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Radjah Shelduck


Radjah Shelduck
Photo Information
Copyright: jon cody (darwin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 0 N: 478] (1814)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, 100-400L is
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/3000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-06-21 18:59
Viewed: 788
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Radjah Shelducks are divided into two races; Tadorna radjah rufitergum and Tadorna radjah radjah. Tadorna radjah rufitergum, sometimes called Red-backed Radjah or Burdekin Duck, is the Australian race that is found in the coastal tropics of northern Australia. This stretches from northern Queensland across coastal the Northern Territory to Fitzroy River of Western Australia. The majority of this race is found along the coast of Northern Territory and is scarce along the Queensland coast.

Both the male and female Radjah Shelducks are similar in their black and white coloring. Their heads, necks and under parts are white. Their wings and a prominent band across their breast are black. The Radjah ducks secondary feathers are metallic green in color with white tips. Their legs, feet and bill are light pink. These shelducks have a body length of 51 to 61 cm. The wingspan is approximately twice the body length. The juveniles of this species are similar to the adults, but the white plumage is duller in color with a brown tinge on the crown and neck. Their legs, bill, and feet are whitish in color. Their iris is dark brown. The Radjah chicks have black markings and a chestnut brown cap, which stretches to the eyes. There are a pair of very distinct white spots on the inside of the wings, each side of the upper back and one on each side of the lower back. These markings are only in the chick stage and they will grow out of it when they reach the juvenile stage. The eggs of this species are creamy white in color and have an average size of 60 x 42 mm.

Tadorna radjah radjah, sometimes referred to as Moluccan or Black-backed Rajah Shelducks, are found around the coast of New Guinea and on the Molucca Islands, on the Aru Islands, in the western Papua and on Fergusson Island. They inhabit the coastal marshes, lagoons and swamps. They prefer large areas of shallow brackish or saline water.
sranjan, CeltickRanger, maurydv, Argus, NinaM, SelenE, jaycee, JPlumb, MMM, hester, rcrick, marhowie, goutham_ramesh has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To JPlumb: photoshopdarwin 1 06-25 05:24
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Jon,
Very well shot Radjah Shelduck in flight. The blurred lovely background further adds to the beauty asociated with this incredible bird.
Regards-Subhash, India

hello Jon

excellent in-flight shot of the Shelduck, with fine POV and framing,
excellent sharpness and details of the duck, specially excellent
details of his wings plumage, TFS

Asbed

Hi Jon
TFS this chap who I haven't seen before. You have captured the colour on his wings well. Good composition and well done on getting the eye whilst in flight.
Cheers
Sue

strange species. i like very much how the light reflect from the black feeders

Splendida cattura in volo, eccellenti POV e composizione con l'anatra ad ali planate e magnifico BG suddiviso in tre fasce, ottima nitidezza, molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2765 W: 150 N: 7969] (24819)
  • [2008-06-22 10:01]

Hello Jon,
Excellent in-flight of a Radja Shellduck. Great panning and timing here to get just the right position with superb sharpness from a great POV that shows the red-backed ssp. Nice eye contact too.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-06-22 12:06]

A beautiful capture, Jon, I really like the totally blurred yet colourful background with the sharp flying Radjah Shelduck. The purple flowers, even blurred, add superb touches of colours and the bird itself is a beauty to look at. Thank you for sharing with us the beauties of your country,

Francine

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2425 W: 63 N: 3999] (12912)
  • [2008-06-22 12:58]

Hi Jon,
Very nice in-flight of this radjah shelduck. I like the POV, color tones and background a lot.TFS
Greetings,
Selen

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1909 W: 8 N: 4974] (16081)
  • [2008-06-22 16:10]

Hi Jon,

This Shelduck stands out so well from the blurred background which I find fascinating. The black and white is outstanding with wonderful sharpness of the face and eye, wings and tail feathers. There is a good 3D effect to this shot.

Jane

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-22 21:41]

Hello Jon

Wonderful colours,the POV and DOF are well done.
Excellent in flight capture of this duck as it flies past.
The composition is well done,I really like the blurred OOF BG.
TFS
Rob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2582 W: 170 N: 7867] (24879)
  • [2008-06-23 5:21]

Hello Jon,
Very fine in-flight capture of this Radjah Shelduck that is new to me! Very good timing and from a fine POV showing the upper sides of the beautiful wings. Very fine details and colours and I like the background too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hello Jon, this is the first Radjah Shelduck I've seen so thanks for the introduction. I like the composition and positioning you have of this one with the in-flight capture of this duck in front of the stream. The colour is good on the duck, and I like the depth of field you went with to show the duck well while showing a muted down but very natural background. All of that being said, I thought their was a bit of noise in the background, and the bird might be just a tad sharper. I have created a workshop therefore to provide you with another option.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 787 W: 0 N: 1581] (7260)
  • [2008-06-25 7:24]

Hi Jon
Excellent in flight capture.Very sharp image with good feather detail.Excellent text to.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1480 W: 18 N: 3033] (11122)
  • [2008-06-25 14:22]

Hi Jon

Great in-flight shot, you have perfectly frozen the action. Sharp and beautifully composed

tfs

Karan

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-06-25 15:46]

Hi Jon,

Excellent in-flight shot of this Radjah Shelducks, really good detail in the plumage, wonderful eye contact, and I really like the coloured layers created by the OOF background, t.f.s

Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5241] (23187)
  • [2008-06-25 19:28]

Hello Jon, fantastic shot my friend, very good technique of panning and a clear and sharp image, well done on a difficult one, thanks!

Mario

Very nice Jon!
Very good exposure and colors here..I like the BG layers of color too, they make the image unique.
Nice detail/DOF, POV, inflight pose, and composed well.
Howard

Wow a beautiful picture of this Radjah Shelduck. I love the composition here and the way the wings are frozen in flight.
Congrats for a very good picture
TFS
Goutham

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