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Worms Again!


Worms Again!
Photo Information
Copyright: Beverley Robinson (Royaldevon) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 47 N: 969] (3302)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, NIKKOR 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 G
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-22 12:05
Viewed: 505
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello Everyone,

Today, I am posting a shot of a starling that is nesting quite close to the house. It has made its home in the wall of the barn. I have seen it returning many times with a beakful of worms, obviously to feed the nestlings, which make a loud noise whenever a parent arrives.

The difficulty was getting the bird with any definition. It was always above me so the light was on its back, or it was silhouetted against the sun. On this occasion it was balancing on a wire waiting for its partner to leave the hole before it could enter.

Here is some further information from the RSPB:
Latin name
Sturnus vulgaris

Family
Starlings (Sturnidae)

Overview
Smaller than blackbirds, with a short tail, pointed head, triangular wings, starlings look black at a distance but when seen closer they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens. Their flight is fast and direct and they walk and run confidently on the ground. Noisy and gregarious, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks. Still one of the commonest of garden birds, its decline elsewhere makes it a Red List species.

Where to see them
Conspicuous and widespread in the UK, occurring everywhere except for the highest parts of the Scottish Highlands. They are most abundant in southern England and are more thinly distributed in upland areas with moorland. Still one of the UK's commonest garden birds. Huge roosts are found in plantations, reed beds and city centres.

When to see them
All year round. Large numbers arrive in autumn to spend the winter here.

What they eat
Insects and fruit.

Many thanks for your visit.
Please feel free to offer feedback on ay aspect of the photograph. :-)
pekkavalo1, nglen, Hil, gracious, gannu, eqshannon, jaycee, haraprasan, CeltickRanger, japiey has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 294 W: 3 N: 800] (2856)
  • [2008-05-22 12:15]

Hello Beverley,
I think Starlings are such pretty birds and this is a superb shot of one. The details are fantastic showing off the wonderful plummage. You caught him in a great pose and the composition is marvelous.

Hi Bev,

Great shot of Starling with a full load of worms. Good pose and composition, sharp details.

TFS

Pekka

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2008-05-22 13:29]

Hi Beverley. Not a easy one to take but you did well and waited your time. Ypu have good detail and natural colours. a nice pose with the worms for its young. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1412] (4849)
  • [2008-05-22 14:02]

Hi Bev

Great capture, I like your POV and the pose with the beakful of juicy worms, I hope none dropped on you.
Nice details and you can see the eye well which I find so hard with Starlings.
Nice light and colours too.

Hil

Hello Bev,
You had managed the clarity well with the strong back light!
very impressive to see the Starling with so many worms in it's beak!
very good details on the plummage too
well done
have a wonderful weekend, Bev!
Tony

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 929 W: 4 N: 2322] (10812)
  • [2008-05-23 2:45]

Hello Beverley, Good action. It is holding so many worms and your shot shows the plummage beautifully. Ganesh

Hi Bev, unusual POV for this lovely bird, great details and good sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 3000] (10824)
  • [2008-05-23 6:24]

Hi Bev,
looks like he's/she's got a few hungry mouths to feed, a good sign!
Great POV, an excellent DOF and well composed too.
tfs and have a good bank holiday weekend!
Paul

Are you sure it didn't simply 'super size' it's order for a hungry bird:-) ? Very nice catching it this way. A part of the daily routine we usually do not see....a hunter and gatherer...for the brood..very well done Bev!
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 8 N: 4653] (15039)
  • [2008-05-23 10:33]

Hi Bev,

I love Starlings - there are none around here though. Great timing to catch him with the mouthful of worms. Good details of the plummage. Looks like he's losing one of the worms!

Jane

Hi Beverley,
A nice capture of this beautiful starling bird. Excellent bottom POv. Nice composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Bev
I am all behind and please accept my apologies.
Starlings are fantastic birds and you have captured this cheeky fellow superbly with a beak full of baby starling food....Lovely sharp details set against a lovely sky which could have so easily been just a silhouette.
On a note I had a flock of parents and young devouring all grubs and worms that were to near the surface today..The interesting thing was I spotted 2 young and 3 adults that were ringed on the leg...Im guessing there must be a ringing programme close to us as the young must have been ringed from the nest.
A superb capture Bev and tfs
Paul

hello Beverley

in my absence from TN i lost alot of great shots,
this image from you is one of them, great shot
of the starling catching a insect, i love you fine POV
showing the bird from his underparts, i love too the
blue sky background, excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi BR,

Fine capture, in time.
Excellent details.
Enjoy the days..

jp

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