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From The Depths Of The Archives....


From The Depths Of The Archives....
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3817 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-09-19 6:14
Viewed: 1359
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Skylark (Alauda arvensis)

At least 1000 birds were introduced into New Zealand between 1864 and 1875 and they quickly became well established throughout the country. They are now very common in open country, farmland, tussock grassland, sand dunes and sub-alpine herb fields.

This dull, yellow-buff bird is streaked and spotted brown on the upperparts and breast. The adult has a small crest, raised when alert. In flight the white outer tail feathers and white trailing edge to the broad wings can be seen. During territorial flight

displays between August and January, the male soars high and slowly descends, all the time singing a continuous trilling song.

The other call is a liquid “chirrup” usually made in flight.

The diet is mainly seeds of grass, cereals, sedges, clover and weeds. This is supplemented with invertebrates such as beetles, flies, spiders, bugs and larvae of flies, beetles and moths. Skylarks cause damage to crops.

Some pairs remain on territory all year and breed together year after year. The female builds a neat grass lined cup nest in a small depression in the ground, often concealed by an overhanging clump of grass, rush or tussock. Between September and January,
2-3 clutches of 2-5 greyish eggs, heavily speckled brown are laid. The female incubates for c 11 days and both parents feed the nestlings. They leave the nest at 9-10 days old but do not fly until c 20 days old. The young breed at one year old.

The Skylark lives and breeds on Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Vital Statistics

Conservation Status: Common European Introduction
Mainland Status: Widespread and locally abundant
Size: 18cm, 38g
Life Span: Not known in NZ, in Europe one was recorded at 8 yrs
Breeding: September - February

The above obtained from http://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/Fauna/Skylark.htm

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 11:59 a.m.
Date: 30th October 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/800
F-Stop: F/6.3
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 200
Support: Hand Held
Original file type: Digital Raw
takos1, horia, goldfinchtr, mikou, peter_stoeckl, vanderschelden, ddg, dew77, TAZ, marmottelolo, Luc, fthsm has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Pam,
beautiful catch the bird is very clear the colors good.
Thank you, Arnaud.

Bellissima foto. Bei dettagli nittida e colori naturali. complimenti ciao gigicacco

Ottima foto, Pam!
Il soggetto si stacca bene dallo sfondo, bravo!

Ciao e grazie.

Franco

Hi Pam,
There is very good details on this bird with nice composition and colors. It worthed to take it out from your archives. Good notes too. Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2175 W: 221 N: 4385] (14914)
  • [2006-09-19 7:48]

Hi Pam

A very beautiful portrait of a very cute little bird you have here! Indeed a very pleasant composition.
I love the POV and the pose of the subject...a little inquisitive of your intenssions :))
The details asre super sharp, the focus is perfect hence the excellent DOF that leaves the BG lovely OOF. THe framing is also great, hust like the exposure.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hi Pam,

It is really interesting with its introduced history. However I have never seen a Alauda arvensis like this. Is this a different sub species or did you change something (hue, saturation) in PS? Especially golden coloured wings and black striped cheek seems different to me, also white color of the body!

Anyway a very good capture from you, thanks for sharing and keep in touch,

regards,
Emin

Nice shot, Pam!
Ralf

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 67 N: 1311] (5269)
  • [2006-09-19 9:11]

Hi Pam,
very nice bird of archives :)
Superb BG, nice colours,perfect sharpening and good details.
Wery nice, thanks.

Greetings, Milos

Hello Pam,
Very nice portrait. Superb composition and pov. Sharp and crisp clear image. Natural and vibrant colors. Regards,
JC

Hi Pam,
very lively shot, perfectly clear details in very beautiful soft natural colours. WOnderful portrait of the skylark.
Thank you! Best regards,
Peter

Pam,
Great as always.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2006-09-19 12:21]

Hi Pam, great shot one more!! I like the harmonious colors and the pose of the bird looking at you. Sharpness and composition are good, well done. Best regards, Didier.

  • Great 
  • pvb Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 376 W: 16 N: 495] (1861)
  • [2006-09-19 14:41]

Hello,

Nice image! Very good details, colours an bg. I also like the composition here.
Thanks for sharing.
Paula

Hi Pam,
Very illustrative picture! Excellent POV and DOF! Wonderful colours! Well done!

Regards,
João

Hi Pam,
Exellent bird picture.Nice composition and amazing colours. Congratulations,

hAyAti

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-09-19 16:18]

Belle composition,lapose del'oiseau est parfaite et la netteté est excellente.
Merci Pam!
joseph

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-09-19 21:23]

Hi Pam

Another beauty.I like the light dark component of this photo.Lovely BG and excellent DOF really helps give detail to this skylark.Nicely composed and framed.TFS

Rob

Very nice bird and contrst picture

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-09-20 1:57]

Hello Pam,
You put in archives a such beautiful shot, poor bird ;-) As always, impossible to find problem in your great shots well presented in their smart frame.
Congratulations Pam and TFS.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-09-20 1:59]

Hello Pam,
Wonderful capture.I liked proud pose of bird,clear details,eye contact,sharpness,simple BG,3D effect,framing and composition a lot.
TFS...:-)

Good morning Pam,

The details are nice, clear and sharp.
superb colours, lighting and exposure. The POV is good.
Well composed, good notes and great framing.
Thanks for posting, have a great week.

Hello Pam,

Very nice picture of this Skylark! You managed the exposition remarkably well and the nice green blurry bg enhances so much the bird. Maybe you cropped too much near the feet and the tail but it is minor in my opinion...
Good job and TFS,

Michel

hi pam
excellente netteté,jolie pose de l'oiseau.
les couleurs du BG detache bien le sujet.bien vu et bravo.
laurent

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 147 W: 47 N: 435] (2917)
  • [2006-10-11 0:50]

I just saw this beauty. Very very nice photo Pam.

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