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Soaring above


Soaring above
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3460 W: 145 N: 5905] (17690)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-25 12:23
Viewed: 718
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Australasian Gannet
Morus serrator
Maori Name: Takapu

This wasn’t an easy photo to take, but I was thrilled to get a couple of ‘not so bad’ shots of the gannets in flight.

The Australasian Gannet is a large seabird of about 89cm and weighing nearly 2.5 kg. It is mainly white, with a buff yellow head, and black flight feathers.

The juvenile is spotted above [grey/brown] with brownish streaks below.

The adult plumage takes 3-5 years to develop.

Gannets feed mainly on small fish and some squid taken from deep waters or harbours and estuaries. These birds are plunge divers - they dive vertically from heights of up to 30m entering the water at tremendous speed. They have inflatable air sacs beneath the skin on the lower neck and breast that act as shock absorbers as they enter the water.

Gannets range widely in NZ seas during winter but return to their breeding sites around June/July.

The nests are made within close proximity of other nests, out of seaweed and guano. They usually lay just one egg, incubated for 44 days by both sexes.

The chicks fledge at between 13-17 weeks old where they will fly across the Tasman Sea to Australian waters. They remain there until 3-7 years old when they will return to their breeding site and will breed for the first time at about 5 years old.

There is a lot of chattering in the gannet colony but away from the breeding site the birds are normally silent. Muriwai, in West Auckland, is the mainland colony closest to Auckland.

http://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/Fauna/GannetAustralasian.htm
mogens-j, gerbilratz, MMM, eqshannon, darwin, jusninasirun, bobcat08, ellis49, Royaldevon, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Janice

Excellent in flight capture of this Gannet. Great handling of the light not to burn the white plumage. The wide spread wings as we see them here give a very good sence of the wing span. Nice details all over the bird. Great job.

Yours
Mogens

great shot of the gannet at full stretch...lovely details to the feathers....not an easy shot!! regards and TFS

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 781 W: 0 N: 1554] (7154)
  • [2008-02-25 14:29]

Hello Janice
Nice in flight composition.Good POV and sharp image.Details and colors are nice.
TFS Michel

Kia-Ora Janice,
Beautifully captured on this Gannet with a good inflight pose of it!
the exposure and focus is spot without any OE on the plummage also in good clarity!
most of all, the useful and informative notes is important!
TFS
regards to you and Dave!
Tony

I can see why you were thrilled Janice...It is a magnificent catch and one which you obviously had been hoping for...it shows in both the image and in your words...and on to me...yes I see it too...very nicely done Janice!
bob

  • Great 
  • darwin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 252 W: 0 N: 465] (1756)
  • [2008-02-25 16:28]

Hi Janice
Great in flight action shot
Fine detail and sharpness
Nice natural color tfs jon

Hello Janice,

Your gallery is full of top quality images. I enjoyed looking at them.

This is first class image of bird in flight. Stunning against the spotless blue sky. I like the sharpness and details in full spread wings. Awesome plumage here.

Regards,
Jusni

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1294 W: 0 N: 5036] (15024)
  • [2008-02-25 22:34]

Hi Janice


Very good action shot - good POV with wonderful detail/frozen action and well handled exposure.

TFS

James

Hello Janice,

Wow............what a nice inflight capture of this Gannet. And I'm agree what Jamesp said in his critiques: "Good POV with wonderful detail/frozen action and well handled exposure" Wonderful photo. Well done. Greetings and TFS BOB

Hi Janice.
A very nice in-flight shot with good handling of the whites.
The bird seems enjoy cruising with the spreed wings.
Well composed with good POV.
Lovely work, old friend.

Still a warm and windy winter up here.

/Gert

Good in flight Gannet, Janice.
Sharp, good light and a beautiful blue sky.
TFS
Annick

Hello Janice,

This shot really captures the grace and elegance of a large bird in flight! I'm sure it was difficult, but worth the effort!

The wing span is shown to its maximum and how streamlined the body is!

Good handling of the light so the white is not overexposed.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)
Many thanks for your warm comments on my robin shot! I agree with you, they are the cutest of birds!

Hi Janice,

I love these birrds, but have never actually seen one. This is a great in-flight shot with stunning detail in the feathers, nice colours and perfect composition.

Mike

Hi Janice,
I think it's a great inflight Janice. You have under-estimated its merit. Nice inflight pose with very good DOF, color, detail, comp, and exposed well..
Well done!
Howard

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