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Same Coot - Different Colour


Same Coot - Different Colour
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: 2008-07-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-14 3:15
Viewed: 435
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Australian Coot in New Zealand
Fulica atra australis

This is the same Coot that I photographed here. These two photos were taken 14 seconds apart.

As you can see, it looks totally different. Here the bird is facing me and his feathers are shaped backwards, while the other photo he is swimming sideways to me and I think the sun has hit his feathers side on – well that’s my theory why the bird looks so different in each photo.

Out of all the 10 photos I kept of the coots that day, only 4 of them show the birds with their dark colours.

Feeding and habitat
Coots dive to gather aquatic plants or invertebrates, which they bring back to the surface to swallow. They also graze ashore. Shallow bays on medium-sized lakes with plenty of raupo (Maori for Bulrush) and other shelter are their usual habitat, but they also visit lakes in urban parks. Most long-distance flying is done at night.

Nesting
Coots make floating nests of twigs and raupo attached to lake vegetation such as willow, and usually raise two clutches. I think their babies are the ugliest I have seen – considering how attractive the adults are (IMO).

Australian Coots (self-introduced from Australia to New Zealand) have been breeding in New Zealand since the late 1950s and today are found throughout the country. It is now considered a New Zealand native. By 2005, around 2,000 were scattered on lakes throughout both main islands of New Zealand.
cataclysta, jconceicao, mayuresh, eqshannon, Luis52, haraprasan, uleko, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Janice,

Fantastic capture.Lighting,colours and sharpness are excellent.I liked very much.

Hello Janice,
excellent action shot with great details,wonderful reflection,very nice focusing,
well done,
tfs

You're waiting until spring comes are you not? My B'Day is tomorrow..15th of July... and fall seems to come quickly after that (*63)...Very nice image Janice...It is a deceivingly good angle..One has to look twice..or more of course to completely incorporate..very good.
Bob

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 5 N: 2876] (10399)
  • [2008-07-14 15:32]

Hola Janice.
Lovely photo. Great effect like a mirror. I aloso like the colors on the head.
Very sharp and excellent light.
Luis52.

Hi Janice,
A nice top frontal POV capture of this coot. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Janice
A ship in a harbour ;-)I like square crop. Nice mirror effect. Unusual POV and good note
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2008-07-15 3:51]

Hello Janice,
I like the way this one is facing you and that look in his eyes!! Very nice and sharp and the colours are beautiful as well as the reflection in the water. Well done!
TFS and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 4 N: 2512] (11673)
  • [2008-07-15 4:01]

Hello Janice, super details and what a reflection in the water. amazing. Ganesh

Different day, different color..same cool Coot!
Excellent exposure of the black plummage, nice detail and I like the POV with reflection here..Actually makes em' look a little loopy, those red eyes seem to be crossed slightly :)
Well done!
Howard

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2008-07-17 3:57]

Hello Janice,
Nice to see this Coot from another angle, which makes the feathers look distinctly darker. I agree with your theory the differences between the shades of grey and black must depend on the viewing angles.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 3 N: 427] (1335)
  • [2008-07-18 3:28]

Hi Janice,
This one is also wonderful.Two eyes are seen here.Well caught and composed.
Thanks for posting.

Bonjour Janice
Merci pour cette belle photo vue de fac.
Les détails sont impeccables
Bravo
Amicalement
Laurent

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