Avocet Squadron

[Bill Dix]

American Avocets are striking birds in flight, and often seem to fly in tight squadrons. I love to watch them when I get a chance, which is not often. A few weeks ago I was setting up to photograph some stationary Avocets on the water at Moss Landing when I saw a group approaching on the left. I grabbed a few quick shots. I've never had much luck with multiple (overlapping) BIF, but these were well separated with one exception. And kindly flew past an interesting BG.

Disclosure: the middle bird in the group didn't have a good wing position, but another bird was lagging behind this group, and did have a good position. I substituted him for the middle bird, and cropped out the left part of the frame. This is around 67% of full width. Rotated, Levels adjustment, NR and USM.

D7000, 700mm, ISO 800, 1/2000s @ f/6.3 manual, Gitzo and Mongoose.

[Grace Scalzo]

I think that this would look superb printed big, matted and framed. Such pretty colors and nice mood to it, Bill.

[Frank McNamara]

A vexing quarry, always fast and far. Well done.

[shane shacaluga]

Very nicely done! That OOF tree with the bright birds flying over the canopy looks amazing

TFS

[Robert Kimbrell]

Very nice Bill , You did well to switch the middle bird, I would not have noticed. A really pleasing blur on that tree in the background.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks all. Actually the tree is straight out of the camera; no blur applied. The birds were just close enough that at f/6.3 there was just the right DOF. Pure luck.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

This is great bill. That tree is so cool and just enough oof. Love the light on the birds as well as the flying poses

[dankearl]

I like this a lot Bill.
I might brighten the BG just a tad.
Excellent sharpness on all the birds.

[Bill Dix]

Thank you Cheryl and Dan.

[Marina Scarr]

This is a pretty cool image, Bill. Congrats!

[Bill Dix]

Thanks Marina.