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The Moorhen Strut
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I was out fishing earlier this week and had the good fortune to pick a spot just next to a moorhen nest in the reeds. There were two young chicks, and while I did get a few shots of them venturing out, none were good enough to post here. However the parent were a different matter, I got numerous shots of them, both in the water and out, in their search for food. This was the first time I'd noticed that Moorhens have red markings on their legs. Both parents had them, and both were distinctive and different patterns.
As always, Wikipedia has good information:
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a bird in the rail family with an almost worldwide distribution outside Australasia as well as desert, many tropical rainforest, and the polar regions. In North America it is often called the Common Gallinule, and in Europe it is generally simply referred to as "the Moorhen
This is a common breeding bird in marshy environments and well-vegetated lakes. It is often secretive, but can become tame in some areas. Populations in areas where the waters freeze, such as southern Canada, the northern USA and eastern Europe, will migrate to more temperate climes.
This is a distinctive species, with dark plumage apart from the white undertail, yellow legs and a red facial shield. The young are browner and lack the red shield. It has a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened.
This species will consume a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures. They forage while swimming, sometimes upending to feed, or walking through the marsh.
The nest is a roofed basket built on the ground in dense vegetation. Laying starts in spring, dependent on climate conditions between mid-March and mid-May in N hemisphere temperate regions. 8-12 eggs are usually laid per female early in the season; a second brood in summer usually has only 5-8 or even less eggs; nests may be shared by females. Incubation lasts for about three weeks. Both parents incubate and feed the young. These fledge after 40-50 days, become independent usually a few weeks thereafter, and may raise their first brood the next spring already.(Snow et al. 1998)
Despite loss of habitat in parts of its range, as a species the Common Moorhen remains plentiful and widespread.
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I ran this through unsharp mask at minimal settings to remove "haze", then through the color fade tool to lift the colors a little and finally one pass through sharpen. |
Debz, Jamesp, garyfudge, Proframe, dew77, Alex99 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- Debz
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 0 N: 847]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(3307) - [2007-06-15 8:52]
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Hi Mish, I do like Moorhens and they way they walk with those wonderful feet and legs and this is a great shot. You have caught the colours perfectly, good exposure and sharp focus, nice reflective light on the eye. Colours natural and vibrat. Great compositon.
tfs
debz
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- trinko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 587 W: 78 N: 322]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4321) - [2007-06-15 9:33]
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great colors and pose good focus nice setting.
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- Jamesp
(18906)
- [2007-06-15 9:41]
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Hi Mish
A really good pose and lovely colours. They are quite hard to photograph out of water as they run away very quickly - I have them in my garden most days.
James
This is a bit of a fun shot Mish,
I ilike the blur in the tail where it's being wagged!
Good details throughout.
Gary
Very nice shot Mish.
Excellent sharpness and exposure.
Color contrast is very beautiful.
Wonderful to even have some action with it's tailfeathers moving around and the one leg in front like he has enough of you and is walking away :)
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards and have a great weekend, Harry
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- jaycee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(25460) - [2007-06-15 11:35]
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Hi Mish,
A nice capture of this colorful Moorhen. The beak and eye are fantastic. You caught those amazing legs in a good position. Wonderful details and a nice natural setting.
Jane
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- dew77
(13270)
- [2007-06-15 13:03]
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Hello Mish,
Beautiful capture of this moorhen.Details on black feathers,catchlight in eyes,exposure and composition are excellent.
TFS..:-)
Hi Mish , perfect colors , shrpnss and comp. good action photo , TFS.
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- joey
(24909)
- [2007-06-16 5:28]
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Hi Mish,
a good shot.
Sharp, well composed and a good POV.
Well done,
Joey
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- gannu
(14761)
- [2007-06-16 6:07]
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Mish, lovely shot and the color of the beak and eyes are amazing. Ganesh
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- Alex99
(23735)
- [2007-06-30 9:48]
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Hi Mish.
Thank you for visiting and kind words as a critique. Thus I have opportunity to see your nice gallery.
Your reproduction of this beautiful bird is simply brilliant. Amazing pose, superb details, sharpness and nice perfectly saturated colours. I like you low enough POV, nicely selected DOF and perfect exposure of the image. Excellent job. My compliments and best regards.
Alexei.
