Sabota Lark

Critiques [Translate]

•  
• Alex99 (23735)
• [2007-11-24 5:23]
• [+]

Hi Annick.
When I have seen your amazing shot and shot taken By Claude I have wishes to be next to you.

Terrific clearness and transparency of the image, superb scene and composition, stunning 3D-effect. Lights and BG are amazing too. Bravo and TFS.
Alexei.

•  
• joey (24909)
• [2007-11-24 5:27]

It's not a Thrush but it could be a Lark or something similar... you need Ivan!
+++ Nice portrait with a great POV.
Sharp with lots of detail in the plumage.
An effective POV aswell.
--- Nothing :)
Well done Annick,
Joe

•  
• Argus (50626)
• [2007-11-24 5:33]
• [+]

Hello Annick,
Superb capture of a White-browed Scrub Robin (Erythropygia leucophrys). It is related to chats, wheatears and thrushes. You achieved good exposure in difficult lighting and the sharpness and exposure are excellent.
Well done and TFS!
Have a great weekend,
Ivan

•  
• Adanac (21378)
• [2007-11-24 6:44]

Hello Annick,
Fantastic details Annick with your sharp focus, I like the composition and pose captured too. Great job, thanks for sharing.
Rick

•  
• Debz (3307)
• [2007-11-24 6:51]

Hi Annick, Wow what an unusual Robin, one can definately see here how they are of the Thrush family. It looks as though you had great light when you took this. The Robin is clean and sharp, with vivid colours and detailed markings, a lovely pose and pov. Good exposure and great composition.
tfs
debz

•  
• eqshannon (31141)
• [2007-11-24 7:05]
• [+]

I feel as though I were there with you. This is a kind of picture I would also take. The great use of focus and proper aperture settings make it a super picture. I just became aware yesterday of a National Geographic photographer we have here on TN. I believe he is from Israel...I also see he has down quite a bit of work in Africa. Perhaps your paths will cross one day. Fine work Annick. You are a treasure of knowledge and images.
]Bob

•  
• PeterZ (49139)
• [2007-11-24 7:31]
• [+]

Hallo Annick,
De Nederlandse naam is ook prachtig: Witbrauwwaaierstaart. Fantastisch licht op de kop. Mooie scherp gedetailleerde vogel tegen de zachte achtergrond.
Groet,
Peter

•  
• cuckooroller (0)
• [2007-11-24 8:19]
• [+]

Well, Joey had the instinctual winner this time. A comparative examination of the bill alone should be enough to eliminate both the Thrush, and the Scrub-Robin from consideration (and also by the way any of the ranging Pipits, often confused with Lark species). It is certainly a Lark. Though I do have problems with the paleness of the upper mandible - on gross morphology, and on range - Sabota Lark.

EDIT: I just googled on the bill color and have found others possessing also a pale-colored upper mandible. It must be age-related (my deduction here!). Reasons it is not the Scrub-Robin include: bill length, color and conformation, lack of wing bars, conformation of the colored part of the ear coverts, presence in this bird of a discernable blackish moustachial, conformation of the breast streaking (finer and more longitudinally running in the Scrub-Robin).

•  
• Patleboss (5950)
• [2007-11-24 9:46]

Hello Annick,
what an outstanding lighting,
focus and deeph of field are just great,
splendid pose and point of view,
In prime a perfect composition mathematically and aesthetically impeccable
a great cheer for a great shot
friendly,
Pat

•  
• dejo (2242)
• [2007-11-24 11:45]

Hello Annick,
Beauiflly clear and sharp capture
great natural colors and very nice background
Regards, Dejan

•  
• abettine (1027)
• [2007-11-24 11:52]

Bonsoir Annick
c'est toujours un plaisir que de regarder votre photo quotidienne. On y trouve tout ce qu'on auimerait avoir dans les nôtres ...

•  
• horia (16656)
• [2007-11-24 12:43]

Hi Annick

A very beautiful post proven also by the many discussions it generated.
A very nice shot of this interesting burd, presented with fine sharp details and taken from a good POV, showing the lovely pattern on the chest as well as those wonderful contrasting lines around teh eye.
A good pose captured, too and a gorgeous composition created with very similar and somewhat simple colors - both on the bird, the dry branches as well as the blurry BG.
Quite a harsh light from what i can see here, but you managed it very well and exposed the image impeccably.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

•  
• arfer (0)
• [2007-11-24 21:07]

Hello Annick

This one reminds me of a greeting card.
Nicely composed in the tree.The DOF is very good.
I really like the colour palette and OOF BG.
The focus is your usual excellent sharpness.
TFS

Rob

•  
• loot (11276)
• [2007-11-25 2:32]
• [3]

Hi Annick

After reading through the various "identity debates" I decided to have a look in my books. Thanks to the wise guidance of Steve I can also add my ½ penny for what it is worth. I definitively agree that it is a Sabota Lark - Mirafra sabota. According to my sources the upper mandible could well display some variation or a slight paleness, but I think it might also have been somewhat enhanced due to a wee bit of reflection (OE) that seem to make the region paler than what it really might have been. The lack of spots on the underbelly eliminates the possibility of it being a Groundscraper Thrush, but you have already disposed with that option. The White-browed Scrub Robin has a heavily streaked breast and the streaks go down all the way towards the belly while it also have white bars on the wing coverts (which is not present on your specimen) so scratch that possibility as well.

A lovely capture with lovely colours, excellent DOF that provided a great BG to enhance the little bird, and nice sharp details. Round about this time on the 13th we were in the Olifants area, busy making our way towards Shingwedzi. Just as a matter of interest, according to my notes it was a very hot (31°C) and sunny day so the fact that you shot this with ISO 200 setting is slightly surprising and could perhaps be that you just did not adjust the ISO setting as the day heated up. On the other hand, it might have been deliberate in order to push the shutter speed.

Well done and TFS.
Regards.
Loot

•  
• marhowie (486)
• [2007-11-25 6:32]
• [+]

Beautiful Annick,
Ok, Santa's taking a break ;}
Thanx for our friends on TN that help us with ID's
Excellent composition, details, natural color, and interesting light. Do I have to say more? :)
Howard

•  
• fiftysomething (657)
• [2007-11-26 0:28]

Such a stunning photo of this Lark. How do you get them to pose for you like this? They normally fly off too quickly when I am trying to take their photos. The detail and composition are absolutely perfect.

•  
• EOSF1 (23955)
• [2007-11-29 10:37]

Hello Annick, you've done a great job on that beautiful bird ! Superb composition, great sharpness and a perfect exposure. Thanks !

Mario