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Incoming - for SelenE


Incoming - for SelenE
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1213 W: 0 N: 4642] (13806)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS
Exposure: f/8, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Selen's Favorites, Birds of Prey- RAPTORS (III), Wildlife of Japan [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-01-29 2:56
Viewed: 845
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have dedicated this posting to Selen in recognition for all her excellent inflight shots - I am a novice at this type of shot. I took this shot with my 300mm 2.8 + 1.4X converter. The image has been cropped - I then used levels and sharpened it.

I took this shot at the Akkan Red Crowned Crane overwintering site. Ar 2pm each day the cranes are given a few live fish (this has been happening for the past 40 years). On cue the local White-Tailed Sea Eagles turned up and started to swoop down to rob the fish from the cranes (who are well able to defend themselves - they are bigger and jump and kick). The spectacle goes on for about 40 minutes. I did not know this happened until I got there so it was a real bonus. In all I spent two afternoons at this reserve.

I have never seen a White Tailed Sea Eagle before - I was going to visit the RSPB site on Mull (Scotland) last year but the nest failed. Typical - you look for years and then you see 4 one afternoon and 6 the next!!!

The White-tailed Eagle is a large bird, 70-90 cm long with a 200-250 cm wingspan. Females, weighing 4–6.9 kg, are significantly larger than the males, which weigh 3–5.4 kg. It has broad "barn door" wings, a large head and thick "meat-cleaver" beak. The adult is mainly brown except for the paler head and neck, blackish flight feathers, distinctive white tail, and yellow bill and legs. In juvenile birds the tail and bill are darker, with the tail becoming white with a dark terminal band in sub-adults.

This large eagle breeds in northern Europe and northern Asia. The largest population in Europe is found along the coast of Norway. They are mostly resident, only the northernmost birds such as the eastern Scandinavian and Siberian population migrating south in winter - to Japan.

The White-tailed Eagle forms a species pair with the Bald Eagle. These diverged from other sea eagles at the beginning of the early Miocene (c. 10 mya) at the latest, possibly (if the most ancient fossil record is correctly assigned to this genus) as early as the early/middle Oligocene, about 28 mya ago.

As in other sea-eagle species pairs, this one consists of a white-headed (the Bald Eagle) and a tan-headed species. They probably diverged in the North Pacific, spreading westwards into Eurasia and eastwards into North America. Like the third northern species, Steller's Sea-eagle, they have yellow talons, beaks and eyes in adults.

The Eagle's diet is varied, including fish, birds, carrion and, occasionally, small mammals. Many birds live almost wholly as scavengers, regularly pirating food from otters and other birds, but this eagle can be a powerful hunter, as well. Locally, this species may compete fiercely with Golden Eagles over the rabbits and hares either eagle may catch. The daily food requirement is in the region of 500-600 g. Although a less active hunter than the Golden Eagle, and usually losing out to them in direct competition for a single food item, they can exist at higher population densities and out-compete Golden Eagles because of their longer gut and more efficient digestive system, being able to live better with less food.
rcrick, eqshannon, ramthakur, darwin, vanderschelden, Necipp, earthtraveler, NinaM, rousettus, marhowie, Juyona, CeltickRanger, inked, SelenE, delic, Argus, Alex99, angybone has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To vanderschelden: 300 lenseJamesp 2 01-29 08:41
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Critiques [Translate]

Hey James,
Stunning shot of this White Tailed Sea Eagle, what a magnificent bird of prey, the details are awesome, excellent lighting, really nice work, all the best Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • Dyker Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 141 W: 0 N: 59] (170)
  • [2008-01-29 3:49]

Hello James
Nice dedication to Selen. I think she will appreciate the gesture very much. This rapture is a fine bird and you took a lovely photo of it. It looks lovely against the blue sky and the focus is very sharp, especially for an in-flight shot.
Greetings
AC

Hi James

Great shot to dedicate to Selen, her work is great. This is equally impressive. Everything's in focus and good sharpness on good blue background.

Chris

Simple grand James...It has that opposing and in Americas eyes almost repressing look about it..I think we here stateside think we can stare own all who dare come near...such an overstatement...wonderful work in flight. You are indeed a Blessed photographer.
Bob

For a novice, you have done a commendable job of shooting a bird in flight, James.
The image is sharp and the bird looks impressive against the BG of blue sky.
TFS and regards.
Ram

Very good in flight capture with great detail and brilliant colors! Bravo! Cheers, Klaus

Hi James
Wonderful action shot
Fine sharpness and detail
Nice light and color
Great catchlite
tfs jon

Hello James,

Looking at this picture its hard to call you a novice. Very well captured shot. Perfect focus and details. Nice blue sky. Composition is also good. Only thing that can be faulted is a bit over sharpening.What do you say?
But still is a very very good capture.
TFS
Mahesh

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1584 W: 242 N: 5304] (18669)
  • [2008-01-29 5:52]

Wooooooooo Amazing shot James!
Selen will love this!
Excellent sharpness and clarity.
Very well composed also.
Perfect lighting.
Exceptional image.
Well done,
Joe

Nice in-flight shot. Nice diagonal composition too. Well focused. great action. TFS.

Hello James,
Wonderful photo of this in flight Eagle. Excellent sharp focus with great details and colours. I should have cropped a piece of the right side (personally) and there are a few dirty spots in the BG. But it's a fantastic photo.
Regards,
Peter

Hello James,
Could be Selen's work.
About the image...
Very good in flight especially through the sharpness, the moent, the blue sky and the compo.
Is your 300 a recent purchase and are you satisfied?
Well done!
TFS
Annick

Bonjour James
Excellente prise prise et netteté, couleurs et lumière, très beau sujet. Bravo
Amicalement Robi

Hello James a very nice gesture for Selen who I admire also for her portfolio. You did a very nice job of catching this gorgeous eagle. Light was perfect and sharpness too. excellent POV! tfs rgds Necip.

Very nice inflight James.
Good detail seen and interesting note, TFS
Richard

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 0 N: 317] (1781)
  • [2008-01-29 9:50]

Hi James
Exellent image
very good sharp and composition
have a nice day cahit

Hello James,
Excellent shot in this incoming flight of the Eagle!
the exposure and focus is spot on with perfect sharpness, vivid colour and details
well done
Tony

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 544 W: 0 N: 1338] (4443)
  • [2008-01-29 10:41]

Superb James, I love that bird all spreaded and it's fascinating to be able to look at it with so much details. I'm always impressed by the legs and feet of the birds in flight. Wow, it is sharp and detailed, beautiful with light, thank you!

francine

Nice inflight image James.
Even with the crop, you've retained clear details.
It does have a great POV, with the lights angle in your favor for the most part.
Well done!
Howard

Hello James,
after your great macaques of yesterday, another great capture from Japan. I have seen this species only from documentary film. It is beautiful eagle with white tail as like one of Heliaateus albicilla here. Focus, lighting and POV perfect. Diagonal composition of wings great. Notes always informative and very nicely prepared. I am sure Selen will appreciate this great dedication. Thanks for sharing. with my best wishes
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2000 W: 6 N: 1953] (13047)
  • [2008-01-29 13:00]

Hola James,
hermosa captura,
sensacional pov,
detalles y realismo,
bella iluminación,
saludos

hello James

superb inflight shot, excellent luminosity, excellent sharpness
and details of the subject, WOW !, excellent contrast,
i love your image's POV, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 216] (638)
  • [2008-01-30 0:13]

hi James,
nice shot of this sea eagle. magnificent birds that you've captured from a nice POV in good lighting. i always get a bit of a thrill from seeing birds of prey, in real life or photos. thanks for sharing

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2307 W: 59 N: 3688] (11816)
  • [2008-01-30 4:19]

Hi James,

What a wonderful dedication and a lovely in-flight of this beautiful raptor. I'm flattered...

Thank you so much

All the best,
Selen

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1294 W: 104 N: 4595] (20449)
  • [2008-01-30 6:53]

Hello James, very good inflight shot of this beautiful Eagle, you have captured him with great skills and the result is fantastic, well done, thanks !

Mario

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1901 W: 4 N: 5175] (19712)
  • [2008-01-30 10:00]

Hi . just got home late again from work so just a quick word to say good picture TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2008-01-31 1:31]

Hi James,
A terrific capture for a novice! I think you are being too humble. I'm amazed at how close it is to Selen's style. Best,
Hakan

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2496 W: 132 N: 7098] (22175)
  • [2008-01-31 4:20]

Hello James,
A fantastic in-flight of an adult Sea Eagle, the high technical and esthetic standard making it a fine tribute to Selen. Fine POV too.
Thanks for sharing this one,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 148 N: 4435] (14369)
  • [2008-01-31 11:14]

Hi James.
Stunning in-flight picture with great detail and colour reproduction. Exposure and composition are spot on. Bravo. Excellent job.
Alexei.

For a novice you're pretty darned good!
Wonderful in-flight shot - great light and details. Love the blue sky and the bright tail feathers. There's is such a look of determination on this guy's face. Wonderful!

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-02-02 13:59]

Hello James

Great shot for a so called neophyte.
The focus is sharp with loads of plumage detail and wonderful eye detail.
Well frozen with lovely illumination,the colours are rich and vivid.
Brilliant!
TFS

Rob

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