MAGO at Bunche Beach Preserve

[Bob Pelkey]

1DM4, 600mm, f/5.0, AP, ISO 400, 1/3200, tripod, cropped from landscape, Smart Sharpen, NR, with a few distracting elements removed.

Artie once told me that he had walked the entire length of Bunche Beach Preserve noting as I recall his disappointment with the wildlife seen. I'm still astounded by the experience he had as the more than 100 visits I've made to this venue have virtually always been rewarding. I use the low tide at Matanzas Pass "fixed" Bridge (Estero Island) to time my visits to Bunche Beach. Viewing as far in advance as http://www.saltwatertides.com will currently allow, I would consider 21 November- 26 November 2014 the best time to visit the west channel at the preserve, with the east channel best visited on the 24th of the same month/ year.

Anyway, I am always entranced by Marbled Godwit, especially when they are in flight. Visiting the preserve with Chris Baker on 19 November 2013 several godwits were accommodating for some close views. The bird is seen here going for small worms and was successful in finding them a few times in my observation of the species this day. The time of the shot is sunrise +100 minutes give or take a few.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the feeding pose, HA, BG, raised foot and sharpness. I would do another run of NR on the BG. Nice image Bob.

[Arthur Morris]

Love the raised foot and the good look at the face. EXP and SH perfect. The REFL is nice too. Pointing the lens four inches to your right would have moved the bird back in the frame and produced a stronger image.

[Gavin Slabbert]

I like the action of the foot and the activity of the bird, my observation is really more about post work, for it seems that a piece of the birds leg is missing in the reflection which in these smooth waters should absolutely be visible, and the vertical lines in the reflection, I dont see that as natural.
Also the definition of the back leg, furthest from the water, has a clear reflection and has much more detail than the lifted leg which should provide a solid reflection as well.

[Arthur Morris]

I could be wrong but I'd bet that the blurred reflection of the bird's right foot is 100% natural; the leg and foot were moving... Bob, please post a JPEG that represents the full frame original capture.

[Bob Pelkey]

I could be wrong but I'd bet that the blurred reflection of the bird's right foot is 100% natural; the leg and foot were moving... Bob, please post a JPEG that represents the full frame original capture.

Thank you all for your interest and analysis. This is the uncropped and completely unprocessed (aside from the watermark) original RAW file converted to JPEG as requested.



Artie's excellent deduction of movement can be evidenced in the additional image below, cropped and slightly rotated only. The second image was captured one second after the first.



Regards,

Bob Pelkey
http://www.swfloridabirder.blogspot.com

[Gavin Slabbert]

Hmm very interesting, and I stand corrected, my apologies Bob.

[Arthur Morris]

Hmm very interesting, and I stand corrected, my apologies Bob.

Gavin, No sweat. I like being right though :).

Bob. That is one big crop. Thanks for posting the ORIG. I'd go for a horizontal with the bird on our left....