<< Previous Next >>

Taking a stroll


Taking a stroll
Photo Information
Copyright: Deborah Kelleher (Debz) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-16
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 58mm Hoya PL-CIR
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Red Eyed Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-16 15:16
Viewed: 615
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Moorhen is one of my favourite local waterfowl. They are quite elegant when they walk on dry land and the colour of their plumage visually varies in different light conditions. This one was taken with good light on sunny morning

Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus

Family
Rails (Rallidae)

Overview
The Moorhen is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird, that is usually found near water. From a distance it looks black with a ragged white line along its body. Up close it is olive-brown on the back and the head and underneath are blue-grey. It has a red bill with a yellow tip. The legs and long claws are a vivid yellow/green. The Moorhen breeds in the UK in lowland areas, especially in central and eastern England. It is scarce in northern Scotland and the uplands of Wales and northern England. UK

breeding birds are residents and seldom travel far. The are not 'moor' birds, the name being a corruption of 'merehen'.

Breeding
Unlike ducks, both parents incubate typically 8 eggs and feed the young on insects etc. which they mostly find by picking through water weeds. Incubation may start with the first egg, with the young hatching over a period of 2 or 3 days. Usually 2 or 3 hatch first, and go off with one adult, and the rest follow and stick with the other.

As the young mature their diet expands to include vegetation, insects, worms and the waste vegetables we put out for them.

They have multiple broods each year, managing as many as three on a good year. They are not very good at picking fox-proof nest sites (like our islands) and make endless attempts as they lose clutches of eggs.

Second and subsequent broods are often fed and guarded by adolescent members of earlier broods that remain near the nesting site. It has been known that the

resident male chases off his male offspring as soon as they are old enough to look after themselves - certainly he always sees off about half of them.

Where to see them
There's a chance of seeing a moorhen anywhere where there is water - from a small ditch or a lake in a city centre park, to a big lake or reservoir.

Diet
Water plants, seeds, fruit, grasses, insects, snails and worms.
sherlock628, bobair, Mariol, Jamesp, ramthakur, uleko, JoseMiguel, Argus, jaycee, Adanac, nglen, pablominto, oscarromulus, hester 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 Heyshamite: MoorhenDebz 2 12-18 04:25
To jaycee: MoorhenDebz 1 12-17 14:17
To bobair: Taking a StrollDebz 3 12-17 00:05
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Deborah,
taking a stroll and look what you have got an excellent shot! This photo really does show well just how very large the moorhen's feet are, just like an American coot's.An interesting shot with good colour and decent detail.This is another for my theme of red eyed birds.Thanks for sharing.It is unusual of you not to have a note,but I know time sometimes isn't available. Bob

Hello Debz,
Really nice sharpness in the black feathers. Exposure and composition are Great. TFS
Thomas

  • Great 
  • Mariol Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 164 W: 10 N: 1015] (4139)
  • [2007-12-16 18:30]

Hi Deborah,
Nice posting. This is another beautiful bird from the amazing variety you have there in the hart of your big city London.
The colours and pose are beautiful. TFS
I apologise, I was away from TN for couple of weeks (stress at work, couple of oil spills in my neighbour pond and a short vacation trip in Mexico)
and didn’t comment on your latest pictures.
Regards, Mario

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2007-12-16 22:19]

Hi Deborah,
Outstanding shot of this Moorhen 'taking a stroll'. Very impressive sharpness, details and colours on its plumage and the red coloured forehead looks awesome. Great natural lighting and exposure levels with a precise DOF isolating it from the BG. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2007-12-16 23:31]

Hi Deborah

I have these in my garden - but they are very shy - as soon as they hear a noise they are off - so you were very lucky to get a shot this close. The detail is wonderful.

James

What a lovely Moorhen, Deborah!
Very sharp and crisp image with delicate colours. You have composed the shot very well.
TFS and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 2998] (10820)
  • [2007-12-17 1:32]

Hi Deborah,
excellent sharp clarity and very well seen composition, i really like the mid 'stroll' pose you've caught here. Punchy colours and a great job on the exposure too - well done!
Paul

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1696 W: 242 N: 5596] (19883)
  • [2007-12-17 1:36]

Hello Deborah!
Superbly composed image of this pretty Moorhen. I have to agree with you, these are one of our prettiest waterfowl!
Great DOF that blurs out the BG nicely.
Excellent sharpness and detail.
Nice colours as well.
Well done,
Joe

Hi Deborah,
The image of the bird is stunning. Pity about the surroundings.
Regards,
Peter

hello deborah,
nice post with lovely title, the image is very sharp with good details of the plumage, liked the pov and the composition, nice lighting,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Deborah
Really cool bird captured with nice details and colours :)
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2468 W: 168 N: 7464] (23588)
  • [2007-12-17 6:32]

Hello Deborah,
Lovely capture of this Moorhen striding along on its big feet. I like its pose and the light that makes the plumage glisten. Excellent sharpness and beautiful colours.
Well composed too.
Many thanks, Ulla

Hi Deborah,
A very clear capture of this moorhen!
I like the 3/4 pose got and the details got on its big and yellow legs.
Good light and proper exposure to have this sharp image.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2613 W: 133 N: 7504] (23403)
  • [2007-12-17 7:36]

Hello Debz,
You have made a fine capture of a Moorhen with a contented expression on its face. Excellent lighting, sharpness and detail and the frontal POV is unusual for me as they are much shyer in Sweden and if see them, it is for a few seconds from behind!
Well done and thanks for sharing this one,
Ivan

Hello Debz,
Excellent captured this beautiful Moorhen!
great use of the light angle to brings out the perfect sharpness and clarity on the plummage, very beautiful indeed!
a good composition with a great notes
my compliment
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1788 W: 8 N: 4639] (15001)
  • [2007-12-17 11:28]
  • [+]

Hi Debz,

Lovely shot of this Moorhen taking his walk. I love the position of the feet! Nice colors and excellent details. Your black is sooooo good.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1049 W: 1 N: 4160] (13980)
  • [2007-12-17 18:43]

Hello Deborah,
Superb diffinition and colors in this nice composition with the bird with the big feet, Thanks for sharing Deborah.
Rick

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-12-17 19:46]

Hello Deborah

A beautiful capture of this moorhen.
They are resident in the local marsh,but are clever at eluding the camera lens.
The colours are well saturated and show very well.
Well focused with very good detail.
I love the lighting on the plumage ,with lovely catch light.
Lucky you.
TFS
Rob

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 514 W: 8 N: 1099] (4072)
  • [2007-12-17 22:31]

Hello Deb,
Awesome capture, I don't have much time tonight so
just would like to congratulate you for this superb
picture.. Well done

Everton

Hi Deborah.
I thought it was a coot on first glance of thumb.
You managed to capture the colours really well.The light is coming from a good direction for the feathers and eye.
I know if I posted this I probably would have cropped the right side so that little bit of water didn't show. Probably.
You also got the details on the feet down good too.
TFS
Keep safe. D:)

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1993 W: 5 N: 5571] (21050)
  • [2007-12-18 13:32]

Hi Debz. i keep missing your picture . What good light in this one. giving you good colours. you have fine detail .Its as if its looking to cross the road. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Deborah,
The lovely bird is captured in a fine position!
Impressive colours palette, the black is well exposed and with fine details in the plumage...
A fine dynamic composition, good focus on the subject!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Debz, lovely walking bird with wonderful colors, great details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Deborah,
A Happy Holiday Season to you & your loved ones.
Great image.
Highly educative notes.
Warm greetings from -16*C,
Mario.

bonjour deborah
c'est une belle surprise de voir cette poule d'eau se promener tranquillement,en general elles ne se laissent pas vraiment surprendre.
l'image est tres bonne.peut etre un POV plus au ras du sol aurait été preferable.
laurent

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2007-12-29 12:06]

Hi Debz

Moorhens have such character and I just love their big feet. Nice exposure on the blacks, excellent pose and very nicely composed. Good low POV and nicely sharp as well

TFS

Karan

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF