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Stonechat


Stonechat
Photo Information
Copyright: Ralf Lukovic (ralfsworld) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 509 W: 88 N: 1816] (6134)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 400mm F/2.8 L IS USM, CF Extrime IV 8 GB
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-08 2:19
Viewed: 641
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my first post of Stonechat here on TN. I found this little bird in El Fondo area as my previous post. I used 800mm (400 & 2X extender) and manual settings on my camera. This was photographed from a car window... It was the end of the day and late afternoon light which always give nice atmosphere...

The European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, family Muscicapidae. They, with similar small species in the family, are often called chats.

The European Stonechat is somewhat smaller than the European Robin. Both sexes have distinctively short wings, shorter than those of the more migratory Whinchat and Siberian Stonechat. The summer male rubicola has black upperparts, a black head, an orange throat and breast, and a white belly and vent. It also has white patches on the sides of its neck, a small white scapular patch on the wings, and a very small white patch on the rump often streaked with black. The female has paler brown upperparts and head, and no white neck patches, rump or belly, these areas being streaked dark brown on paler brown, the only white being the scapular patch on the wings and even this often being buffy-white.

European Stonechats breed in heathland, coastal dunes and rough grassland with scattered small shrubs and bramble, open gorse, tussocks or heather. They are non-migratory or short-distance migrants, with part of the population moving south to winter further south in Europe and more widely in north Africa.

The male has a clicking call like stones knocking together, for which it was named. The song is high and twittering like a Dunnock.

Two doubtfully distinct subspecies are accepted: the Central European Stonechat S. r. rubicola in the south and east of its range, and the Western European Stonechat of western and NW Europe, notably the Atlantic coastal areas, S. r. hibernans. They are hardly different in appearance, but nDNA microsatellite fingerprinting reveals some degree of separation (Wink et al. 2002). Together, these two races are found throughout western, central and southern Europe, the extreme northwest of Africa and western Turkey.
Source: wiwki
vanderschelden, lensaleksander, marhowie, smitha, mirceax, falke, Maite, jaycee, nglen, SelenE, Rolf, Argus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Bufo: Thanks Jacobralfsworld 1 01-08 07:37
To smitha: Thanks Smitharalfsworld 1 01-08 04:42
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Ralf

A good bright capture of this attractive species, the afternoon light gives nice warm tones to his brown/orange plumage.

Great pose/composition, excellent sharpness and DOF on a good background.

Chris

Superb image, Ralf.
Beautiful Stonechat in natural light...
Well done
TFS
Annick

hi ralf
very good note
nice picture with great colors and perfect contrast
good background
aleks ;-)

best wishes

A most excellent image Ralf, really like the composition here..
Very nice work,
Howard

Hello Ralf,
Beautiful image of the Stonechat.
Good pose captured with good sharpness and details.
good light. Is irt sitting on some palm leaves?
Thanks for the share,
Regards,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1422 W: 127 N: 5219] (23113)
  • [2008-01-08 4:42]

Hello Ralf, very nice dof on this one, the details are crisp and the exposure is very good ! Thanks,

Mario

Hi Ralf
Nice presentation
Excellent sharpness and detail
Natural warm color
tfs jon

Hi Ralf,
This is a super capture with beautiful warm light.The bird pose, the details and the colours are great too.
tfs

Mircea

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 17 N: 450] (1614)
  • [2008-01-08 6:50]

Fantastic photo, Ralf. I like the composition a lot and you have managed to make a photo that really stands out. As always... perfect sharpness beautiful colours.... and that eye is just lovely!

BR/Bengt

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 422 W: 71 N: 984] (4241)
  • [2008-01-08 6:58]
  • [+]

Hi Ralf.
a pleasant picture and a delight to look at. The rather soft light creates a nice atmosphere. What are your experiences with the mark III and 2x converter? I'm thinking of buying it in combination with the 500/4.0
Regards, Jacob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 8 N: 4957] (16017)
  • [2008-01-08 8:46]

Hi Ralf,

A stunning picture of this lovely Stonechat. The colors of the bird, the leaves, and the background are excellent and blend with each other perfectly. Superb details of the bird. A wonderful composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 72 N: 2864] (9457)
  • [2008-01-08 12:37]

Hello Ralf,
The quality of photos is increasing on TN. And this photo belongs to the best. The light, colours and details are amazing. Perfect composition and eye-contact. Very nice pose, DOF and BG.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2129 W: 9 N: 5957] (22516)
  • [2008-01-08 13:12]

Hi Ralf. A very good close up of the Stonchat. you have used the light so well to give warm colours. you have captured fine detail . with a nice POV. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2422 W: 63 N: 3988] (12860)
  • [2008-01-09 0:43]

Hi Ralf,
This cute stonechat looks beautiful in the afternoon light. Pose you captured, catchlight in the eye, colors, POV and composition are very good. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • Rolf Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 59 W: 0 N: 27] (196)
  • [2008-01-09 4:28]

Hi Ralf
Natural color and sharp details on this Stonechat.
TFS
Rolf

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2008-01-11 12:43]

Hej Ralf,
We have been in Gotenburg a couple of days and missed some images, including this fine one of a male Stonechat, an excellent portrait. I like the composition on the reed fence and the lighting is superb.
Well done and thanks,
Hälsningar,
Ivan

Kan du inte trolla fram lite sol!

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2577 W: 170 N: 7864] (24859)
  • [2008-01-12 7:44]

Hej Ralf,
This is a lovely capture of the Stonechat in beautiful sunshine. Details and colours are great and I like the colours of the natural background. Very well composed too.
TFS, Ulla
(Har nästan glömt hur solen ser ut men idag tittade den fram en hel timme!!)

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1005 W: 64 N: 1242] (5082)
  • [2008-01-15 6:12]

Hello Ralph
What a marvellous capture of this little and beautiful bird! I like a lot the composition with such splendid sharpness and exposure, and very good DOF and beautiful colors.
Congratulations and TFS
Greetings
Maite

P:) I'm sorry very much that I had forgotten these points

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