High in the Eucalypts

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High in the Eucalypts
Photo Information
Copyright: John Plumb (JPlumb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 658 W: 171 N: 916] (2823)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D-200, Nikkor AF Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Exposure: f/3.3, 1/45 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-06 19:10
Viewed: 524
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus) is a tiny bird, most often high in a Eucalypt Canopy, so it is said to be more often detected by its characteristic call. The wings, tail and head of the male are black and covered with small, distinct white spots. Males have a pale eyebrow, a yellow throat and a red rump. I believe this is a male. Females are similar but have less distinct markings.

These birds are found in Eastern and Southern Australia. They are found in Eucalypt forests and woodlands but are said to occur in parks and gardens with well established Eucalypt canopies.

They forage on the foliage of trees for insects, especially for psyllids.

The nest is an enlarged, lined chamber at the end of a narrow tunnel, excavated in an earth bank. Sometimes they nest in tree hollows and occasionally in artificial structures. Both parents share nest-building, incubation of the eggs and feeding of the young when they hatch.

I saw this guy in the Blue Mountains National Park, in Glenbrook, while walking down the Euroka Creek trail to the Nepean River. The way the trail wound down to the river, we were exposed to the upper portions of trees in some spots. This is where I saw this guy. It was dark in the bush and I didn’t have a tripod, so I basically held my breath and fired.

Much of this from: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=118
Bird Call from: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/pardalotus-punctatus.mp3
ID from: Simpson K. and Day N. (2004), Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Penguin Books, Camberwell.

Workflow for this shot was as follows:
The shoot – shot in Raw with Jpeg reference (105 mm f3.3 1/45)
NEF file adjusted for exposure and shadow, and vignetting
Adjusted levels for black and white points, midpoint for RGB set to 105 (for a little more light)
Adjusted curves for contrast
Burned and Dodged with overlay layer (5% opacity black and white brush)
Added saturation layer +15 to master
Saved as a tiff
For this post, cropped, resized, created a new layer, sharpened with USM and masked down certain areas with 30-70% opacity black brush), framed and saved as a jpeg
rcrick, mvdisco, Jamesp, Luis52, mlines, pablominto, jusninasirun, rousettus, pierrefonds, Adanac has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 546 W: 39 N: 955] (3136)
  • [2008-02-06 19:21]

Hi John;
Excellent shot of this Spotted Pardalote, I had a pair of these nesting in my front garden in Sydney in the bank of the retaining wall, stunning little bird, really nice POV in amongst the Eucalypt leaves, there pretty quick movers glad you got the shot off, nice work Cheers Rick :)

Hi John,
Beautiful picture nicely composed and presented of this Spotted Pardalote, Excellent POV, and details with beautiful colors and sharp picture,
well done.
Michel

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1185 W: 0 N: 4325] (12672)
  • [2008-02-07 2:19]

Hi John

Excellent posting showing the bird in its habitat. Good POV, detail and colour.

James

Hola John.
Una especie de ave nueva para mi. Los colores son muy bellos y la pose en el arbol tambien.
Tu nota escrita es muy educativa.
Saludos John.
Luis52.

Hi John,

Good shot of the spotted pardalote in his environment. Great light on the subject which provides nice vivid colours and an excellent capture of the eye. Well done!

Lise

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 494 W: 15 N: 528] (2376)
  • [2008-02-07 13:55]

Hi John, A good clean view of this delicate-looking bird. It is good you are able to identify so many of our bird species. The lighting is ideal and many details of its plumage can be seen. The size puts into proper context. TFS. Murray.

Hello John,
The image shows the bird well in it's natural environment!
Good point of view and a well composed presentation, good details in the plumage...
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hello John,

Capturing small birds are difficult especially when the like hopping around on leafy foliage of the tree. You have managed a good clear shot at it in natural environment. All the foreground busyness have been eliminated with good perch and sharpness for us to see. Well done.

Regards,
Jusni

Hi John,
nice to see this cute and colorful passerine bird from your capture. Great POV and composition, splendid natural colors. Fine details and sharpness. Nicely composed and framed. also good notes. TFS, well done
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1250 W: 103 N: 4157] (18915)
  • [2008-02-08 11:03]

Hello John, that's a great shot of this beautiful bird in its environment. Good light and exposure, well composed and exposed, thanks!

Mario

Hi john,

A nice image of the Spotted Pardalote in the eucalyptus tree, it is a colorful bird. The photo is getting a good luminosity which brings out the colors. It is sharp and clear. Have a nice day.

Pierre

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2686 W: 67 N: 9202] (28772)
  • [2008-02-09 19:01]

Hello John

What a cute and colourful little bird.
I really like little birds like this,they have such curious little personalities.
You have captured this well,the focus is good with lovely colour and plumage detail.
Well composed in a natural setting.
Nicely done.
TFS
Rob

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1043 W: 1 N: 4025] (13236)
  • [2008-02-16 14:20]

Hi John,
Thank you for introducing me to this new species. What a lovely marked and colored bird. Great job John.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1662 W: 20 N: 4674] (15172)
  • [2008-02-22 5:54]

Hi John,
Splendid shot of this Spotted Pardalotus and I like the natural surrounding. Great colours, details, lighting and exposure. The image portrays a nice ambience. Excellent POV and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

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