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Take off


Take off
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 385 W: 53 N: 1543] (4957)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM, RAW ISO 640, Canon EF 1.4x Extender II
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-19 1:13
Viewed: 287
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
An adult Dunlin taking off at RSPB Elmley Marshes nature reserve. A very heavy terrential rain was hammering the pond and the birds were trying to take cover. This bird is still in breeding plumage which has started to moult.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa and southeast Asia. Birds that breed in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic migrate short distances to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America.

Behavior
The Dunlin is highly gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks on coastal mudflats or sandy beaches. Large numbers can often be seen swirling in synchronized flight on stop-overs during migration or on their winter habitat.

This bird is one of the most common and best-known waders throughout its breeding and wintering ranges, and it is the species with which other waders tend to be compared. At 17-21 cm length and a 32-36 cm wingspan, it is similar in size to a Common Starling, but stouter, with a thick bill.

The Dunlin moves along the coastal mudflat beaches it prefers with a characteristic "sewing machine" feeding action, methodically picking small food items. Insects form the main part of the Dunlin's diet on the nesting grounds; it eats mollusks, worms and crustaceans in coastal areas.

Appearance
An adult Dunlin in breeding plumage shows the distinctive black belly which no other similar-sized wader possesses. The winter Dunlin is basically grey above and white below. Juveniles are brown above with two whitish "V" shapes on the back. They usually have black marks on the flanks or belly and show a strong white wingbar in flight

The legs and slightly decurved bill are black. There are a number of subspecies differing mainly in the extent of rufous coloration in the breeding plumage and the bill length. It should, however, be noted that bill length varies between sexes, the females having longer bills than the males.

Nesting
The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground lined with vegetation, into which typically four eggs are laid and incubated by the male and female parents. Chicks are precocial, however are brooded during early development. They start to fly at approximately three weeks of age. The majority of brood care is provided by the male, as the female deserts the brood and often leaves the breeding area.

The call is a typical sandpiper "peep", and the display song a harsh trill.

The Dunlin is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Apparent hybrids between this species and the White-rumped Sandpiper as well as with the Purple Sandpiper have been reported from the Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe, respectively.
Seabird, robindb, uleko, jaycee, nglen, gracious, Evelynn, gannu, Gert-Paassen has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Evelynn: Thanks for your commentpekkavalo1 2 08-21 09:19
To joey: Thanks for your commentpekkavalo1 2 08-19 04:14
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi, Pekka,

a beautiful capture with good composition and details. the rain drops on the ground add a sense of smoothness and a good atmosphere to the photo. thanks for sharing.

chrs,
Man Yee

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1868 W: 245 N: 6128] (21836)
  • [2008-08-19 2:01]
  • [+]

Hi Pekka,
lovely sharp capture of this Dunlin.
I love the bubbling water.
Excellent DOF and spot-on focusing.
Great timing.

Well done,

Joe

p.s Are you still up for Saturday?

Hi Pekka.

Well done on getting such good detail in such adverse weather. Good composition and good choice of exposure settings. Can you send some of that rain our way, we need it badly.

TFS

Robin

Hi Pekka
Nice action shot of this beautiful bird.
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2575 W: 170 N: 7847] (24815)
  • [2008-08-19 7:39]

Hej Pekka,
What a splendid and well-timed shot of this Dunlin in the rain!! Excellent sharpness and fine colours. I like the effect of the rain on the water too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Pekka, this is a wonderful bit of timing to get this bird about to take flight... The colours are well defined and clean, sharp and well focused. The water is impressive, it looks like wet pebbles... super composition.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1897 W: 8 N: 4947] (15987)
  • [2008-08-19 9:46]

Hi Pekka,

Beautiful shot of this Dunlin on take-off. You timed it just perfectly. The bird is wonderful with nice natural colors, sharp details and a great pose. The rain on the water makes a great background.

Jane

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2124 W: 9 N: 5953] (22504)
  • [2008-08-19 12:10]

Hi Pekka. A good close up of the Dunlin with its wings up showing us the white under side on one and the top of the other. a nice POV .good detail ain the feathers with natural looking colours.well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Pekka,
This is truly a sharp image of the Dunlin taking off! great moment indeed just before the legs left the water with flapping wings!
I loved this shot!
many thanks for sharing with a good notes
take care and sincere regards
Tony

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1419 W: 126 N: 5215] (23093)
  • [2008-08-20 18:23]

Hello Pekka! Very good details on this fine bird shot, great exposure and fantastc sharpness, well done, thanks!!

Mario

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2568] (11866)
  • [2008-08-20 21:30]

Hello Pekka, I am not sure it is take off or just refuelling their tank. The water shades or ripples or bubbles what ever you call is amazingly presented here. Excellent sharp picture and the bird in the frame with the action is brilliantly shown here. The composition and the colors are superb. Ganesh

Hi, Pekka,

Lovely pose of this bird and razor sharp.
Great timing.

Gert

I really like the patterns you captured in both the water and the bird, Pekka. Nice action shot... How did you keep your equipment dry in that weather?

TFS
Evelynn ; )

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