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Elanus caeruleus


Elanus caeruleus
Photo Information
Copyright: Goutham Ramesh (goutham_ramesh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 152 N: 2579] (10360)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-31
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D 80, Sigma 50 -500mm f4/6.3 DG EX APO HSM
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Prey- RAPTORS [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-09-09 10:55
Viewed: 602
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi all,
My dream to capture this fellow on a natural perch got realized when myself, Akshay, Satish, Vinay and Arjun were driving around Bannerghatta forest area!
The Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.

It is a species primarily of open land and semi-deserts in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia, but it has a foothold in Europe in Spain. It nests in trees.

It takes live prey such as small mammals, birds and insects. The slow hunting flight is like a harrier, but it will hover like a Kestrel.

This bird is unmistakable. It has a white head with a black "mask", and white underparts except for black tips to its narrow falcon-like wings. Upperparts are blue-grey except for black shoulder patches.

The tail is short and square, quite unlike the more familiar Milvus kites.

This species was formerly referred to as the Black-shouldered Kite, but this name is now only used for the Australian species, Elanus axillaris, which at one time (along with the American White-tailed Kite E. leucurus) was treated as a subspecies of E. caeruleus.

for more info look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_Kite

cheers,
Goutham Ramesh
nglen, Argus, SelenE, Pentaxfriend, ramthakur, haraprasan, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2926 W: 34 N: 8678] (32334)
  • [2008-09-09 11:05]

Hi Goutham. You got your dream and a good one too. A good POV with the bird looking straight at you. Very big eyes and large orange feet. Well done TFS . good notes too.
Nick..

Hello Goutham,
Nicely done.
Beautiful bird indeed, perched on that quite tiny branch...
Great eye contact; you probably waited until the right moment.
It has some owl characteristics; I was thinking about the Snowy owl.
The image is overall sharp and well exposed. No blown highlights...
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3840 W: 190 N: 11430] (35227)
  • [2008-09-09 12:19]

Hello Goutham,
A superb portrait of a Black-winged Kite on a minimal perch. The technical qualities are first rate and the pose and POV in this fine composition excellent. Good eye contact too.
Thanks for sharing this fine one,
Cheers,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-09-09 14:20]

Hi Gotham,
Nice shot of this beautiful raptor. I love the expression you captured. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Hi Goutham,

Congratulations on realizing your dream
Beautifull composition with perfect sharp focus and a lovely BG
perfect POV, pose and colors

TFS Thijs

It can be made out from you picture that this bird has very intense eyes, Goutham. The eyes of a predator, indeed.
The image is marvellous. I am happy that your dream of shooting this bird in this posture has been realized.
Keep the tabs open on Bhubaneswar meet. We will fine tune it when your minds are made up.
Regards.
Ram

Hi Goutham,
A nice capture of this beautiful black winged kite. Very well composed natural shot with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-09-10 6:37]

Hello Goutham, this is simply superb and amazing. superb use of colors and lighting. Excellently done. Sharp picture and lovely composition Ganesh

Amazing! Simply amazing falco species! I have never seen it before! And you captured it in great pose, on the top of tree. Fantasting timing, lovely details and sharpness. What to say more? I like it Goutham!
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Friendly yours,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2008-09-17 20:19]

Nice capture,good eye contact.
Nice compo&POV.

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