American Avocet

[Kirk Benson]

This male American Avocet in full breeding plumage was taken last Saturday afternoon at my favorite pond. He was feeding at this time as you can tell from the disturbed water and glistening bill, they feed by sweeping their bills from side to side through the water.

D810 w 500 f/4 D AF-S (Non-VR) and TC-14E II @ 700mm on a Monopod as low as I could go. ~ 1/2500s f/8 ISO400 Manual Mode ~ Processed in PS CC

All C&C are greatly encouraged and most appreciated. Thanks for looking at what I love to do. :-)

Kirk

[Geoffrey Montagu]

This is remarkably beautiful, Kirk. You've captured the full breeding colors exceptionally well. The detail, reflected blue sky, and BG is outstanding.


Geoffrey

[steve torna]

the water droplet on the end of the beak is reflecting blue green, detail in both blacks and whites, catch light in the eye, awesome saturation, lovely background, blue and green water, pose, composition, all just about perfect to me.

[annmpacheco]

Sweet image, with all the right trimmings: breeding colors, pose, detail and the melting of the water into the BG, and the drop to finish a very good sweep! TFS, well done.

[Gerald Kelberg]

Hi Kirk,
The avocets on this side of the pond are straight black and white - it would be nice to have the colour of the American variety!
Nice exposure with a beautiful background - great combination of colours - caught him just at the right moment here. And that little drop on the end of the bill.... great.
Thanks for sharing,

Gerald

[gail bisson]

Oooh....this is nice!
Perfect POV, beautiful BG colors and excellent IQ.
No nits from me Kirk.
Congrats on a lovely image,
Gail

[dankearl]

If I really nitpicked I would like a bit more head turn to the camera, but this is very nice, Great POV and background.

[Bill Dix]

Simply lovely shot of this beautiful specimen in full breeding plumage. Beautiful water, bg, pose. I can't tell what's going on in the brown water beneath the blue, but there seems to be something odd in the area beneath the bird's bill, and in the reflection of the near leg.

[Kirk Benson]

Hi Kirk,
The avocets on this side of the pond are straight black and white - it would be nice to have the colour of the American variety!

Gerald

Thanks for the very kind words Gerald, most appreciated. The American variety are straight B&W also except for the breeding season, the rusty colored head and neck are beautiful for sure. :-)

Kirk

[Kirk Benson]

Simply lovely shot of this beautiful specimen in full breeding plumage. Beautiful water, bg, pose. I can't tell what's going on in the brown water beneath the blue, but there seems to be something odd in the area beneath the bird's bill, and in the reflection of the near leg.

Thanks so much for the detailed and very kind words Bill, really appreciate it. Beneath the bill in the brown water I did tone down the reflection of the bright spots a bit which I believe is what you're seeing. I also see what you mean about the reflection of the near leg (between the legs) and can't explain what's going on there, I didn't do any clean-up work there at all other than some light NR. In looking at the RAW image it is there as well.

Kirk

[Kirk Benson]

Many thanks to each of you for your very kind and encouraging words, I'm thrilled of course that you enjoyed the image. Be well. :-)

Kirk

[David Salem]

What a beautiful frame Kirk. The sweeping pose is perfect and the colors are vivid and true and the BG is awesome .
Definitely my favorite shorebird. Not as many this year in our location though. Well done