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SHIKRA


SHIKRA
Photo Information
Copyright: mayuresh joshi (mayuresh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 178 W: 0 N: 191] (920)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400 D, Canon 100 - 400 L USM IS
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-07 2:09
Viewed: 718
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This shot is taken in Nagzira wildlife sanctuary at 12.30 noon the temp. was around 40c.
Actually we had gone for spotting tiger sitting in to whaterhole but we landed up spotting this bird.
The Shikra (Accipiter badius) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.
The Shikra is a widespread resident breeder throughout south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It nests in trees, building a new nest each year. It lays 3-7 eggs.

This bird is a small raptor (26-30cm) with short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to fast manoeuvring. The normal flight of this species is a characteristic "flap – flap – glide".
The adult Shikra has pale grey upperparts, and is white, finely barred reddish below. Sexes are similar except that female is larger than the male. The juvenile is brown above and white, spotted with brown below. It has a barred tail.
Shikra is a bird of open woodland including savannah and cultivation. Its hunting technique is similar to other small hawks such as Sparrowhawk, A. nisus, or Sharp-shinned Hawk, A. striatus, relying on surprise as it flies from a hidden perch or flicks over a bush to catch its prey unaware.
The prey is lizards, dragonflies, and small birds and mammals.
A roller coaster at Busch Gardens Africa, SheiKra, was named after this bird. In the computer game PRISM: Guard Shield by Rival Interactive & Rebellion Studios (and sponsored by the US Army National Guard) the primary sniper rifle is named the Shikra Mk 7.
Scientific classification:-
Kingdom- animalia
Phylum – chordata
Class – Aves
Order - falconiformes
Family- accipitridac
Genus - Accipiter
sandpiper2, darwin, Miss_Piggy, SelenE, uleko, MMM, jaycee, boreocypriensis, maurydv, Jamesp, CeltickRanger, ramthakur, anel, sranjan, Silvio2006, rcrick, Argus, zulfu, haraprasan, bahadir, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Mayuresh

Great shot of this fine raptor. Is he admiring his own reflection!
Good composition
Good sharpness
Good POV and DOF
Good background.

Chris

Hi Mayuresh
Great capture with good detail and wonderful reflection
tfs jon

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1108 W: 23 N: 3644] (13051)
  • [2008-07-07 6:26]

It really looks like he's staring at his own reflection here! Which i guess he could be?!
Great low POV and composition, the light is nice too. well done!
Paul

Wow. Nice shot. The way is the shikra is gazing at the water so intensely is captivating. You have managed to catch the details, specially the eyes, really well. Looks like a serious bird of prey. I think you could have cropped little bit of the bottom portion since the reflection is not that clear. Anyways, a great shot in all.

Hallo Mayuresh
Great capture of this bird of prey. Love the pose looking down in the water and seeing the mirror image of itself. Details of the eye and the plumage on its chest is excellent and really a eye-catcher. Super shot. Sorry for shorter than usual comment. Time and the rat race is chasing me.
Best regards.
Anna

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4226] (13820)
  • [2008-07-07 7:23]

Hi Mayuresh,
I like the pose you captured, and the reflection of the bird. He's probably watching himself on the water :o) TFS
All the best,
Selen

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2986 W: 162 N: 929] (2735)
  • [2008-07-07 7:43]

Hello Mayuresh,
Great capture of this beautiful bird of prey admiring its own reflection in the water! Very fine details and I like the backlight and the colours. Well composed too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 0 N: 1985] (8905)
  • [2008-07-07 8:45]

Hi Mayuresh
Nice capture.Good POV and sharp image.I like your subject pose,it look like he was lookng at is reflextion
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-07 11:06]

Hi Mayuresh,

This Shikra very closely resembles our Sharp-shinned Hawk. A marvelous capture as he stares at his reflection. Wonderful natural colors and good details of his face and plummage. I love the yellow eye!

Jane

Hi Mayuresh, wonderful shot of this beautiful Shikra and its reflections on the water surface. Splendid in all around. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Splendida cattura di questo rapace, bellissima e inusuale composizione con il rapace che si riflette nell'acqua con una postura di riposo, ottima nitidezza, molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Sorry!My computer is acting up on me again, this time I think it's got some virus!
Great shot!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-07-07 22:23]

Hi Mayuresh

Great pose - the reflection is really good. Good detail and exposure too.

James

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-07-08 8:49]

Hello Mayursh, Very hot shot in the hot summer. What is it staring actually. Well done and super compo and sharp focus. Ganesh smiley tmrw

hello Mayuresh

excellent shot of this bird of prey, that looks like the Cooper's Hawk
here in North America, fine POV & DOF, i love that in the framing
you did not cut his reflection from the image,
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Mayuresh,
This Shikra seems to be the reincarnation of Narcissus -- the mythical fellow who saw his own image reflected on water and fell in love with it :)!
A wonderful shot from an apt POV. Good focus and fine colours and details.
Hopefully you see the tiger next time and bring back some good pictures to share with us.
TFS
Ram

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1715 W: 0 N: 3896] (15640)
  • [2008-07-09 1:59]

hello Mayuresh,
Very interesting picture for the subject. Great to see this Shikra looking into the water, it seems almost that it has a critical look at itself.. Very well seen.
Best regards
Anne

Hello Mayuresh,
"Beautiful" is the word for this Shikra photographed by you. I have intense desire to visit this place. TFS.
Regards-Subhash Ranjan

Hi Mayuresh, lovely reflections of beautiful rasptor, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 710 W: 36 N: 1548] (4989)
  • [2008-07-10 23:09]

Hi Mayuresh,

What a excellent shot of this raptor, I really love the way its looking down at its reflection almost in amazement at what it sees, superb detail, beautiful colours, all in all an excellent composition, t.f.s

Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2380 W: 94 N: 5487] (17484)
  • [2008-07-11 2:14]

Hello Mayuresh,
Excellent photo in beautiful natural colours. Good sharpness. Great POV, DOF and composition. Nice reflection. I wonder what he's thinking.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3802 W: 190 N: 11310] (34871)
  • [2008-07-11 9:48]

Hello Mayuresh,
A great capture of a Shikra looking at his own reflection by the edge of the water. The light is well managed in this fine composition taken from a great low POV with excellent sharpness.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1050 W: 0 N: 162] (866)
  • [2008-07-12 4:23]

Hi again Mayuresh, perfect capture of this beauty. TFS.
Regards,
Mehmet

Hi Mayuresh,
A nice capture of this beautiful bird of prey. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Another great capture of this Shikra. Perfect!
Regards, Bahadır

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3316 W: 149 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2008-07-13 3:03]

Hello Mayuresh - I do like the intense look the bird is giving to the water. Not at his appearance, but more likely what might be swimming in the water!
And he is standing on one foot too - very good capture
Well done
Janice

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5578] (18516)
  • [2008-07-13 11:17]

Hi Mayuresh,
Wonderful shot of this elegant Shikra looking at itself on the water - a case of narsissism. Very neat and sharp image with fine colours and details. The high-noon sunlight has been managed well here. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3581 W: 143 N: 5669] (18529)
  • [2008-07-15 22:28]

Hi Mayuresh.
Nice picture of a very cute bird and so nice well detailed note about the species. I like reflection of the bird's state of mood and all other attractive details, fine reproduction of the water and surroundings at whole. Lights, reflection, shadows are so impressive too. Well done and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-19 21:39]

Hello Mayuresh

An introspective shot almost,the reflection gives this raptor a pensive look.
Perhaps it wants to give up all the killing.LOL.
Excellent focus and detail.
The plumage shows well.
TFS

Rob

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