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Canary Island Chough - Rare Endemic


Canary Island Chough - Rare Endemic
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon 70-200 f 2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-17 9:22
Viewed: 916
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
OK - this is not a brilliant shot - black bird against bright sky, but read below and look on it as an archive shot.

I spent the last few days in the Canary Islands. Being me I shunned the resorts and visited 4 islands in 5 days! I was surprised to see Choughs driving up to Cumbra Neuva,(close to the telescopes and above the tree line) especially as I had seen my first Chough earlier this year. They were in flocks of up to 60 birds and really acrobatic. I had my suspicions that they were an endemic subspecies, but was surprised to find that they are only found on La Palma. The habitat is really more suited to the Alpine Chough, but here the Red-Billed Chough has adapted to the same conditions.

The graja, pronounced as ['graxa:] (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax barbarus) is an endemic subspecies of the chough which only lives on the Canary Island La Palma.

I have no idea about the status of these birds, but they must be at least vulnerable as there is only one population.
LA PALMA has an area of 706 km² making it the fifth largest of the seven main canary islands. The total population is about 85,000, of which 18,000 (2003 data) live in the capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma and about 20,000 (2004 data) in Los Llanos de Aridane.

La Palma's geography is a result of the volcanic formation of the island. The highest peaks reach about 2400 m above sea level, and the foundation of the island reaches more than 3000 m below sea level. The northern part of La Palma is dominated by the Caldera de Taburiente, the largest erosion crater in the world, with a width of 9 km and a depth of 1500 m. It is surrounded by a ring of mountains ranging from 1600 m to 2400 m in height. Only the deep Barranco de las Angustias canyon leads into the inner area of the caldera which is a national park. It can be reached only by hiking. The outer slopes are cut by numerous gorges which run from 2000 m down to the sea. Today, only few of these carry water due to the water tunnels.

From the caldera to the south runs the ridge Cumbre Nueva. The southern part of La Palma is dominated by the Cumbre Vieja, a ridge formed by numerous volcanic cones built of ashes, providing a rather bizarre landscape. Several of these volcanoes are still active. The southern cape Punta de Fuencaliente, where the most recent volcanic activities took place, consists of lava and ashes.
Mikolaj, nglen, XOTAELE, joey, uleko, gracious, Alex99, falke, horia, pankajbajpai, haraprasan has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello James! Amazing moment. Amazing shot. Beautiful take. Best regards!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8625] (32146)
  • [2007-10-17 9:28]

Hi James. This is a bit different but i like it . To me the outline of the wings against the blue sky looks good. and we can see the red bill fronm were it gets its name. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

Hola Jemes un interesante disparo y nota que aportas.
Fina ejecución.
Felicidades por tu trabajo divulgativo y deseo hayas podido descansar después de estos cinco días de No vacaciones...je
Saludos, JL.


PS. Cumbre Nueva

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2007-10-17 10:21]

Hello James,
Great capture of this endemic Red-billed Chough and a very interesting note. It looks very beautiful silhuetted against the blue sky.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2007-10-17 10:25]

Not a brilliant shot?!
I love it! Reminds me vividly of my happy hours chasing Choughs in the two week holiday in Wales earlier this year.
The shot shows each of this bird's defining features: "Fingered" wing-tips, smooth plumage, red legs and feet and the unmistakable curved, red bill.
Very interesting and informative notes aswell.
I'm glad you're having a good holiday...

Well done James,
Joe

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 23 N: 3656] (13083)
  • [2007-10-17 11:47]

Hi James,
well i like it! Because it's so well focussed against that blue sky, it's quite a striking image imo. Perfectly placed in the frame too, with very good notes. A fine posting.
Paul

Hello James,
the black Chough in flight but well capture!
the claws can be clearly seen also the red-billed!
thanks so much for the useful notes and information!
TFS
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 156 W: 17 N: 458] (1682)
  • [2007-10-17 14:18]

Absolutely beautiful photo! Just a silhouette but with the most important details visible. I really would like to see this one...
Best regards/Bengt

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2172 W: 218 N: 4383] (14902)
  • [2007-10-17 14:45]

Hi James

I'll be very honest here: you are right...not a brilliant shot, but a very good one to present us this very rare subspecies.
It surprises me actually that an animal with such a possible wide range as a bird, can be bound to such a strict location...it's very interesting. Why did it not adapt to other habitats or to a similar habitat on a different island? (not a question to you really...more of a rhetorical one).
Anyway, your greatest merit here is through your note really, but the photo is very sharp and clear in order to present us the main characteristic features of the bird.
Well done, my friend!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

hello james,
nice capture of the bird in flight, the sky makes nice bg here, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi James,
A beautiful shot of this chough. Very good composition and POV. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-10-18 7:58]

Hello James

A very interesting composition,it is a wonderful in flight capture with good illumination that highlights the beak and feet nicely.The blue sky makes a lovely backdrop for this shot.ood POV and DOF.TFS

Rob

Hello James , TFS for this rare crow species , good photo .

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2007-10-18 10:52]

Hi James.
Photo is really unusual. However, together with very interesting note it creates a very nice impression. I welcome it, My best regards and TFS.
Alexei.

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