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Screech!!


Screech!!
Photo Information
Copyright: Japie Venter (japie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital ISO 200, Skylight
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-01-05 3:29
Viewed: 1978
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Black-shouldered Kite (Roberts: 127) was also taken in the Pilaansberg Nature Reserve. I was shooting some small birds when I heard a spine chilling screech behind me – I could not believe my luck when I saw this guy 30 - 40 m behind me. He did however upset every little bird in the area, leaving nothing for me to shoot when he flew away! This was an incredibly hot day, +42C and not a cloud in the sky.

It is a common, grey and white raptor with a black shoulder. Size 33 cms - larger than a laughing dove. Afrikaans: Blouvalk.

The upperparts are bluish grey, with black wing coverts which appear as a distinctive, black shoulder patch. The underparts are white. There is a small black mask around the eye. Young birds have a reddish-brown wash on the head and breast and the feathers of the upperparts are tipped white. The bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper mandible. The bill is black, while the feet and legs, and the cere (skin at the base of the bill) are bright yellow. The eye is dark red in adults and brownish-orange in immature birds.

The Black-shouldered Kite is a common and obvious bird of the open veld and farming areas. It is usually seen perched on telephone- or power pylons or lines, In the absence of natural or man-made perches, it is able to hunt by hovering on upturned wings about 50 meters above the ground. When prey is sighted, the kite "parachutes" gracefully straight down into the grass. Black-shouldered Kites are highly nomadic - moving about in search of rodent prey.

The Black-shouldered kite eats mainly rodents as well as small birds and insects.

Breeding occurs all year round with a peak in the summer months. The nest is a small platform of sticks about 30cm in diameter, which is placed near the top of a tree in a fork.

The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/9
Shutter Speed: 1/640sec
ISO: 200
Tripod: Yes
Flash: Diffused Off Camera ETTL.
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: No
White Balance: AWB


I am a bit swamped with work but will catch up with all your wonderful posts tonight.

Regards

Japie
red45, coasties, Callie, carper, JeanMichel, Lesley, willie, Fisher, IdoTT, Luc, mumek, Lourens, deud, nofer has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To correp01: 170-500japie 1 04-03 06:01
To netfalls: Behind the bird.japie 1 01-05 05:46
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-01-05 4:30]

Excellent shot Japie! It's like slide - supersharp and saturated with great composition and subject. Stunner.

I am lost for words - nearly! The vibrant blue of the sky as the background is superb. The stunning speciman perched on the branch, outstanding. The sharpness of the image fantastic. 11 out of 10 for this incredible capture. Congratulation and many thanks for sharing. (Well I did say nearly!!)

Jy speel vuil - dis baie beter as myne, en dan nog 'n goeie nota ook! Geluk, I really like the compo here, and just pointing a lens in the direction of these guys is already a feat, since they do not sit still!
Lovely POV and eye contact!

Beautiful shot.

Hij is mooi Japie,
Japie I have said it before but your progression in photographie is great, your photo are better and better, this is a fantastic capture, good sharpnes, good colours, fine contrast, a great note, a fantastic job I like it

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ****
Color: ****
DOF: ***
POV: ****

Great shot & pose, what was behind the bird? the edge looks wierd...
TFS.

Very firm position on the branch, impressive feet and sharp eye. You've conveyed very well this raptor features in your shot. Beautiful colors, this summer sky being a splendid background for the subject. The dead branch is contrasting very well with this very lively bird, and it's tortured curved shape works very well in your composition. A great shot, Japie.

What an incredible shot. I wish I could take such shots at 30-40m. You have a powerful weapon with that Canon - Sigma combo, lucky you.
Looks to me like its an immature with those brown feathers on the front and crown.
Beautiful, intensely blue sky contrasts very well with the brilliant yellow feet. Composition is your usual high standard. You make us envious of your tallent; very well done Jappie.

Stunning again Japie.
Great sharpness, colours and composition.
Excellent work

Just gorgeous. What a fabulous looking raptor and the color of the sky is the perfect foil for this gorgeous hunk of bird!

Japie, you lucky devil, he even called you to get this shot.
Wonderful image. Great DOF and composition. Good notes. very well done

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-01-05 12:49]

Japie, what a wonderful capture. The blue sky as the background and the Kite in the foreground make an excelent composition. Well done.

Mike

  • Great 
  • IdoTT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 210 W: 19 N: 86] (482)
  • [2005-01-05 13:28]

Excellent shot, Really Good!
The bird is very focused and sharp.
The look on the bird's face is great I like it!
The BG is outstanding!

Very WellDone!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-01-05 13:45]

I shot a raptor yesterday at -10C, cloudy day, what gives us 52 degrees of difference of temperature pervading.
An excellent presentation, Japie.
Thank you very much.

  • Great 
  • mumek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 0 N: 178] (847)
  • [2005-01-05 16:29]

Excellent composition, very nice contrast between sky and a bird.Beautiful colors and details.Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-01-05 23:42]

Excellent compostion and you lukcy to capture very closeup shot.Good at compostion,colour&sharp.Eye contact makes this shot Excellent one.Love b/g too.

Great shot!!!! I'm affraid of your owl... The atmosphere you made is horrific. I love photos like that.It have inside some kind of disaster. What do you think what will happen.

This is an excellent post, Japie!! I tell you there is nothing wrong with that Sigma 170-500 APO!!!! Great shot!

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2005-01-10 8:27]

great looking bird! the contrast between bird and blue background is amazing! TFS

  • Great 
  • miqra Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 140 W: 3 N: 23] (151)
  • [2005-02-19 11:51]

Very good detail, excellent color, excellent shot, well done!

I see your pictures.
They are so nice.
I suppose you are happy with your 170-500 !

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