Southern Ground Hornbill

[Steve Kaluski]

Taken mid morning over in Selinda, Botswana. There were three of these birds foraging around in the grass, every time you would try to workout which direction they were heading and move the vehicle, they would change direction. This one caught a small frog which was then carried around for some period of time before swallowing.

Steve
Subject: Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)
Location: Botswana
Camera: Canon MKIV
Lens: 500f/4 plus 2x - HH
Exposure: 1/800s at f/8 ISO400 manual compensation
Crop: Slight crop (original capture vertical)

[Jeroen Stel]

Love how the light refelcts on those dark feathers showing the details well.
Spectaculair bird and thank you for posting this fine image.

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

[Sid Garige]

Awesome view Steve. great techs and wonderful pose.

[Steve Canuel]

Nice one Steve. Superb detail in both reds and blacks. Can even see eyelash shadows on the eye.

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks guys, although I think if you saw Jeroen's Kingfishers you would be more impressed.

Have to say the 2x has certainly come into it's own now, especially with a few tweaks I got Canon to do. Just wished could have nailed a closer POV as per Stuart B a while back, an awesome image.

cheers
Steve

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Steve, excellent exposure on this fellow, as they arent easy to expose. Good sharp detail, low angle, and his catch is a bonus. I totally agree, they never stop moving, so my image was a lucky shot. :w3