This month, I became the first dedicated bird photographer to work the Dúlóng (独龙) Valley in Yunnan. I'm calling the Dúlóng Valley the Last Green Valley in China, it being "last" in space (extreme NW Yunnan, hard by Burma and Tibet) and last in the sense that while so many valleys in China have been chewed up and spit back out by man, this one remains pristine. On our way to the Valley, driving over the northern Gāolígòng Mountains, at a dramatic pass dividing the Salween and Irrawaddy basins, my team came upon this fire-tailed myzornis (火尾绿鹛, huǒwěi lǜméi, Myzornis pyrrhoura). The experience with this striking bird kept us buzzing for hours afterward. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 2500.
A spectacularly beautiful bird, and great mouthful. Nice colors, pose and details. Wish the oof reeds didn't intersect right behind those wonderful bugs, but that's the way it goes.
A spectacularly beautiful bird, and great mouthful. Nice colors, pose and details. Wish the oof reeds didn't intersect right behind those wonderful bugs, but that's the way it goes.
The billful o' bugs underlines the richness of the Dulong Valley and adjacent mountains, one of the few places in China where nature's cup still runneth over. Those aren't reeds intersecting the mayflies, but high-altitude bamboo.
The billful o' bugs underlines the richness of the Dulong Valley and adjacent mountains, one of the few places in China where nature's cup still runneth over. Those aren't reeds intersecting the mayflies, but high-altitude bamboo.
Of course. I should have recognized it. I've seen high-altitude bamboo on the trail up toward the Annapurna Base Camp some years ago.
Buzzing for mere hours, Craig?? I guess it's all relative. I'm amazed by the striking clarity of the image with what I would consider a very high ISO setting of 2500. You have ignited an interest to investigate the wildlife possibilities in your region of China.
What can I say...a peach of a bird...a dream. All looks good, but maybe tame down the bright green behind the bird's bill so that it does not compete with the bird's eye brow colour. Finally, one for the wall:)
Buzzing for mere hours, Craig?? I guess it's all relative. I'm amazed by the striking clarity of the image with what I would consider a very high ISO setting of 2500. You have ignited an interest to investigate the wildlife possibilities in your region of China.
Well, all right, we were buzzing for days . . . the myzornis was one of the five best moments of our 23-day expedition. If you're interested in the photographic possibilities in China, then please stay in touch--I've logged nearly seven years here.
A wonderful new species for all of us. TFS. The stuff behind the bugs and bill is as noted above, distracting.
I am curious, what is a "dedicated" bird photographer?
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
A wonderful new species for all of us. TFS. The stuff behind the bugs and bill is as noted above, distracting.
I am curious, what is a "dedicated" bird photographer?
Artie-dude, thanks for taking a look at the myzornis. Everyone's carrying DSLRs these days, even birders whose focus is watching. By "dedicated," I'm meaning that my prime focus is to cover an area photographically. I wasn't there to get the first views of the birds of Dulong, but to get the first high-quality photos of the birds of that remote and beautiful valley.
Hi Craig, No dudes here. I am pretty sure that you could have come up with a much better word, perhaps "serious." Dedicated is quite presumptive and might imply to some that the rest of us dudes and slugs are not really dedicated :)
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
Hi Craig, No dudes here. I am pretty sure that you could have come up with a much better word, perhaps "serious." Dedicated is quite presumptive and might imply to some that the rest of us dudes and slugs are not really dedicated :)
If I call myself a serious photographer, I imply that the birdwatchers will smaller cameras aren't serious. They'll take exception to that. I'm trying to express as economically as possible that I'm walking into Dulong with a big camera, a tripod, and the goal to get more than a record shot--all without slighting those whose goals are just a record shot. I'm trying to show I'm different from them, but not better than them.
Whatever... As one who is careful with language, I am sure that "dedicated" is a poor choice of words. Why do I bring it up? As Jack Reacher says, "I can't help it; I'm pedantic." There are lots of folks with inexpensive gear who photograph in their backyards who are quite dedicated to their craft....
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
Whatever... As one who is careful with language, I am sure that "dedicated" is a poor choice of words. Why do I bring it up? As Jack Reacher says, "I can't help it; I'm pedantic." There are lots of folks with inexpensive gear who photograph in their backyards who are quite dedicated to their craft....
I can live with that criticism. I'll find another way.
Fire-tailed Myzornis, Yunnan, China
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Bill Dix
