time of day: 18:27 PM
Weather conditions: Sunset
Focal length: 400mm
Flash: Canon Speedlight 550 EX
Handheld
Camera mode: Aperture priority
Photoshop CS, USM (300%, 0.5, 0), Saturation +10

cafecrem, sandpiper2, Callie, ellis49, marhowie, Luc, willie, carper, extramundi, pompey, PDP, rlortie, red45, mogens-j has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Luc: Not easy...gerhardt 1 01-25 13:39
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Critiques [Translate]

He looks very curiously :-) What is he interesting for? He is looking at you or he just like your camera? ;-)
Great photo, I love it ;-)

  • Great 
  • Okan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 104 W: 57 N: 68] (518)
  • [2005-01-25 5:43]

Great photo, the orange color is beautiful, good composition and sharpness. TFS.

Nice photo, good composition and presentation.

Not even an LBJ! this is one of our nicest birdies, and you caught him SO well here Gerhard. Mine is normally only a blimp on the horizon, as they are not too trusting. Good co;ours on the throat. and a nice note to boot - thanks for sharing.
PS spinnekop vanaand.
Grortnis

Very good Gerhard.
Great pose, details and composition.
It's very beautiful bird.
Great work.

Cute critter, and I definitely wouldn't categorize him under LBJs, he's too colourful for that ;-))
Great capture of his alert pose and good POV, nice catchlight in the eye.

It's an outstanding shot of this Longclaw Gerhard! Sounds like he co-operated well..Love the color of this bird combined with the late-lights effect. Great capture!

Great shot and details, I just find the brushwoods a bit distracting.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2005-01-25 11:41]

Another stunner Gerhardt. Excellent pose and good detail. Beautiful shot.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-01-25 11:47]
  • [+]

Great PoV for your Achile in the wild (long talon). Not easy to get an excellent DoF like this with all those disturbing things around. I can imagine you, the car and the bird.
Great work, Gerhard.
Thanks

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2005-01-25 12:33]

Photo lumineuse et très bonne exposition. Belle prise de vue avec de belle couleurs. J'aime bien L'herbes dans la composition, sa donne une dimention naturelle à la photo. Merci pour l'envoi et les précieux commantairs que vous donnez sur mes photo.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2005-01-25 14:19]

Ondanks het feit dat er wat gras voor zit heb je hem echt schitterend genomen. Erg goede capture. The colours and the sharpess of the bird is fantastic even as the details, Yes Gerhardt I like it, very good jobr

A very nice shot, you were lucky to get this one from the car. A pity the distracting grasses, but still a good photo. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 4 N: 745] (2768)
  • [2005-01-25 16:16]

lovely capture Gerhardt, a fantastic photo with great colours,clarity and dof.
Great note also.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-01-25 16:53]

Nice photo Gerhard, I know you got in from the car but it looks like your had to crawl through the grass on your belly to get it. Very nice looking bird, very nicely presented.

Excellent composition Gerhard. That time of day is "light" perfect, and you got it right. Great sharpness and DOF, even with this grass in front. And most of all: very interesting subject.

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-01-26 3:39]

Although it is nice to have detailed close-ups of birds, Showing wildlife in their habitat is always great for me. Good pic.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-01-26 3:54]

Very colorfull and well spotted. Nice pose of this vigilant bird. Green BG and warm light make very good picture. Good work Gerhard!

Great alert pose Gerhard. Wonderful sharpness and details, great colours and composition. this little guy really looks great and the pose adds a lot to the cute-factor. Lovely.

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 291 W: 0 N: 339] (1351)
  • [2005-01-26 22:42]

What a handsome bird, standing proud and tall. Great sharp detail. Good photo, Gerhard. TFS

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