Pine Marten

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Pine Marten
Photo Information
Copyright: Karan Little (hester) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1497 W: 18 N: 2924] (10762)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-05
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 40D, Canon 100 - 400 L IS USM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-11 10:54
Viewed: 522
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is an unusual sight even for the British Wildlife Centre. This is the first time I have seen a Pine Marten out in the open. She was partially hidden which is why there are strong shadows and patches of light.

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Pine Marten from the BWC
The pine marten is a large member of the Mustelid (weasel) family. Its preferred habitat is thick woodland or rocky hillsides, with dens frequently made in hollow logs or rock crevices, but also in rabbit burrows or the roofs of old buildings. They have large territories of 5 - 15 km2 for females and perhaps twice as much for males.
Their diet is varied, consisting mainly of small rodents, birds, beetles, eggs and berries. Although agile enough to take squirrels, there is little evidence of them doing so in this country, although in Scandinavia this has been documented. The fox is both a predator of pine martens and a competitor for its food sources.

Found throughout Europe, in Britain they are primarily concentrated in the Scottish highlands and Grampians, with smaller populations in parts of northern England and Wales. Reintroduction in England and Wales has been advocated, but further study of their habitat needs and the likely impact on other species is needed before a formal programme could be carried out.

Origin: Native
Size: Head/body length: males 51 - 54 cm; females 46 - 54 cm. Tail length: males 26 - 27 cm; females 18 - 24 cm. Weight: males 1.5 - 2.2 kg; females 0.9 - 1.5 kg

Habitat: Primarily well wooded areas, but also crags and scrub.

Young: Litters of 1-5 are born in early spring, and stay with the mother for about 6 weeks. Leave the den by mid June. The father plays no part in rearing the young.

Nest: Usually in a hollow log, or obscured within fallen trees and roots. Sometimes in cliffs, rock crevices or cairns.

Diet: Varied diet, with voles and mice forming the greater part. Also birds, eggs, beetles, fungi and berries (especially in the autumn).

Population: Pre-breeding season estimated to be 3,300 (only 120 in England, 60 in Wales, rest in Scotland).
Proframe, CeltickRanger, gracious, nglen, bobcat08, Jamesp, Luis52, angela926, cobbydale, Hil, Alex99, jmp, boreocypriensis, SkyF, wuta, darwin has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Karan,

What a beautiful portrait shot of this lovely Pine Marten.
Wonderful clear eyes, warm color amd details in the fur.
Excellent focus, sharpness and DOF.
Great note also. TFS!!!

Kindest regards and have a great weekend,

Harry

Hello Karan,
Good morning!
many thanks for sharing this cute fellow of Pine Marten with us today!
good closeup shot with exposure and focus here in great details!
have a wonderful weekend, buddy!
Tony

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-04-11 11:31]

Hi Karan. This is a animal which is not often seen so luck you. you managed to get it face on with fine detail and good natural colours. good use of what light you had in the eyes. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a good weekend.

nice face, TFS Ori

Hello Karan,

Congrats with this perfect close up of the Pine Marten. He sits so nearby almost on my desktop. A very good eyecontact. Sharp as a razorblade. Fine details. Well done. Have a nice weekend and TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 58 N: 2152] (7179)
  • [2008-04-11 12:24]

Hello Karan,
What a beautiful close up of this Pine Marten. Excellent sharp details a clear colours. Great POV, eyecontact and composition.
Have a good weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4449] (13290)
  • [2008-04-11 12:42]

Hi Karan

A great portrait of this Pine Martin - good composition and POV with good colour and superb detail. Well observed and captured.

James

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 342 W: 0 N: 263] (2095)
  • [2008-04-11 15:27]

Ola Karan

Bonita foto deste simpatico animal, suas cores são muito bonitas, a luminosidade ficou muitoboa e a nitidez excelente, o foco so da cara do animal ficou muito criativo.
Parabens
Nilson

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1036 W: 5 N: 2728] (9914)
  • [2008-04-11 16:57]

Hola Karan.
Gran calidad de foto. Hermosa la carita de esta "Comadreja" Posa solo para Tu fino talento.
Exelente la nota escrita.
Saludos Karan.
Luis52.

Hello Karan,
Great close up, superb sharpness and excellent details, beautiful natural colors and nice light.
Angela

Hello Karan,

Wonderful portrait of this beautiful marten. Excellent sharpness. Beautiful light and colours. Good bokeh too.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hola Karan , estás publicando una serie de mamíferos de lo más interesante. Destacaría en todas ellas la fidelidad en los colores, y en esta en particular un encuadre estudiado y efectivo.
Abrazo.

Hi Karan, excellent close-up shot. Lovely details captured and great DOF.
cheers
Leon

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 782 W: 11 N: 1380] (4759)
  • [2008-04-12 4:26]

Hi Karan

Lovely capture of this cute little guy
I like your composition with the Pine Martin coming out of the shadows.
Superb details, great colours and lovely use of light.

Hil

hello Karan

excellent close and portrait shot of this cute litlle animal,
fine POV and framing, i love that you kept a space
on the left of the image, excellent luminosity of the image
with great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2008-04-12 7:06]

Hi Karan.
What a sight. I love this cute creature. Amazing, clear portrait work.. True portrait aperture value, combination of sharpness and blurriness of the BG is very impressive. Lights, shadows and colours are amazing. May be it would be better a bit to leave more free space over the animal head. My compliments and best regards.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-04-12 9:43]

Hi Karan,
Outstanding portrait shot and a fabulous eye contact. She posed for you and you did a skillful job here. Immaculate sharpness and colours on the fur with superb light and exposure control. Excellent DOF and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2297 W: 163 N: 6694] (21146)
  • [2008-04-12 9:59]

Hi Karan,
Brilliant close-up of this beautiful Pine Marten. It has such a cute little face and details are very sharp. I love the colours of the fur and the light is beautiful here.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1898 W: 94 N: 2375] (8394)
  • [2008-04-12 15:05]

Hi Karan,
Impressive approach you have got! A very attractive clouse-up of this cute animal, with excellent details, pose and natural light.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-04-12 15:17]

Hi Karan,
fine image of this Pine Martin!
You've got the focus right on the eyes which is excellent!
Great detail in the fur and brilliant sharpness.
Very good exposure in the dappled light.
Nice DOF.
Great work!

Joe

Hi Hester,
What a lovely face of this marten friend! Your capture is number one!-as usual.
TFS.
Greetings from Cyprus,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2447 W: 207 N: 2035] (8113)
  • [2008-04-12 15:56]

Hello Karan,
great shot, the details in the close up are fantastic.
Great sharpness and excellent colors.
Love the crop and presentation.
Very nice work.
Sky

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 879 W: 2 N: 605] (2032)
  • [2008-04-13 11:12]

Hello Karan , It's a fantastic portret shot from the pine marten , great sharpnes details colours his eyes and compositie , very good job ,tfs ,Greetings Teunie .

Hi Karan, an other splendid portrait of cute creature with lovely expression, fantastic details and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Karan,
It is a fine portrait of this lovely creature!
The curiousity is well captured, and she also seems to be quite trustful...
A well balanced composition with fine natural colours!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-04-14 19:40]

Hello Karan

What a beautiful portrait.
Pine Martens are rare over here now too.They are losing their territory to other predators.I have seen them dead at the side of the road,so I know they are out there,but I have not seen one walking around.
This is a lovely shot with warm lighting and lovely detail.
The textures are excellent.
Wonderful eye contact.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • darwin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 249 W: 0 N: 447] (1688)
  • [2008-04-21 17:39]

Hi Karan
So cute
Lovely detail and color tones in the fur
Wonderful capture . tfs jon

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