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Female Goosander


Female Goosander
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3649 W: 354 N: 8900] (28939)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 100-300 /4 HSM, Digital RAW 200
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-03-22 8:36
Viewed: 1065
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
En. Goosander, Da. Stor Skallesluger, Du. Grote Zaagbek, Fi. Isokoskelo, Fr. Harle bièvre, Ge. Gänsesäger, It. Smergo maggiore, No. Laksand, Sp. Serreta grande, Sw. Storskrake.
My eyes are not better, but I can’t sit still, I have to do something. Shooting is not a big problem but I can’t sit by the computer more then 10 to15 min.

Today is it the first day with spring feeling, +8C, sunny and the snow is melting, great.
Even some other ducks has arrived,, The Goosander and the Golden Eye are here now.
This is a female Gosander and I think it’s very nice. I have post one earlier.
Click here for the Taxi-Ride

If Mergansers look scruffy then Goosanders look immaculate, especially the males, their big bodies entirely cream-coloured apart from a neat black line across the back and the contrasting black-looking head. Females might be mistaken for red-head Mergansers but see how the rich chestnut colour on the head ends abruptly at the neck and contrasts neatly with the pale chest. Also,the white wing panel lacks a dark line through it and the bill distinctively droops down at the tip instead of being swept up. The crest can look shaggy but a neatly hanging mane is more typical. In flight Goosanders have similar wing markings to Mergansers but the male Goosander has much more white on his body and the female lacks the dark line through the pale wing panel.
Breeds on the shores of wooded lochs and rivers. Winters on reservoirs, lakes and occasionally estuaries.
Breeds in small numbers on rivers and lakes in Scotland, northern England and Wales. Many birds winter on the Beauly and Moray Firths, with continental immigrants gracing many inland waterways in southern and central England.
A widespread breeding bird in northern Europe, wintering further south. The most impressive concentrations are probably in north Norway where thousands of males migrate in late summer to moult. Large flocks can therefore be seen from late June onwards in Varanger Fjord and Tana Fjord (max 30,000 in September).
There are an estimated 2 700 pairs in Britain, with the odd pair in Ireland. As many as 8900 birds winter in Britain.
At least 46,000-62,000 pairs in Europe. Russian population 10000-20000.

Technique:
Black patch for the left eye, I look like a pirate.;-)
Sigma 100-300/4 HSM EX APO.
ISO 200 - Raw-format .
Converted ,contrast and levels resized to 800 pixels , USM save as JPG for the site.
I used Adobe Photoshop CS
marhowie, Luc, dew77, sAner, sergegagne, TAZ, carper, liquidsunshine, Fisher, Runnerduck, PDP has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To sergegagne: Soon springellis49 1 03-22 13:06
To Luc: Thanks Lucellis49 1 03-22 13:01
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Critiques [Translate]

Gert, Great action as this Goosander paddles full-steam-ahead! I like the surrounding waters shimmering effect and the reflection adds nicely. Excellent note..Well done!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2052 W: 315 N: 4301] (14719)
  • [2005-03-22 9:51]
  • [+]

Personal assessment of the photo: great.
Great visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Dont push you to hard, Gert. But thanks for this beautifull Female Goosander. Maybe they will come back here soon too.
I wish you a wonderfull spring!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-03-22 11:05]

Wonderful action shot.Colors,reflection and cool hairs
are great.
TFS...

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1648 W: 79 N: 1438] (4742)
  • [2005-03-22 11:52]

Hello Gert! It's great to see you post again. I hope you are feeling better. Great picture. Details are good and POV & DOF are good too. TFS!

Yes, Gert and Luc, the Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is here already! My birder buddy and I have seen some residents all winter. And we could see yesterday that some of the migrants are back now.

I'm glad to see your beautiful pictures again and to get news, Gert. This shot is no less lovely than your previous ones. I always like the peaceful, slick aquatic setting of the birds you post.

Thanks for posting. Take care, my friend!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3186] (10922)
  • [2005-03-22 12:27]

Composition photographique originale et jolie. Le volatile est étonnant et l'onde a une belle forme et met bien en valeur le mouvement de l'oiseau.
Well done !

  • Great 
  • puciu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 519 W: 0 N: 16] (2603)
  • [2005-03-22 15:18]

¦wietna fotka, pêdzi jak motorówka.
Brawo.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-03-22 15:30]

Joli foto. ils sont magnifiques ces PUNKS.
Veri nice.

Nice capture Gert,
She looks like she's not slowing down. lovely colours and detail.
Glad to see you posting again. good to see your shots as always.
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-03-22 15:52]

A beauty, Gert, well done on this composition and details. I see she is trying to get away quickly. Just like here, one look at us, gone.

Mike

What a fantastic shot, your water looks like liquid silver! You have captured her perfectly, this image is superb.
Thank you.

Nice composition and perspective, looks a touch oversharpened, but does not detract from the overall image. A great note too.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2951 W: 366 N: 3779] (11763)
  • [2005-03-23 16:09]

Hi Gert, vey nice work. I saw a few of thes the other week, very nice birds. Sorry to read you are having problems with your eyes. I sincerely hope this is temporary. Nice details and composotion, very good photo. Well done Gert.

Those ducks looks so serious, very good capture Gert, good POV and details.
Well done.
TFS.

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