<< Previous Next >>

Singing in the rain


Singing in the rain
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 53 N: 1545] (4971)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM, RAW ISO 800, Canon EF 1.4x Extender II
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Joe's Favourites 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-05 9:03
Viewed: 484
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Common Snipe was 'singing' at RSPB Elmley Marshes nature reserve. It was raining so much that there was no way I could get out of the car with my camera kit. The picture was taken through the car window. Mr Snipe was not bothered at all about the rain and carried on normal routines in defending his territory.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Common Snipe or Fantail Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a small, stocky shorebird.

The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows in Iceland, the Faroes, northern Europe and Russia. Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground.

European birds winter in southern Europe and Africa, and Asian migrants move to tropical southern Asia.
Adults are 23-28 cm in length with a 39-45 cm wingspan. They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed.

These birds forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material.

The male performs "winnowing" display during courtship, flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a distinctive sound - which is given its Finnish name taivaanvuohi, "goat of a sky" because that sound reminds baaing of goat.
This species closely resembles the Wilson's Snipe, G. delicata, of North America, which was until recently considered to be a subspecies G. g. delicata of Common Snipe. The latter differs from the North American species in having a wider white edge to the wings, and seven pairs of tail feathers instead of eight.

There are two other races of Common Snipe; G. g. faeroeensis in Iceland, the Faroes, Shetland and Orkney, and G. g. gallinago in the rest of the Old World. The latter is a species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. Snipe hunters, therefore, needed to be very skilled to hunt these birds and they came to be called snipers - a term later adopted by the military.
Jamesp, jaycee, Argus, Royaldevon, nglen, gracious, iris, cloud, MMM, vanderschelden, uleko, marhowie, SelenE, 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
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1297 W: 0 N: 5080] (15138)
  • [2008-06-05 9:15]

Hi Pekka

Beautiful composition and excellent timing. Lovely, vibrant colour and excellent detail.

James

Nice shot! Perfect composition and balanced colors...
Great!

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2008-06-05 9:46]

Hello Pekka,
Excellent capture of a Snipe from your car window, caught at a fine moment when calling.
I like the unusual POV showing the open bill and the composition among the grasses is great, the snipe showing very well indeed.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 8 N: 4957] (16017)
  • [2008-06-05 9:46]

Hi Pekka,

I just love singing birds with their beaks wide open. Great timing to get this shot. He looks wonderful standing in the tall grass. Excellent colors, sharp details and a great pose.

Jane

Hello Pekka,

Snipes are probably like ducks and love the rain!
Despite the weather, this is an excellent, detailed shot! The colours are good and the composition has the subject nicely off-centre.

I do like the fact that it was singing to you!
It is nice to be appreciated!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)
Many thanks for your warm comments on 'Where's Mum?'

Hi Pekka, lovely bird in the grass, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2129 W: 9 N: 5957] (22516)
  • [2008-06-05 12:17]

Hi Pekka. The rain did not stop you getting a good close up of this Snipe. which you captured with good detail and colours. A unusual pose with its mouth open . well done TFs.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 460 W: 0 N: 495] (2403)
  • [2008-06-05 14:01]

Hi Pekka
this is very nice image
well done.

Hello Pekka,
Very good low pov of this common snipe!
looks like he is singing alright with the good head on pose!
good sharpness, nice colour and details
well done
cheers
tony

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 117 W: 63 N: 255] (2051)
  • [2008-06-06 0:07]

Hello Pekka,
I like such photo. Sharp bird in the grass and blur BG. It's very natural and beautiful.
Regards, Pawel

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1159 W: 255 N: 2639] (11925)
  • [2008-06-06 0:27]

Hi Pekka,

A very nice balanced and composed picture,the snipe (not so common to be) stands out greatly out from the green,tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 409 W: 41 N: 785] (2478)
  • [2008-06-06 0:40]

Dear Pekka,
This is such a cute presenation aptly titled....i always imagine how birds and animals can be unmindful of rain or shine...they carry on and on...i love this capture of the snipe in the rain in a most wonderful green habitat...infact i remember reading Ivan's snipe note that they are extremely shy birds..so maybe the rain was a good reason to stay in car and try capturing them..and this is a superb one..I love that open beak that suggests singing.Great colours and very fine eye contact.Excellent DoF and the rain can be easily felt in the glistening water drops in the environment. I would love to add this to my "Open Up" theme.
Thanks for sharing..

Cheers

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1874 W: 245 N: 6145] (21884)
  • [2008-06-06 1:33]

What a superb shot, Pekka!
This is so brilliant!
The pose is excellent, the composition is spot-on, perfect exposure, great colours, stunning clarity.
Definately going into my favourites!

Exceptionally well done!

Joe

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-06-06 4:01]

Hello Pekka, Beautiful composition and superb focus. I like the way the bird is open with its beak and the way it is enjoying. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 2 N: 466] (2162)
  • [2008-06-06 4:34]

very nice shot! amazing ambiance, colors, focus, details. very well done. tfs

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 786 W: 0 N: 1581] (7256)
  • [2008-06-06 5:05]

Hi Pekka
Beautiful closed of that difficult bird to approach.Good POV and sharp image.Detail and colors are excellent.
TFS Michel

Hello Pekka,

Beautiful close-up of this common snipe. I like very much the low POV. Great sharpness. Splendid composition and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Pekka,
Very good photo.
Decisive moment.
Very well composed.
TFS and a great weekend.
Annick

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2577 W: 170 N: 7864] (24859)
  • [2008-06-07 6:06]

Hello Pekka,
I love this bird and you've captured it very nicely here in the grass while it is calling in a fine pose. Great sharpness and beautiful colours too.
TFS and have a nice weekend! Ulla

I like the Excellent POV & open-beak pose most of all Pekka,
Very good detail, exposure, color, and DOF.
Well composed - Well done!
Howard

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-09 10:15]

Hello Pekka

A very g ood capture of this elusive bird.
The lighting is very good.
You have managed excellent rich colours.
The low pov is wonderful.Great timing to get it while it is calling.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2422 W: 63 N: 3988] (12860)
  • [2008-06-09 23:57]

Hi Pekka,
I liked your low POV, the saturated colors and the pose you captured. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1479 W: 18 N: 3030] (11110)
  • [2008-06-10 10:51]

Hi Pekka

What a wonderful capture and the title fits it perfectly. I love this bird peeping through the lush greens. The low POV is perfect, the composition is lovely and the details in the bird are great.

TFS

Karan

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF