Purple Sandpiper

[Bill Dix]

From Barnegat jetty on Tuesday. As the sun began to drop in the afternoon, the jetty cast long shadows on the rocks where the sandpiper was feeding. It took some patience (not my strongest suit) to wait for him to wander into a sunny patch, but I was rewarded with some dramatic lighting when he did. This image shows his signature purple gloss on the back feathers, which Sibley says is "visible at very close range". At times he came so close I could have reached out and touched him.

D7200, 80-400 VR @ 370mm, ISO 1000, 1/2000s @ f/7.1 manual. HH.

[gail bisson]

Very nice Bill.
The spotlight lighting is indeed very dramatic and showcases the purple beautifully.
I like the in-toeing of the birds left foot.
IQ is excellent and well done to get him so sharp.
Gail

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Excellent spotlight on our friend, Bill. Like the contrast and rich shadows created in the seaweed and rocks. The purple gloss is very nicely shown on back feathers. Beautiful color in the BG inlet water.


Geoffrey

[Bill Dix]

Thanks Gail and Geoffrey.

[Grace Scalzo]

I like everything about this image...the lighting, the habitat, the feeding behavior, and the pose. Great species, well photographed.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks Grace.