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Eurasian Spoonbill


Eurasian Spoonbill
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie Schnepp (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1318 W: 52 N: 1782] (5276)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II USM
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-09-16 3:54
Viewed: 1017
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another shot from my visit to the wildlife park, 2 weeks ago. It was a rainy, grey and cloudy day, I didn't see a single ray of sun on this day, that's why the photo is dark. This picture was shot through a fence - the bird was approximately 2m or 2,5 m away from me. I wanted a photo of the whole bird, but he was standing behind some ugly feeder so i decided to cut the bird to have nothing unnatural on the photo.


Eurasian Spoonbill (platalea leucorodia)

This is a partially nocturnal bird which feeds by sweeping the end of its partly opened bill from side to side while wading through shallow water (although it will wade through deeper water submerging virtually the whole bill). Its diet consists of aquatic insects and their larvae as well as molluscs, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, worms, leeches and even plant material. They generally occur in small groups but in Kenya are seen singly.

Description : This species is almost unmistakable through most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its dark legs, black bill with a yellow tip, and a yellow breast patch like a pelican. It has a crest in the breeding season. Non-breeders lack the crest and breast patch, and immatures have a pale bill and black tips to the primary flight feathers. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. The Common Spoonbill differs from the African Spoonbill in that the latter species has a red face and legs, and no crest.

Distribution : This species is widespread across southern Eurasia from Spain to Japan, and north Africa. Most birds migrate to the tropics in winter, with European breeders going to Africa and even in the UK. It occurs in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water, nesting in colonies in trees or reedbeds. It does not usually share colonies with storks or herons.

Habits and diet : This is a partially nocturnal bird which feeds by sweeping the end of its partly opened bill from side to side while wading through shallow water (although it will wade through deeper water submerging virtually the whole bill). Its diet consists of aquatic insects and their larvae as well as molluscs, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, worms, leeches and even plant material. They generally occur in small groups but can be seen singly.
Berlingo, Alex99, takos1, dew77, RAP, SkyF, liquidsunshine, jmp, ramthakur, coasties, eruyanik, claudine, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Valery, nice shot of this amazing bird.
Good compo, details and notes.

Andrea

Bonjour Valerie,
Belle image qui met l'accent sur la particularité de son bec. Belles couleurs et compo.
Stéphane

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3173 W: 153 N: 4793] (15477)
  • [2006-09-16 5:08]

Hi Valerie.
Your note contains the best analysis of your picture which could be only. It facilitates our task.

I like the POV and expression of the bird's "face" very much. The question and bewilderment obviously contains in it. From your note it is clear, that is created in the soul of this bird. Colours and details are very well too. TFS and my best regards,
Alexei.

Buona foto Valerie!
Buoni i dettagli e colori, brava!

Ciao.
Franco

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-09-16 6:20]

Hello Valerie,
Very nice capture.Well caught,framed and composed.I liked POV especially a lot.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-09-16 6:36]

Esa espátula tan maravillosa ya vale la publicación de esta imagen Valerie.
Una bonita compo con bellos colores y correcto encuadre.
La nitidez no es el punto fuerte, porque lo aparece algo soft, así como un trasfondo con algo de ruido.
De todas formas, la presentación es verdaderamente bonita.
Saludos cordiales... Ricardo

That so wonderful spoonbill already be valid the publication of this image Valerie.
A beautiful compo with nice colors and correct fraaming.
The sharpness is not the strong point, because it appears something soft, as well as a background with something of noise.
Anyway, the presentation is truly handsome.
Regards.... Ricardo

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-09-16 8:20]

Bonjour Valerie,
very well capatured, your POV allows a wonderful view of its interesting beak. Very well composed and the framing is lovely.
Sky

Hello Valery,
A wonderful captured considering the circumstances. Composition,pov,dof are great. Very well done indeed. Thanks for sharing.
JC

wonderful portrait of the pretty bird, valerie! :-)
good pov, well composed with the emphasis on the amazing spoon-
bill with its broad yellow end.
well seen & captured, thorsten.

Hello Valerie,
The details are nice and clear.
superb colours, lighting and exposure. The POV is good.
Well composed, great notes and I like the frame..
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend my friend.

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2340] (8406)
  • [2006-09-16 11:24]

Hola Valerie,
Una foto con un punto de vista y una composición muy buenas. La exposición es perfecta y el día nublado ha proporcionado unos colores muy suaves y agradables.
Un saludo, José M.

Hi Valerie!
Great picture of this lovely Spoonbill. I like its impressive beak which you have captured so very deftly.
Excellent POV, DOF and clarity.
TFS.
Ram

Hi Valery

Congrats on an excellent shot. Well composed, good clear detail, perfect management of the white plumage :-)

Hi Valérie,
Really a different spoon here! :-) Very interesting bird and i like the framing here, ok, you want to show it complete, but i like this different presantation a lot. The beak with that great colour and shape looks wonderful. Green bg made the nice contrast also.
Greetings,
Ersin

Hi Valerie,
I like the lighting in this photo. The cloudy day helped to give it a more filtered light with softer shadows. The composition is beautiful as well as the detailed captured in the feathers and bill. I just love the way he turned his head.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Valerie,
This is a cute fellow, and well portrayed! I wonder how he got his name..??!
Well composed, and he gives you a good pose...
I could wish for more pictures as I'm getting curious how the rest of the bird looks like, hehehehe...
Greetings,
Pablo -

Photo bien réussie, je trouve que vous avez bien capter cet animal. Thomas

bonjour valerie
j'aime bien ce portrait deja car je n'avais jamais vu ce...palmipede et puis ça n'a pas l'air de le deranger de se faire photographier.bonnes expo et netteté.bon week end
laurent

Hi Valerie,
Great compo, pose,DOF,...whatever.
TFS
Annick

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