<< Previous Next >>

Corn Crake (Kornknarr)


Corn Crake (Kornknarr)
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3388 W: 343 N: 9479] (30805)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 300mm / F2.8 L USM, Digital RAW 400, Canon 2x extender II
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/800 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-09 2:11
Viewed: 236
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Thanks for the nice comments and words of my previous post.

Corn Crake, maybe the first on TN.

This is a not common bird but it’s very rare to get a look on. It has a special call and nobody can be mistaken what kind of bird it is.
A lot of bird watcher has never seen this on the ground because it lives in very long grass.
I took this when I was out for other birds and was sitting on my walkstool in the grass well camouflaged with a
Qwick 4 camo net . The Corn Crake was singing and walking quite close and suddenly it appears for about 15 sec. around 5 meter away and with my 300mm + 2.0 Extender, I only got the head, neck and a lot of grass, so it may look a bit greenish.
We have been waiting for this bird in years and it appears 15 sec, yes I’m very happy for this one.
I hope you like it too

From Wikipedia
The Corn Crake (Crex crex), or landrail is a small bird in the family Rallidae.
Its breeding habitat is not marshes as with most crakes, but, as the name implies, meadows and arable farmland. It breeds across Europe and western Asia, migrating to Africa in winter. It is in steep decline across most of its range because modern farming practices mean that nests and birds are destroyed by mowing or harvesting before breeding is finished. The best place to look for or listen for them in the UK is in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. In Ireland, the best place to hear the birds is the island of Inishbofin, Galway, off the coast of County Galway. In 2008 a decline of about 8% in the number of "calling males" was noticed
The adult Corn Crake is 22–25 cm (8.6–9.8 in) long with a wingspan of between 46–53 cm (19–21 in). It weighs between 125–210 g (4.5–7.5 ounces).It has mainly brown, heavily spotted upper parts, a blue-grey head and neck, and reddish streaked flanks. It has a short bill and shows chestnut wings and long dangling legs in flight.The sexes are similar, but in the immature bird the blue-grey is replaced by buff. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails.

More Info in different language here

Canon 300mm/F2.8 L, 2.0X converter, Tripod , camo-net, sitstol, ISO 400, Raw-format, AV-mode, spot metering, +1/3 Ev
Converted in Canon DPP, Levels, Contrast, Crop, resized to 800 pixels, Smart Sharpen ,PP in PS CS4.
Well calibrated Eizo monitor, calibrated/profiled with a Spyder3 Elite
rousettus, Argus, siggi, CeltickRanger, boreocypriensis, goatman04, maurydv, nglen, horia, peter_stoeckl, meyerd has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Tack Ivanellis49 1 10-09 05:44
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hello Gert,
This is one of first shots of Corn Crake. I saw only two posts from Romania. It is one of my missing species to photography. you are lucky to see it and capture such a great portraite in natural biotop. eyes contact, sharp focus, POV/OOF, colors and composition great. thanks for sharing this beauty with good informative notes.
have a wonderful day
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1566] (6115)
  • [2009-10-09 2:52]

Hello Gert
You are really lucky to catch this bird... it's not too easy to take a photo with this species. Well done.
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3802 W: 190 N: 11310] (34871)
  • [2009-10-09 3:21]
  • [+]

Hej gert!
This is fantastic!
It is not often one can see the Corncrake, let alone take a photo of it.
Usually it can be heard when the light is low but here you had very good lighting so that the head is sharp and taken from a great lateral POV as it peers out through the grass.
My son tried the 300 mm 2.8 with the 2x converter on a trip to N. Norway this year and he had very good results. This lens is the best in its class.
Thanks and have a good weekend,
Ivan

Nu är det strålande sol och 8 grader: jag ska kolla fågellivet.
När ska du till Cypern?

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1367 W: 56 N: 4680] (16082)
  • [2009-10-09 5:11]

Hello Gert,
This is a beautiful portrait of Corn Crake. Lighting and sharpness are good, nice composition with very good background.
Best regards Siggi

great portrait, TFS Ori

hello Gert

an excellent portrait photo of this bird that i don't know
shot with fine POV and specially the framing with leaving
a very good space where the bird is looking, fine focus
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Gert,

What a beauty! Lovely colors and light, nicely blurred background.
Great composition and presentation.
I like how you have focussed sharply on the corn crake -which it is novelty for me- and, therefore, giving a good 3D effect by having the leaf in the foreground!
Thanks for posting this beauty and have a nice night and WE!

Bayram

Hello Gert,

An excellent portrait of this Corn Crake with beautiful coloration, focus & fine details. Great POV, pose, BG & notes.

Very nicely done & TFS.

Best wishes

Umar

Hello Gert,
what a fantastic portrait of Corn Crake taken from an excellent POV with perfect focusing, superb sharpness and marvellous colours, i like this very pleasing composition with a soft BG.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2380 W: 94 N: 5487] (17484)
  • [2009-10-09 10:41]

Hello Gert,
Congratulations with this nice portrait of the Corncrake. Excellent sharp focus on the head. Very good details and clear colours in a good composition. Excellent OOF BG.
Have a good weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2904 W: 34 N: 8600] (32056)
  • [2009-10-09 11:50]

Hi Gert, You did so well to get this picture of the Corn Crake. We can see the eye bill with such fine detail. Not an easy bird to get a picture of. Taken in its natural souroundings. well taken TFS.
Nick..

Have a nice weekend.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2169 W: 218 N: 4382] (14898)
  • [2009-10-09 14:01]

Hi Gert

Congratulations for capturing this very elusive bird, my friend!
I understand why you are so happy with your capture and i think that even if you didn't get a full-body photo, you've got a very delicate and terrific portrait. In fact, this shot with only the head and neck sticking out of the tall grass is probably more natural and more meaningful for the species.
The details are very neat and sharp, the warm light is lovely and the composition is very nice, as well, with plenty of room in front of the bird.
Overall, great work buddy!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hi Gert,
a rare capture emerging out of its hide like out of a dream - or a fata morgana.
Congratulations for these lucky moments of encounter, sucessfully captured in a lively, colourful, well composed presentation.
With kind regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 518 W: 68 N: 1686] (5316)
  • [2009-10-12 11:12]

Hi Gert,
good to know that you are back on TN. With this picture you kindle my envy. So far in my long life I only heard, never saw the bird in the wild. And you make a head- on portrait of it, eyes warts and all. I'm glad you explained how you did it. Since the bird has practically disappeared in Switzerland I'm surprised to learn that it occurs in Norrland. On the other hand, you taught us TN watchers for quite a while about the richness of the Swedish fauna. Thanks for sharing your secrets with us!
Best regards
Dietrich

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF