<< Previous Next >>

Black-tailed Godwit


Black-tailed Godwit
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1215 W: 68 N: 2524] (8319)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-24 8:22
Viewed: 531
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In the place where I live is a lot of water and low grasslands. There are many ditches between these grasslands. In these polders are many water birds and wading birds. They also brood there. One of them is the Black-tailed Godwit. This afternoon I took several photos of them. This is one. I hope you like it.

The Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, is a large shorebird. It is a relatively long-legged member of the godwit genus.
Adults have blue-grey legs and a very long straight bill with a slight upward curve and pink at the base. The neck, breast and belly are brick red in breeding plumage, off white in winter. The back is mottled grey.
Their breeding habitat is temperate wetlands in Europe and Asia on open grassland. They nest on the ground, usually in short vegetation, laying 3-6 eggs.
They migrate in flocks to western Europe, Africa, south Asia and Australia. Interestingly, although this species occurs in Ireland and Great Britain all year round, they are not the same birds. The breeding birds depart in autumn, but are replaced in winter by the larger Icelandic race, L. l. islandica. These birds occasionally appear in the Aleutian Islands and, rarely, on the Atlantic coast of North America.
These birds forage by probing on mudflats or in marshes. In short vegetation, they may pick up insects by sight. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans, but also eat parts of aquatic plants. They are much more likely to be found on freshwater than the coastal Bar-tailed Godwit.
In 2006 BirdLife International classified this species as Near Threatened due to a decline in numbers of around 25% in the previous 15 years. It is also among the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
(Source: Wikipedia)
uleko, Argus, darwin, nglen, Amadeo, jaycee, carper, goldyrs, boreocypriensis, Hil, lgfoto, gracious, gannu, marhowie, albert, eng55, smitha, peter_stoeckl, iris has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2008-05-24 8:25]

Hello Peter,
I couldn't wish for a nicer (and more fitting) neighbour than this one!! I love this bird and your in-flight capture is brilliant. Excellent focus, sharp details and lovely colours. And - you've captured it while calling as well! Really lovely!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2008-05-24 8:26]

Hello Peter,
I have longed to capture the Black-tailed Godwit in flight and you have done it superbly with fine sharpness and from a great POV while it is calling, Well done my friend!
This fine image is going into my favorites and I thank you for that!
Best regards, Ivan

Hi Peter
Great inflight action shot with fine detail and nice natural color
tfs jon

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2008-05-24 9:02]

Hi Peter. A good inflight shot of the Godwit, Good detail and natural colours. A good view ofthe under wing and body. with interesting notes. well done TFs.
Nick..

Hola Peter, una toma con una acertado encuadre, luz y color, quizá le falte un poco de definición. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 8 N: 4653] (15039)
  • [2008-05-24 9:52]

Hi Neighbor,

An amazing in-flight shot of this Godwit - a bird I have never seen. How wonderful to capture him in the midst of his call - love that open beak. Everything is perfect - the fold of the wings, the straight back legs, the superb colors, and the fine details. Great shot!

Jane

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2165 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2008-05-24 10:04]

prachtig hoor Peter,
uitstekende capture hier van deze prachtige vogel in vlucht, mooie kwaliteit, goed fotowerk. Prettige avond.
groet Jaap

Hey Peter!
Its been known to me,since the time I've got into clicking birds,that a flying bird is difficult to capture..and that too of a singing bird in flight,falls in the category of rarest.A difficult shot..executed to perfection.
Cheers,
Goldy

Hello Peter
There are lots of pictures of wading birds wading..But this is the first inflight I have seen..It is truly brilliant work on your part for studying your subjects behaviour and then capturing a very rare moment indeed.
Perfect work and congratulations.
Paul

Hi my dear friend, Peter,
A superb shot of this beautiful Black-tailed Godwit in flight! Wonderful DOF, POV and faraming. Great composition indeed. TFS.
Have a nice saturday night my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1412] (4849)
  • [2008-05-24 11:19]

Hi Peter

Great in-flight capture of the Godwit.
Superb pose and I like the pose with the beak open, I can almost hear him calling as he flies.
Good details and lovely natural colours and light too.

Hil

Hallo Peter,

Goede opname van de Grutto zo in de lucht.
Veeel details en heldere kleuren.

Gert

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 391 W: 0 N: 377] (2014)
  • [2008-05-24 14:10]

Hi Peter
very nice fly a bird
have a nice day

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1697 W: 242 N: 5609] (19923)
  • [2008-05-24 14:20]

What a brilliant in-flight shot of this Godwit!!
The pose couldn't be better!
Very sharp with great detail.
Superb exposure against the sky.
Very good composition.

Exceptionally well done,

Joe

  • Great 
  • lgfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 198 W: 15 N: 286] (1466)
  • [2008-05-24 14:32]

Perfect timing and good firm hand Peter. Very good pose and composition.TFS

Hello Peter,
Very nice inflight photo of this Godwit!
great exposure and focus with good sharpness, nice colour and details over the subject!
nice colour contrast against the blue sky as well
best regards
Tony

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 929 W: 4 N: 2322] (10812)
  • [2008-05-25 2:52]

Hello Peter, How you manage to shoot such a beautiful shot that too on the move. Lovely lighting and natural colors. Well done. Ganesh

Hi Peter, superb flying bird with fantastic colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, I like a lot, ciao Silvio

Hi Peter,
Well composed and an excellent POV of this interesting shorebird.
Great exposure with nice color, DOF, detail, and inflight pose also..
Well done & TFS!
Howard

Hi Peter
this a great inflight shot, but next time try to increase the speed and you will get a sharper image, with the D 300 you can increase a lot the ISO setting without getting any noise!
Have a nice Sunday
Albert

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-05-25 10:07]

Hi Peter,
Excellent in flight capture.Timing,details and framing are wonderful.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1004 W: 6 N: 2717] (10087)
  • [2008-05-26 4:10]

Hi Peter ,excellent shot,the point of view is fantastic and the quality of focus too,very interesting note,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-26 11:22]

Hello Peter

A very good in flight capture.
The details show well.Very good focus and sharpness.
The plumage markings and colours are very good.
Well done
TFS


Rob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-05-27 7:35]

Hi Peter,
Outstanding in-flight shot with amazing sharpness and clear details. Nice pose captured with great timing and skill. The blue sky as BG looks superb and the natural lighting gives perfect illumination. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • smitha Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 284 W: 77 N: 905] (3427)
  • [2008-05-27 19:49]

Hello Peter,
We too have paddy fields near our home. But the only wading birds we get to see, are Egrets and Pond herons. Occasionally we are lucky to see a couple of snipes, solitary Sandpiper and migratory Stilts.Your place sounds like a treasure trove of waterbirds.:)
Excellent in flight capture of the Godwit.Spot on focus, sharpness and details. I assume it was calling out when you made this picture Liked the open beak and the wing position. Good natural colours.
Thanks for the share,
Regards,
Smitha.

Hello Peter,
a perfect pose, a beautiful dynamic composition, and I love the rich colours and details. Thank you!
With best regards,
Peter

prachtige foto in de vlucht, nooit gezien waar ik woon

Hallo Peter,

Zie mijn commentaar bij de andere Grutto (Black-tailed Godwit)

De notiies zijn in ieder geval zeer leerzaam. Bedankt en tot TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 392 W: 41 N: 735] (2314)
  • [2008-06-08 20:57]

Hi Peter,
Lukcy you, to be living in such a place filled with so many wonderful birds ...and this particular day must have been quite enjoyable for you..this cpature of the Godwit in flight is realy nice..i like that opened beak colourful and reminding one of a pair of chopsticks:)Wings reflecting light seem to take a light golden glow...well done...
TFS & Cheers

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF