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The Spotted one


The Spotted one
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: 2007-08-18
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon EF 400mm F/2.8 L IS USM, CF Extrime III 4 GB
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-06 6:36
Viewed: 499
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Captured with 5D @ 800mm, handhold @ Swedish island Öland. I saw this bird on my way to car and didn't have time to fix my tripod so I shot handhold. It was really good quality shot considering that camera and lens are more than 8kg.

The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia, and is migratory, wintering in Africa and south western Asia. It is declining in parts of its range.

This is an undistinguished looking bird with long wings and tail. The adults have grey-brown upperparts and whitish underparts, with some streaking on the breast. The legs are short and black, and the bill is black and has the broad but pointed shape typical of aerial insectivores. Juveniles are browner than adults and show the spots on the upperparts which give this species its name.

Spotted Flycatchers hunt from conspicuous perches, making sallies after passing flying insects, and often returning to the same perch. Their upright posture is characteristic.

They are birds of deciduous woodlands, parks and gardens, with a preference for open areas amongst trees. They build an open nest in a suitable recess, often against a wall, and will readily adapt to an open-fronted nest box. 4-6 eggs are laid.

Interestingly, most European birds cannot discriminate between their own eggs and those of other species. The exception to this are the hosts of the Common Cuckoo, which have had to evolve this skill as a protection against that nest parasite. Spotted Flycatcher shows excellent egg recognition, and it is likely that it was once a host of the Cuckoo, but became so good at recognising the intruder's eggs that it ceased to be victimised. A contrast to this is the Dunnock, which appears to be a recent Cuckoo host, since it does not show any egg discrimination.

The flycatcher's call is a thin, drawn out soft and high pitched tssssseeeeeppppp, slightly descending in pitch.
Tamrock, marhowie, earthtraveler, ellis49, MMM, uleko, Argus, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Tamrock: Tack Mikaelralfsworld 1 09-06 07:01
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Critiques [Translate]

hej ralf!
du är riktigt stadig på handen!
sharp and fine picture on this beauty
nica dof and a like the background

Hi Ralf,
nice shot of this bird.
Very sharp with very nice details.
Great composition with beautiful colors and a nice POV

Well done
Tatjana

Hi Ralf,
Nice shot of this Flycatcher.
Well lit, good focus detail and color, fine POV, and DOF/pleasing BG.
TFS
Richard

What a great shot Ralf, I love the "cheeky" pose here :)
Excellent top-notch work, great quality..
Very Well Done!
Howard

Hej Ralf,
som Micke säger du är stadig på handen.
En mycket fin aoch vacker bild med fina färger och ljus.
Detaljerna är oksp mycket bra liksom skärpdjupet.
Very well done.

Tro inte att blåhakarna blir lätta :-)
Micke och jag var där ute vid Villan i morse och det var bara
några stycken som visade sig. ;-(

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 786 W: 0 N: 1581] (7256)
  • [2007-09-06 9:22]

Hi Ralf
I aggreed with you it is excellent for an handhold picture at that weight.Very well compose with sharp details.I like that catch light in the eye.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2577 W: 170 N: 7864] (24859)
  • [2007-09-06 9:29]

Hej Ralf,
You really did get some super shots on Öland!
This capture of the FLycatcher is great, I love the POV and the way it is looking up, I don't think I realized how big and beautiful eyes it has. Very sharp details and fine colours. Very well composed too.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 72 N: 2864] (9457)
  • [2007-09-06 10:39]

Hello Ralf,
Very beautiful photo. DOF, BG, sharpness and colours are excellent. Very good composition and POV.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2007-09-06 12:27]

Hej Ralf,
I like this spotted one! Great shot with your new lens with all the high technical standard as well as excellent lighting and BG.
A superb shot of the Spotted Flycatcher!
Well done and TFS!
Hälsningar,
Ivan

Ralf,

very nice shot,
love this image,
I love backyard birds,
love this.

fototab

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2102 W: 6 N: 2113] (13565)
  • [2007-09-06 18:07]

Hola Ralf,
excelente captura,
detalles hermosos...
buen pov y sensacional nitidez,
saludos

Very pleasant composition, lovely colours and a very good point of view.
Best wishes,
Achim

hello Ralf

wonderfull pose of this bird
and specially i like the backrounds
relaxing colors for the eyes

TFS

Asbed

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