juv. Dunlin

[Ilija Dukovski]

I'm bound to juvs. this year. This is actually nice ID exercise.
Can you tell why is this a Dunlin, why a juv. ?
Taken today at Point of Pines, Revere, MA today morning.
Very cold morning and as most of the time here at the beach,
I had to spend it partially in the (cold) water. This is one of the last
photos of the day, when I clenched my teeth and went flat on my belly.
Not much fun driving wet back home (did I mention it was a cold morning?:))
Much fun taking this photo, though.

Self critique, I wish just 2 deg. of a HA turn. Also, wish I had the feet visible.
I like the water in the bill...

Nikon D80 300mm+TC1.4 f/5.6 1/2000 Matrix AP-1/3 ISO400 Fill flash@-1 1/3

[Stu Bowie]

Perfect low angle Ilija, and getting down and wet paid off. I like the soft light, and you have captured good sharp detail. Overall, well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Good self critique, especially on a bit better HA - not that its bad as is, just that it would have been stronger with those 2 degrees :-) While I don't mind the hidden feet (no choice when the bird is standing in water) I would have prefered better separation of the legs. Glad you took the plunge and got down and dirty!

[Ramon M. Casares]

Very nice, light is great, pose is ideal for ID porpouses. Colors, low angle, BG and detail are very nice too. Congratulations!

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Like the low angle & light. Bird is well exposed with great detail & colours against a nice BG. Well done!

[Gal Shon]

I like the angle, Comp and colors.
On my monitor the head is a bit soft.

[Arthur Morris]

Warm tones plus neatly edged feathers with a relatively even pattern indicate juvenal plumage. Do note the three molting scapulars that show that this bird will soon be in 1st winter plumage. Juveniles of species that winter in US are often seen molting while on migration. Juveniles of those species that winter in South America like Semiplamated Sandpiper delay molting until they reach the wintering grounds. Lot to learn in Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers. Click on the link here: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/ca....aspx?catid=32

[Ilija Dukovski]

Glad you took the plunge and got down and dirty!

At the end of the day, I think that's the key of getting good shorebird image.
Got to taste the mud...:)

[Ilija Dukovski]

Thank you all for the kind comments, appreciated.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Juveniles of those species that winter in South America like Semiplamated Sandpiper delay molting until they reach the wintering grounds.

I didn't know that. Makes perfect sense, you don't want to change engines during a long flight
over the ocean. I'm getting a copy of the book... Funny, I have all your other books, but not this one.
Can't wait to get it, perfect reading for the (migration) season.

BTW, I mentioned getting flat-face in the mud to get this photo.
I believe this is another of the techniques/styles that you invented/pointed out
specifically for shorebirds, in the ABP book. It makes such a difference in getting
clean BG in this situation.