I haven't been posting very much in the past couple of months as I've been extremely busy. My wife and I just got back from 8 days in beautiful Costa Rica. She and a number of other high school teachers were participating in an outdoor education program with Algonquin College here in Ottawa. I was fortunate enough to be able to tag along. :D
Although the trip focussed more on ecological farming practices, the environment and other related topics I was able to spend some time creating bird images and adding to my life and photo lists. (I think that I'll have to go back! ;))
There was a small colony of Montezuma Oropendulas (the only Oropendula with a bi-coloured bill) on the campus of Costa Rica's Earth Universitywhere we spent our first few days. I managed to create a few images of this large bird which is related to Blackbirds and Orioles.
Canon EOS 40D, Sigma 50-500mm at 500mm on Manfroto monpod with fill flash, 1/250 seconds, F8, ISO 640. Cropped to about 75% of full frame.
Although this image was created during the early morning, light conditions were still harsh and the angle was very steep. I could probably work on the image a bit more as there appears to be a few hot spots. Still I'm pleased to have been able to add this species to my collection.
A special thanks to BPN's Doug Brown and Glenn Bartley for the great advice that they both provided to me about equipment and photography conditions in Costa Rica.
Thanks Axel. I have some other images that show the bird better but this was one of the photos with the better eye contact. I agree about the the "hot" tail.
Very cool bird that I am unfamiliar with. Hard to believe it's related to blackbirds. I'm sure these are most often found in dense foliage therefore I don't mind all the leaves...except the ones on the chest near the bill. Regarding the tail, desaturating the yellow on it a bit should help combined with a bit of burning.
Can't wait to see more, and to hear about the trip in person!! :-)
Montezuma Oropendula
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