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Whimbrel


Whimbrel
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 279 W: 21 N: 1018] (3161)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Sigma EX 500mm f4.5 APO HSM, RAW ISO 400, Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG 1.4x
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-02 0:50
Viewed: 293
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A Whimbrel at RSPB Elmley Marshes nature reserve.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is the one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland.

This is a migratory species wintering on coasts in Africa, South America, south Asia into Australasia and southern North America. It is also a coastal bird during migration. It is fairly gregarious outside the breeding season.

Description
This is a large wader at 37-45 cm length. It is mainly greyish brown, with a white back and rump (subspecies N. p. phaeopus and N. p. alboaxillaris only), and a long curved bill (longest in the adult female) with a kink rather than a smooth curve. It is generally wary. The usual call is a rippling whistle, prolonged into a trill for the song.

The only similar common species over most of this bird's range are larger curlews. The Whimbrel is smaller, has a shorter, decurved bill and has a central crown stripe and strong supercilia.

Subspecies
There are four subspecies:
• Numenius phaeopus phaeopus - northern Europe, northwestern Asia
• Numenius phaeopus variegatus - northeastern Asia
• Numenius phaeopus alboaxillaris - central Asia (rare, endangered)
• Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus (Hudsonian Curlew) - northern North America

Ecology
This species feeds by probing soft mud for small invertebrates and by picking small crabs and similar prey off the surface. Prior to migration, berries become an important part of their diet.
The nest is a bare scrape on tundra or Arctic moorland. Three to five eggs are laid. Adults are very defensive of nesting area and will even attack humans who come too close.

Near the end of the 19th century, hunting on their migration routes took a heavy toll on this bird's numbers; the population has since recovered.
In the British Isles it breeds in Scotland, particularly around Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides as well as the mainland at Sutherland and Caithness.

The Whimbrel is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
eng55, SelenE, haraprasan, sandpiper2, vanderschelden, Gert-Paassen, uleko, jaycee has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 351 W: 3 N: 375] (1121)
  • [2008-07-02 0:54]

Hi Pekka,
Excellent capture of this whimbrel.Low level POV is very nice.I liked details,BG,framing and composition also a lot.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2304 W: 59 N: 3674] (11774)
  • [2008-07-02 1:17]

Hi Pekka,
I liked your frontal POV, pose you captured, warm color tones and the lighting.TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

great capture, TFS Ori

Hi Pekka,
Nice capture of this Whimbrel, good POV and eye contact, good exposure and details
well done
TFS and regards
Jean-Michel

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 196 W: 2 N: 501] (1904)
  • [2008-07-02 1:55]

Hello Pekka,
Beautiful natural shot - very clear and colorful. Fantastic composition and great details. Superb colors. Well done & TFS!
Siggi

Hi Pekka,
A lovely capture of this beautiful bird. Excellent sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Pekka

Excellent front-on shot of the whimbrel
Great sharpness and plumage details
Great POV
Great background

Chris

Beautiful, Pekka.
Excellent POV and DOF...
TFS
Annick

Hello Pekka,
A fantastic photo of this Whimbrel. Sharpness, details, natural colours, OOF BG and low POV are excellent. Great composition. Very, very good!
Regards,
Peter

Hello Pekka,

Good capture and beautiful pov and dof.

Gert

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2369 W: 164 N: 7114] (22494)
  • [2008-07-02 11:08]

Hej Pekka!
What a superb shot of this Whimbrel in a pose not often seen. I like the low POV and the sharp focus. Excellent details and colours and a fine composition. I really like this!!
TFS and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1681 W: 8 N: 4318] (14043)
  • [2008-07-02 12:37]

Hi Pekka,

A wonderful pose and frontal view of this Whimbrel. The earthtone colors are beautiful. Excellent details from head to toe. The face,eye, beak, plummage and legs are all superb. Wonderful natural setting and composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1580 W: 242 N: 5278] (18595)
  • [2008-07-02 13:19]

Hi Pekka!
Great capture of this Whimbrel!!
I never knew they came so far south... but obviously they do :-)
Excellent sharpness and clarity.
Superb composition.
Perfect lighting.

Well done!!

Joe

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 839 W: 4 N: 2079] (9752)
  • [2008-07-03 10:09]

Hello Pekka,
This is just beautiful and fine. Superb shot of this bird with excellent colors. Ganesh

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