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Feeding on top of the Seaweed


Feeding on top of the Seaweed
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivan Kruys (Argus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 50D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/11, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird photos -5- [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-10-29 5:03
Viewed: 219
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
After a couple of weeks of dull greyness and rain, it was sunny this morning and I took the opportunity to look for the Shore lark that was reported at our local nature reserve yesterday. There were no shore larks but instead a flock of Snow Buntings.

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
This species has been shown several times on TN and this is my fourth time but it is a bird that I can’t resist, especially as it is a fresh shot taken today.

Swedish name: ‘Snösparv’, meaning ‘snow sparrow’

One of the signs that winter is soon with us is the arrival of Snow Buntings on their way south from their breeding areas in the Scandinavian mountains.
They breed in the arctic tundra and above the tree line in the Scandinavian mountains then they overwinter in NW and SE Europe and central Asia. A few, probably like this one remain along the coasts of Scania if the winter does not get too cold.

This male now has his winter plumage. Strangely enough he will be whiter in the summer, the head and body being pure white and he will have a slate-black back and a white band along the wings. This may be due to the breeding areas still being snowy when they arrive in the spring. The female is similar but with a bit more brown.

This individual was with a flock of about 20, looking quite camouflaged on the heaps of brown seaweed searching for edible bits, some of which seem to be stuck to his beak.
They spend the winter along the coast of NW Europe and in the UK, as well as C and E. Europe. They are also found in N. America

As I managed to get as close as about 5 meters (17 ft) I needed to crop only moderately and after size reduction the image was selectively sharpened.
matatur, roges, horias, izler, ramthakur, rousettus, nasokoun, marius-secan, eqshannon, goatman04, maurydv, cirano, siggi, jmirah, CeltickRanger, boreocypriensis, ferranjlloret, lousat, Noisette, Juyona has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

That Bunting looks so natural and well camouflaged among rotting seaweeds Ivan, it is amazing how you still managed a beautiful eye contact with that extended long lens of yours MF! Thank you indeed for sharing this lovely scene with us.
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 523] (3096)
  • [2009-10-29 5:43]

Hi Ivan,

Splendid fånga. Utmärkt BG och detaljer.
En trevlig dag,
Adrian

Ivan
Wonderful little bird today!
Lovely details and colors.
Horia

hello Ivan
this is a BEAUTY!!
great sharpness and very good light
beautiful colours to
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 407 W: 0 N: 1011] (5460)
  • [2009-10-29 6:15]

Very nice photo of this Bird, this is very rare visitor by us!

Hi Ivan, Excellent capture, I see why you can't resist it, it has such a nice and gentle appearance with beautiful colors.

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 15 N: 1589] (6203)
  • [2009-10-29 6:52]

Hello Ivan
This species is very rare in my country and we can see it only in winter time if we are lucky. Excellent details and beautiful colors
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 1399 W: 3 N: 30] (504)
  • [2009-10-29 7:08]

hello ivan
wonderful capture of this cute bird
composition, POV, DOF, light, colours, sharpness and details are great
TFS
regards
izler

A very sharp and crisp capture from a distance of 5 metres, Ivan.
The light is very good and you have used it effectively. I can see the sea-weeds sticking to the bird's beak.
Thanks for sharing this very fresh image.
Regards.
Ram

merhaba Ivan dostum
Snow Bunting is very rare bird in Turkiye. In last winter, there were 1-2 record in European part. It is also one of my dream species. you are lucky to see it and captured it with great shot. sharp details, POV/DOF, exposure wonderful. dark BG nicely contrasted its light colors. timing also great that you greatly captured its lovely face. nicely composed and noted with good information. tesekkurler dostum. iyi aksamlar
Ahmet

hello Ivan
very beautiful pose and his style,good use of light and the attribution of natural colours very fine as the correct sharp details,attractive result!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Hello Ivan,
Very nice colours and composition of this snow bunting.
Superb sharpness and details.
Marius.

You have honed your already near perfect skills Ivan. this is looking a lot like Nick and old time Quebec Mario birds...VERY well seen....crisp, clear and concise...maybe I said something redundant.
Bob

Salam Ivan,

A great & beautiful capture of this Snow Bunting with lovely coloration/plumage.

Very nice POV, pose & BG.

Well done & TFS.

Best salam & regards

Umar

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2009-10-29 10:25]

Hello Ivan,
What a beauty this Snow Bunting! The pose with this eye contact is very impressive. Great sharpness, details, natural colours, low POV and composition. The light is very beautiful.
TFS and regards,
Peter

Hello Ivan,
a very beautiful picture of the Snow Bunting taken in a fantastic pose, outstanding sharpness and very good contrast of colours, excellent POV and composition
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 656 W: 0 N: 228] (4942)
  • [2009-10-29 12:27]

Slav Îvan,
Excellent capture of this lovely bird with great POV and sharpness.Perfect light colors and composition.TFS and best regards,
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2009-10-29 13:43]

Hello Ivan,
Very nice capture of this cute bird.POV,simple BG,clear details,catchlight in eyes.Composition are wonderful.Exclelent work!
Best regards Siggi

Ciao Ivan, lovely bird in nice pose, beautiful composition with fantastic warm colors and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
  • [2009-10-29 16:56]

Hi Ivan
Another beautiful photo...Great detail, color and POV...TFS
Jim

Ciao Ivan. Faboulose light on this brown bird vith stunning details and excellent sharp. Very good DOF too.

Roberto

hello Ivan

2 days ago i went 1.5 - 2 hours up north of Montréal,
over there in the border of the forest roads i saw
several groups of Snow Buntings, i tried to photograph
them from my car (in-flight photo) but they would'nt stay
at place going always more and more in front of the road,
but soon they will come in Montréal's area, the photographers
will feed them and it will be easy to do the photos

you wrote Ivan :
« One of the signs that winter is soon with us is the arrival
of Snow Buntings on their way south from their
breeding areas in the Scandinavian mountains. »

Youppi ! soon it is winter, and i will go do Snow Bunting
and other small bird in-flight photos, je suis impatient
de les revoirs pour faire des photos d'envol

you did a very beautiful Snow Bunting photo, with fine POV, DOF,
fine focus great sharpness and details, beautiful eye-contact of the bird,
and a wonderful warm luminosity, TFS beaucoup

Asbed

Hi dostum Ivan,

Stunning capture of this pretty feeding beauty in a fine pose on the Seaweed from great POV with perfect focus, great clarity and nice DOF!
TFS and have a nice WE MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Ivan,
good capture of the Snow Bunting in yor habitat, TFS
Have a nice WE. Ferran.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-10-31 16:53]

Hi Ivan,the perfect light was the first secret of this beautiful pic,impressive and nice composition,great sharpness and warms colors too.My best compliments,have a nice Sunday,Luciano.

Hello Ivan
a charming picture of this Snow Bunting with beautiful plumage
the very sharp bird stand out very well against the blurred BG
i like especially the focus and the lighting on his face andthe water droplets on his beak
Have a great sunday

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15565)
  • [2009-11-02 0:09]

Hola Ivan,
maravillosa iluminación y nitidez.
perfecto plumaje y color.
saludos amigo y buena semana.

Hello Ivan,

Excellent details in the plumage, thanks to the fine light!
Colours and pattern come out very well, and the little featherball poses so nicely with an almost arrogant expression...
A balanced composition with good focus on the subject!

Greetings,
Pablo -

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