Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Picoides Kizuki)

[Rene' Villela]

Hello everybody! I've been away for so long! I really missed posting here but I haven't been able to do any shooting. Also my HD crashed. Now I am happy to be back.
I just came back from a trip. I went to a place around 500 K from home, Biwa Lake. It's the biggest lake in japan and I found so many birds. I took a few shots but I wasn't really prepared, also the weather was very bad. The good part is that I found these area and I'll be going there every month from now on.

Here is this little guy. I don't know if it is found in any other countries, according to name, maybe not. It is a very tiny bird and I have to crop a lot.
Thank you for your comments!

Nikon D300 - AF-S 300 f/4, TC17eII, A/P f/6.7, 1/200 sec, ISO 200

[Daniel Cadieux]

Welcome back René, and hope all is well since the HD crash. I like this cute little fella, seems about the same proportions as our tiny Downy Woodpecker. Critical focus seems to be on the bark (especially in LRC). Perhaps some selective USM on the face would help with that. Looking forward to more from your trip to Biwa Lake :-)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I don't remember seeing this species before, thanks for sharing. I like the eye contact and light and agree regarding sharpening. A slightly lower angle would have made it even better.

[Rene' Villela]

Thank you Daniel. Yeah! I keep two time Machines at home and one at work. Nothing lost but getting an Apple HD where I live takes time. Finally I got one, took me 18 minutes to install it and 2 days to recover everything!

Hi Axel. Hey! I am glad to have the chance of showing you something new.

I was so excited about posting that I forgot to add that this little guys hang around the bottom of the trees. It is very hard to shoot them coz they are between the bushes and they are so small. About the size of a great tit. They have a nice call, it goes like GRRRRRRR for about 6 seconds.
I look on NX" and the focus is over the head and the age of the square touches the bark. As I said is a big crop. I'll try some more sharpening!

Thank you for your critiques! I've been missing them! :)

[Arthur Morris]

Welcome back Rene. I am confused by one thing: you say that they like to stay low in the trees yet it looks as if the bird is well above your position.

I am amazed at such a cute, tiny woodpecker. Go back and get some better ones!

[Rene' Villela]

Thank you Artie! That is confusing! Well, I was at ground level and my camera was very low. I have many shots but the BG is so busy but this little guy suddenly went up. I think he was following something. They stay low coz there are other much bigger woodpeckers and they chase them away. Also the kites are always flying around and these guys look like an easy prey since they are so small. It really took me a long while to find them. i used to hear their calls but I didn't realize they were down in the bushes. i always looked up instead! I'll keep trying to shoot them.... I have plenty of time!

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Rene' for the explanation. And good luck!