Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

[Geoffrey Montagu]

This interesting behavioral capture is from 2014 near a local lake. C&C welcome.

D700, Nikon 500mm f/4G, 1/400s, f/8.0, Gitzo, Wimberley Gimbal head.


Geoffrey




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[arash_hazeghi]

what is he doing exactly? cool behavior but unfortunately the BG is very distracting here

TFS

[Paul Burdett]

Hi Geoffrey: Really nice! Love how the bird is resting on that dainty perch. You've captured the bird cleaning up the chick's poo, in order to prevent it dirtying the nest. I'm fine with the BG (natural environment) although I can understand others finding it distracting (would be nice if a bird always had a great BG, but then one would have less shots I guess.) However, if it were mine I'd crop the left side from just to the right of the dark strip, which I do find distracting, and also it would place more emphasis on the bird. I'd also tone down the branch somewhat. Cheers.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

what is he doing exactly? cool behavior but unfortunately the BG is very distracting here

TFS

Thanks Arash. Should have mentioned this behavior is the grasping of the Fecal sac by the parent as the baby is about to deposit it on the rim of the nest. The parent then gets rid of it.


Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Hi Geoffrey: Really nice! Love how the bird is resting on that dainty perch. You've captured the bird cleaning up the chick's poo, in order to prevent it dirtying the nest. I'm fine with the BG (natural environment) although I can understand others finding it distracting (would be nice if a bird always had a great BG, but then one would have less shots I guess.) However, if it were mine I'd crop the left side from just to the right of the dark strip, which I do find distracting, and also it would place more emphasis on the bird. I'd also tone down the branch somewhat. Cheers.

Thanks Paul. Another way of putting it. I tried several crops on the left dark tree including your suggestion, but it looked a little cramped to me.


Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[Bill Dix]

Amazing behavioral capture. I never realized that they took the fecal sac directly from the baby bird. The light and background are unfortunate distractions but the behavior makes it a keeper. I love the lichen-covered nests that these guys create, and I remember this one, where they cleverly positioned the nest with a perfect perching twig.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Thanks Arash, Paul, and Bill.


Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[John Mack]

The moment here is very well captured. Not much you could have done about the background. An overcast day might help it out some. But the behavior is great.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Thanks John.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu