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Honey Buzzard


Honey Buzzard
Photo Information
Copyright: Tom Conzemius (pirate) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 451 W: 100 N: 575] (2917)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, 300 mm 1:2.8 with 1.4 CANON extender
Exposure: f/4, 1/3000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Hamlyn Guide - Birds of prey [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-09-27 5:08
Viewed: 1169
Points: 80
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Honey Buzzard adult male
aged by dark bill, yellow eye and primary pattern,
sexed by grey head and primary pattern: very well defined black sub-terminal bar clear cut on the fingers of the wing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers.

Despite its name, this species is not related to the true buzzards in the genus Buteo, and is closer to the kites.

It is a summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa. It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps, although it will take other small prey. The specific name apivorus means "bee-eater", although bees are much less important than wasps in its diet.

The Honey Buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. Breeding males are fiercely territorial.

The underside of a honey buzzard.The 52-60 cm long Honey Buzzard is larger and longer winged (with a 135-150 cm wingspan) than the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo. It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a longer tail, which has fewer bars than the Buteo buzzard, usually with two narrow dark bars and a broad dark sub-terminal bar.

Interestingly, the sexes can be distinguished on plumage, which is unusual for a large bird of prey. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.

Being a long distance migrant, the Honey Buzzard relies on magnetic orientation to find it's way south, as well as a visual memory of remarkable geographical features along the way (Mountain ranges, rivers etc...). This species follows precise migratory routes that avoid large expanses of water over which it cannot soar. Accordingly, great numbers of Honey buzzards can be seen crossing the Mediterranean sea over its narrowest stretches, such as the Gibraltar Strait, the Bosphorus, or in Israel. It faces many problems when on its way to Africa, such as hunting, especially around the Mediterranean Sea, the weather, and the long Sahara Desert crossing.

The call is a clear peee-lu.
kjpweb, lise, undoredo, M_Detay, livios, nglen, MMM, rousettus, jmirah, CeltickRanger, Adanac, scottevers7, PaulH, warnzy, Necipp, thiv56, jeanpaul, Alex99, Argus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To warnzy: how to get good picturespirate 1 10-04 04:55
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Critiques [Translate]

A beauty! His head looks almost like that of a pigeon, if it were not for the bill! Most excellent in detail, shot with beautiful light. Kudos! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 139 W: 50 N: 384] (2310)
  • [2007-09-27 5:36]

When I saw this photo, I really wanted to be in Europe to watch migration. TFS Tom, very beautiful.

  • Great 
  • lise Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 185 W: 51 N: 552] (2717)
  • [2007-09-27 6:09]

Hi Tom,
Amazing action shot! The sharpness and details in the feathers are great!
Great work, very well done
Lise

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 364 W: 0 N: 164] (2206)
  • [2007-09-27 6:56]

Very good capture! Sharp and technically wonderful

hi tom,

i agree with klaus' pigeon comparison,funny!:-)
this is an outstanding eye shot,concentration in flight!beautiful!
tfs
caroline

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1149 W: 254 N: 2555] (11569)
  • [2007-09-27 7:29]

Hi Tom,

An excellent capture with good colors and detail.very sharp and a nice blue BG,well done and tfs

Paul

Hi Tom,
very succesful shot of this buzzard.
It is perfectly sharp.
Combined with the blue sky the image is just great.

TFS Tatjana

Hi Tom,
Wow, what an wonderful shot!!
Outstanding details and sharpness, clean BG and nice compo, your note is also great.
TFS and warm regards,
Kevin

Hi Tom,
Very well done. Congratulation.
Best wishes. Cheers.
Michel

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2007-09-27 11:39]

Tom, this flying pictures are really great, and you did a perfect job here. Excellent exposure, sharpness, dof and contrast. Beutiful sky treasuring even more the beauty of the bird.

Congratulations.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1215 W: 68 N: 2524] (8319)
  • [2007-09-27 11:46]

Hello Tom,
This is a wonderful photo of the Honey Buzzard. Sharpness, exposure and colours are amazing. Very good composition, POV and BG.
Regards,
Peter

Bonjour Tom, décidément tu deviens le spécialiste des rapaces, ce buzzard est magnifique, j'adore son oeil et les beaux détails sur son poitrail, superbe lumière et magnifique ciel bleu en arrière plan,
bravo,
amicalement,
Pat

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 5 N: 5602] (21160)
  • [2007-09-27 12:57]

Hi Tom. you have done so well in this one. the light is spot on. with fine detail and sharp focusing. your timing is first class. with natural colours and a nice POV.well done TFs. good notes too.
Nick..

Hi Tom,joli ce buzzard,le moment du shot est parfait car on dirai qu'il a repéré son repas.Bravo,ecxellent shot
Tfs
Mich

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 758 W: 0 N: 1515] (6934)
  • [2007-09-27 14:30]

Hi Tom
Rxcellent in flight capture.Your subject is very sharp with great details in the plumage.The light is great.
TFS Michel

striking pic, TFS Ori

Hi Tom,
perfect capture. everything wonderful. I like especially vivid colored eye. 4/4.
congratulations. TFS
well done
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1718 W: 24 N: 5002] (16380)
  • [2007-09-28 1:55]

Hi Tom,
Outstanding in-flight shot of this Honey Buzzard with sharp details and colours on its plumage and wings. The wings look huge and I like the expression on its eyes. Superb lighting, neat focus and a great pose captured. Excellent POV to portray it against the blue sky as BG and a precise DOF. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Tom
Excellent action shot
superb sharpness and detail
tfs jon

Hi Tom
Perfectly sharp image. Great exposure. Technicelly fantastic. I like the compo and blue sky
Nothing to critique :-) Very good job
Best wishes
Krzsztof

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 747] (3202)
  • [2007-09-28 10:48]

Bonjour Tom
Excellente prise, couleurs netteté et attitude du sujet, preuve que ton équipement et parfaitement adapté. Amicalement Robi

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 5 N: 901] (3574)
  • [2007-09-28 14:18]

Hi Tom,
Great capture of the bird in flight. Excellent POV with fine color and detail. Very well done.

TFS
Jim

bonjour Tom

par l'angle que ta photo est prise, par ce regard féroce,
par la netteté et les détails de ce busard, par le cadrage,
ceci est une superbe photo en vol, merci

Asbed

quelle merveille cette buse en plein vol, netteté parfaite, belles couleurs, bravo++ et merci a toi
bon dimanche, amitiès
edith

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1052 W: 1 N: 4179] (14054)
  • [2007-09-29 18:43]

Hello Tom,
Marvelous in flight capture giving us a crisp and clear view of this beautiful Raptor, thanks.
Rick

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-09-30 10:08]

Hello Tom

The eye is striking and catches my eye immediately.The focus is spot on with wonderful detail.The colours are rich.A beautiful in flight capture.TFS

Rob

Hi Tom,
An excellent in flight shot on this Honey Buzzard. Great color and detail in the plumage. He really stands out with that perfect blue sky backround. Nice camera work.
Scott

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1032 W: 26 N: 3016] (10874)
  • [2007-10-01 9:00]

Hi Tiom,
seems i've missed a whole bunch of amazing Raptor shots from you somehow. This one is excellent. Superb exposure and shrapness of focus is very impressive. Excellent work.
Paul

Hi Tom,

I'd love to know how you manage to capture so many amazing images. This is another fine example: great detail and sharpness and the colours and lighting are simply stunning. This is the kind of work I aspire to.

Kind regards,

Mike

Hello Tom excellent sharpness and nice light on the head with good detail good close crop and composition tfs rgds Necip

Hello Tom.
Wonderful capture. Awesome sharpness and detail. I like the look on his face and his big yellow eye. Very well done.
Regards, Steve.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1331 W: 108 N: 4848] (21470)
  • [2007-10-03 16:09]

Incredible shot Tom, so sharp and so well exposed. Your POV is just perfect and details of the plummage is 10/10 ! GREAT !

Mario

Hello Tom!

Great shot, whit excellent POV and DOF! TFS.

Salut Tom
Excellente prise ,les détail du plumage sont parfait et l'exposition est sans reproche.

Merci et et au revoir...JP

Hi Tom,
This is an amazing shot of a beautiful bird. So sharp and focused.
Nick :-)

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3052 W: 148 N: 4559] (14727)
  • [2007-10-12 0:31]

Hi Tom.
I can only to dream about such in-flight pictured. Yours is superb. I like all. Great sharpness and details of the bird, amazing pose of the wings, excellent lighting, saturation and exposure. Bravo. Superb job.
Alexei.

Ripresa FANTASTICA!!!

Complimenti e grazie, ciao, Emanuele

  • Great 
  • kona Silver Star Critiquer [C: 37 W: 3 N: 0] (865)
  • [2007-10-16 14:59]

Splendid decisive moment and great using shutter speed! Best wishes, kona

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2620 W: 135 N: 7538] (23519)
  • [2007-10-17 3:45]

Hello Tom,
A superb in-flight shot of a Honey Buzzard, a raptor that I ahve only photographed at a distance. You not only took a close shot, you captured it sharply, with good lighting and colours and set it in an excellent composition.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan

Woooow , very good !

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