Velvet Scoter

[Rich Steel]

Hi

A couple of days back there were reports of a young velvet scoter that had taken up temporary residence on a small lake about 50 miles north. Having never seen one before and deciding it was time to end the Christmas hibernation I ventured forth. Strangely I have visited the same pond before a couple of years back when a Slavonian Grebe turned up. The Scoter was easily found by the group of tripods that had sprung up at one end of the lake. The bird was diving constantly for freshwater Swan mussels, which are much large than marine mussels and swallowing them whole. During the time I was there it must have eaten about 15 which makes you wonder how it was still floating!

This was the lowest angle I could get on the bird as the banks are steep and I didn't really fancy plunging into a half frozen lake for a brown duck! The bird is in the process of lining up another mussel to swallow.



Taken with 7D with 500mm lens and 1.4TC at ISO 400 F5.6 at 1/640s.

Happy Bird Filled 2010 to you all!

Cheers

Rich

[Juan Aragonés]

Fantastic action Rich, the open beak with the mussel in the air is really nice. I love the water drops on the back.
Happy 2010:)

[Harshad Barve]

Amazing action shot , food in beak in air is the winning key for me
TFS & HNY

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Rich, Here was my reaction when the image opened: "Oh, kill me why don't you?"

From the lovely blue and gold water to the flying mussel to the great detail on the face, this is in fact too, too good. I am pretty sure that they crush the bivalves in the back of their throats before swallowing them. Let's see lots more like this in 2010. I just got my own 7D today.

And I am glad to see that you are out making great images with it rather than participating in the endless discussions in the equipment forums :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Pretty cool and no lower angle necessary as we wouldn't see the colors and patterns of the water as well. The open bill and mussel put it over the top for me. I find it surprising they don't crack them before swallowing. Great exposure control and sharpness, too.

Does it need a bit CW rotation?

Happy New Year to you, too!

[Stu Bowie]

Rich, very well timed to capture the mussel between the beak. I like the overall colours, and would maybe take a bit off the bottom. A happy 2010 to you too.

[Peter Farrell]

This is just amazing! I especially like the open beak, the mussel, the water droplets, the color of the water, the sharpness
I have so far too go with my images...
Happy new year
Peter

[denise ippolito]

Rich, I'd love to have this in my files. Very nice mid-air grab and the water color is fantastic. Beautiful exposure and details.

[Arthur Morris]

This is just amazing! I have so far too go with my images... Peter

Peter, It is all about looking at lots of great images, being inspired, and working and studying as hard as humanly possible to improve. One of my constant rants here is that many folks think that after they buy the lens they have it made :)

[Rich Steel]

Thanks for the comments and replies.

Artie I couldn't agree with you more re the 7D. If people actually got out in the real world and started using the camera instead of photographing teddy bears and bowls of fruit from the comfort of their armchair, they might actually realise it is a very capable camera body. I have seen some utter rubbish written about it, in fact the other day someone said the noise was terrbile and so was the detail. The person then showed the full frame image of which the bird probably filled about 6 pixels and was completely under exposed...lol. Many seem to be under the impression because of the high MP you can do a ridiculous megacrop and still end up with a decent image.

Cheers

Rich

[Arthur Morris]

At least the ones photographing teddy bears and bowls of fruit are photographing something. Lots of others are just theorizing, making it up, going by the MFRs info, or parroting what they have "heard." You gotta love it.

[Ryan Schain]

This is one heck of a shot. Aside from the fantastic frozen moment, the sharpness and colors are superb. Definitely one of the best scoter shots I've ever seen.

[Ofer Levy]

Great behaviour shot! If anything I would try a less centered composition as I assume this is a crop.