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The kid is back


The kid is back
Photo Information
Copyright: Livio Soares de Medeiros (livios) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Exposure: f/8, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-02 22:56
Viewed: 1038
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Getting this shot was not easy at all. This is a very young one. Its father (or mother) was around, but, so far, I couldn't shoot it.

In order to take this shot, firstly, I watched the bird's route. I realized that, from time to time, it would land on the same tree. So I waited for it to go away and got close to the tree. But there were too many branches, twigs and leaves, so that I had to remove them. After doing so, I waited for some five to seven minutes. The guy came back, but the shots were not good, because of the leaves and twigs that remained close to the bird, on the foreground. The kingfisher went away and I tried to capture the adult one. Since it was not possible, I was about to come back home when I decided to give the young one another try. This is one of the shots.
_____

The American green kingfishers are the Chloroceryle genus of kingfishers, which are native to tropical Central and South America, with one species extending north to south Texas.

They comprise four species:

Amazon Kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona
Green Kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana
Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Chloroceryle inda
American Pygmy Kingfisher, Chloroceryle aenea
These water kingfishers are clearly descended from a common ancestor, probably an Asiatic Alcedinid, and are similar in plumage and habits. All four have overlapping ranges, and may fish the same waters; however the weight ratio of aenea: americana: inda: amazona is almost exactly 1:2:4:8, which prevents direct competition for food. The Ringed Kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata, a more distant relative, also occurs on the same rivers, but is twice as heavy as the Amazon Kingfisher.

A study in Brazil trapped all four kingfishers in the ratio 1:4:4:9 for amazona: aenea: inda: americana, which suggests that the abundance in undisturbed areas is also related to size, giving about the same biomass of each species.

The American green kingfishers breed by streams in forests or mangroves, nesting in a long horizontal tunnel made in a river bank.

They have the typical kingfisher shape, with a short tail and long bill. All are plumaged oily green above, and the underpart colour shows an interesting pattern in that the smallest and second largest, American Pygmy Kingfisher and Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, have rufous underparts, whereas the largest and second smallest, Amazon Kingfisher and Green Kingfisher, have white underparts with only the males also having a rufous breast band.

These birds take crustaceans and fish caught by the usual kingfisher technique of a dive from a perch or brief hover, although the American Pygmy Kingfisher will hawk at insects in flight.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroceryle)
marcoc, red45, coasties, dew77, fiyo, wallhalla15, scottevers7, Dave, hummingbird24, SkyF, nofer, moemf, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3100 W: 234 N: 5929] (20008)
  • [2006-03-03 2:06]

Congratulations, Livio. Your patience paid off.
Great shot of this young kingfisher. I love the sharp details and iridescent colors on the feathers. Great POV and close-up. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • marcoc (36)
  • [2006-03-03 3:01]

Hi Livio,
you took a good picture in a difficult condition. Thank you for the notes you wrote, I think that there are good tips for us in order to shoot at birds.
TFS

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 75 N: 7977] (26973)
  • [2006-03-03 3:16]

Hi Livio!
This is what I like most - a great picture with good story. This kid looks really cute.

Hi Livio

Sounds like you realy went to some length to capture this youngster. Well done on having the patience. You were rewarded with a pleasing result. TFS.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-03-03 6:25]

Hello Livio!
Very nice capture.Clear details,POV,catchlight in eyes,
sharpness and composition are wonderful.I know it's very
hard to catch them so close.Recently I am only hearing
their noises and have a long way;)
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 956 W: 5 N: 2365] (8834)
  • [2006-03-03 7:19]

Hello Livio,
Wonderful capture.POV,colors,sharpness and composition are excellent.TFS

Very nice portrait shot Livio, great sharpness and POV, well captured too. Thank you for sharing. Have a great weekend.

Hi Livio,
All that hard work paid off with excellent results. Very sharp detail in this spot on exposure. The colors look great. The light blue OOF backround really makes him stand out well. Nice work my friend!
Scott

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 47 N: 674] (2171)
  • [2006-03-03 10:07]

Sounds like some real dedication went into the attempts to get this shot Livio! Looks like it payed off nicely! Very nice shot! Your efforts are appreciated mf.
Thanks,
Dave

Sorry about the difficult conditions, but you really got some great detail in the young kingfisher. I was going up the Rio Madre de Dios by Puerto Maldonado and had opprotunity to get a kingfisher shot but every time the darn thing landed it was behind branches or leaves. I still think you got a nice shot Livio. :)

A great capture, Livio! Just personal taste, but I prefer to see the whole bird.

Patience is often the key to photographing birds -- standing still and letting the birds to come to you. I find they often don't notice me as long as I don't move. I have been considering getting camoflage clothing. :o)

hi livio
chouette portrait ,details, couleurs et netteté superbes.
bon week end.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 787 W: 31 N: 20] (5002)
  • [2006-03-03 13:54]

Hi Livio,
very nice portrait of kingfisher, young one. Good DOF, composition and colours. I like it. Good capture and well done. Great shot.
Rgs, Aleksander

Hello Livio,

Your efforts paid off well, as this is a wonderful closeup of the youngster.

Exceptional details, exposure, pov, BG and pose.

Well done and thank you for sharing him with us!

Have a great weekend mf, I will report soon on the lens.

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 884 W: 2 N: 616] (2070)
  • [2006-03-03 15:29]

Hello Livio ,lovely photo from the bird
good details his eye pov and colours very good ,nice weekend Teunie .

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-03-03 15:35]

Hi Livio,
excellent close up, wonderful sharpness and POV.
Your patiance paid off its a beauty to look at.
Sky

Hi Livio,
Very quick visit.
Well worth a big Smile.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

fantastic kid Livio,
the shot is well cropped, good taken fine, details good dof, very good job I like it,
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • nofer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1219 W: 367 N: 805] (2225)
  • [2006-03-04 20:08]

Esta é realmente a sua praia...!!! Você é muito bom fotografo! (já comentei isso) mas pássaros você supera!!!
Está ótimo, boa definição, POV, cores
Uma excelente composição
TFS
Reynaldo

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 160] (701)
  • [2006-03-05 12:36]

Hi Livio

Excellent work. TFS. Good to see you're so patient and that it paid off. Great POV and DOF.

Reinier

Hi Livio,
wow, so close and so sharp.
The feathers are beautiful, they have a golden glance. It's such a pretty bird, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Livio,
I guess I missed some of your posts..
Very well composed, with an excellent POV. Great color and exposure, sharp details. Good DOF, with a nice BG. Very nicely done!

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