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Alpine Chough


Alpine Chough
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie Schnepp (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II USM
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Six days in the French Alps
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird photos -5- [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-09-30 23:38
Viewed: 319
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took pictures of this wonderful bird on the day when we visited the Mer de Glace. We had climbed on a mountain to have a better view on the glacier, then we have eaten there on rocks with a breathtaking view on the glacier. We had barely sta down and packed out our sandwiches when this beautiful Alpine Chough decided we would be his new best friends. He jumped from rock to rock around us, waiting for us to throw him some crumbs (or other food). He wasn't shy at all ; after a while, he almost ate in our hands. Was a fantastic moment, and I managed to get some very nice pictures of him.



The Alpine Chough, or Yellow-Billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculus

The Alpine Chough is a bird in the crow family, and it may nest higher in the mountains than any other bird.

This bird has glossy black plumage, a yellow bill, red legs, and distinctive calls. It has a buoyant acrobatic flight which was very very interesting to watch while we were eating.

The Alpine Chough pairs for life and displays fidelity to its breeding site, which is usually a cave or crevice in a cliff face. It builds a lined stick nest and lays three to five brown-blotched whitish eggs. It feeds, usually in flocks, on short grazed grassland, taking mainly invertebrate prey in summer and fruit in winter; it will readily approach tourist sites to find supplementary food.

Although it is subject to predation and parasitism, and changes in agricultural practices have caused local population declines, this widespread and abundant species is not threatened globally. Climate change may present a long-term threat, by shifting the necessary alpine habitat to higher altitudes.
nasokoun, Mikolaj, boreocypriensis, roges, anemone, ferranjlloret, oanaotilia, maurydv, bahadir, gmg, horias, CeltickRanger, Noisette, goldyrs, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To CeltickRanger: En français !valy67 2 10-05 16:47
To bahadir: Hello Bahadir !valy67 1 10-01 22:43
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Valerie
very beautiful scene and result with this POV,fine details and rich vivid colours i like,very good close up photo output!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Hello Valerie! Amazing bird, good composition, very good POV and capture. Perfect exposure. Nice colours. Ideal sharpness. Well done!

Hi MF Val,

It is absolutely gave you a fine pose:) Realy expertly taken capture of this yellow-billed black beauty in a delightful composition. Perfect focussing and great DOF managed by you here.
TFS and have a nice day!

Bayram

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 627 W: 0 N: 574] (3284)
  • [2009-10-01 1:08]

Hi Valerie,

Interesting macro. Excellent color with an exceptional BG. I remember this bird that I met her on Mont Blanc. Just wondering what fly species is almost 4.000m.
Have a beautiful day,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2419 W: 94 N: 5591] (17778)
  • [2009-10-01 1:24]

Hello Valérie,
Fantastic photo in all aspects. The best photo of an Alpine Chough I've ever seen. The patterns in the feathers are amazing.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Valerie..
Excellent capture of this bird from nice pov.
Details and composition are perfect.
TFS. Kind regards,
Özgür

Hello Valerie,
Perfect composition! Superb portrait of this alpine Pyrrhocorax graculus.
Very well done!
TFS & best regards.
Ferran

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 0 N: 2588] (9129)
  • [2009-10-01 4:58]

Hi Valerie,
beautiful bird indeed. the sharpness is splendid and you have given the background to itd muted level.
Very exciting contrast and it slightly turn head make it so pleasant.

Regards,
Foozi

Ciao Valerie,
fantastique capture de Chocard à bec jaune pris avec très bonne netteté et magnifiques couleurs, très belle composition avec une très jolie posture de cet oiseau.
Merci et félicitations
Bonne soirèe
Amicalement
Maurizio

Hello Valarie, great shot of this beauty with nice pov and composition.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

hello Valerie
super picture with good details and great sharpness
beautiful colours to
i have not seen thid bird before
head looks on a blackbird
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • gmg (28)
  • [2009-10-01 9:26]

Hallo Valerie!

Beautiful bird and beautiful picture!
Cheers

gmg

  • Great 
  • briGG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 171 W: 2 N: 272] (1383)
  • [2009-10-01 10:33]

Magnifique Valérie,

Voici une excellente photo avec un arrière plan très réussi qui met cet Alpine Chough bien en évidence!
Très beau "portrait"... il se retourne pour nous regarder!

Bien vu.
Bonne soirée

brigitte

Hola Valerie,
nos estás presentando un amplio repertorio de fotografías con tu especial y marcado estilo, además de gran belleza; ya sean animales o paisajes, los colores sobre todo denotan tu estilo particular de trabajo.
En este caso los colores también acaparan la atención del espectador, ya que los puntos de color cálido dan una nota de contraste interesante y además saturados "en su punto".
Supiste también captar las diferentes tonalidaes de negros, por lo que la luz está bien controlada.Buen encuadre también.
En resumen: un excelente trabajo.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 400 W: 59 N: 871] (4110)
  • [2009-10-01 11:09]

Valerie
What a great capture, wonderful details, great colors.
Horia

Ciao Valerie, elegant all black bird in nice pose against a splendid blurry BG, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Valerie,

wat a very good close up from this bird with exellent details in the feathers and eye contact.

Gert

bonjour Valérie

quelle belle photo et quel beau oiseau au plumage sombre,

il ressemble au Merle noir, pourrais-tu SVP me dire
quel est le nom en français du Alpine Chough ou Yellow-Billed Chough ?

excellent POV sur l'oiseau avec un cadrage approprié,
superbe focus netteté et détails du plumage sombre,
j'aime l'intensité de l'expression de son regard, TFS

Asbed

salut Val
cet oiseau est vraiment superbe et tu avais la chance de le voir de tout près
j'aime bien le point de vue de son dos nous montrant son beau plumage que tu as su capturer avec une superbe netteté, grace à sa tête tournée, on peut voir son bec jaune qui contraste si bien avec son corps noir
Le fond gris et uni le met magnifiquement en valeur
Félicitations
Jacqueline

Salut Valérie,
Très belle réalisation,l'éclairage fait bien ressortir les reflets et détails dans le plumage. Très bel oiseau,je n'avais jamais vu de Choucas auparavant.
Merci donc pour la note.
Amitiés
Goldy

This is a super portrait of this Alpine Chough, Valerie.
The details and colours on the bird's plumage are very attractive.
The eye contact with the subject makes it a lively image.
I also like its lichen covered rocky perch.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

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