STK: How it all begins

[Fabs Forns]

Interestingly enough, with a chick ready to fledge anytime, the female spends a lot of time out of the nest, and they are back to mating. There is no time for them to raise another chick before going back home in August, so I have no idea why the would mate now, especially two or three times a morning. I though mating for pleasure was only for humans :confused:
Broward County, on private property. Heavily overcast.

Date: 6/24/09
Time: 7:22:08 AM
Model: NIKON D3
Lens (mm): 700 (500/4 VR plus 1.4X)
ISO: 1250
Aperture: 7.1
Shutter: 1/1000
Exp. Comp.: +1.3

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great capture of this moment, I think you had their full attention. :) Maybe a tad more contrast or darkening of the blacks?

[Fabs Forns]

Great capture of this moment, I think you had their full attention. :) Maybe a tad more contrast or darkening of the blacks?

Thanks, Axel. They don't have black under the wings, it is slate gray and very difficult to get it to show, so no darkening :D :D

[Kiran Poonacha]

Beautiful Image Fabs... Great moment captured. I am truely in love with this species.

[Stu Bowie]

Its always great to capture nature at their moments. Super angle of capture with great eye contact. I like the comp too. Well done Fabs.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

beautiful moments and excellent soft light!

[Hugh J McLaughlin]

I remember that moment!! Well done as usual.

Hugh

[Paul Kusmin]

great moment captured here.
Looks good for an overcast day.

[David Hemmings]

Wow, what a great shot Fabs, the action is unreal maybe they dont know when to stop:p

[David Roach]

With the shapes of the birds (bodies, wings, tails) the angle actaully works really well. Just beautiful; so what's new!! Do you know of any public spots to get these beauties?

[Fabs Forns]

Do you know of any public spots to get these beauties?

David, they used to come to the parking lot at Anhinga Trail every year, I don't know if you were part of the social club that sat in portable chairs all morning waiting for them. They stopped this behavior last year, no one knows why. They came for the moss on the mahogany trees. I'm sure they found another source.
I'm not at liberty to share this location :o:o:o

[David Roach]

Fully understand. Just wandered if you knew any other sights which might be productive for these beauties.

[Fabs Forns]

Thanks for understanding, David :)

[Michael Wolf]

Ahhh yes, great wing position, great detail, great exposure and lovley blue skies..... Perfect!

[Dave Barnes]

Now if that was humans you would not post it, funny human morarity is it not. (I would not be in favour but just a thought)
Moment well captured and presented as always fabs. I enjoy your work, it inspires.

[Melvin Grey]

That is one beautiful image Fabs. With you, the technical side can always be taken for granted, but here you have two beautiful birds making a very interesting shape and you were so lucky with that feathery tree top, it keeps the whole thing light and airy. I love birds in action and that, for me, is a shot to die for!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Excellent catch Fabiola. I love the moment very much. You are lucky to see this and be there at the right time.