Bush Stone Curlew

[Lance Peters]

These guys are critically endangered in the state that I live in - however in my town they have been present and successfully breed for over the past 35 years.
Hopefully this year will be no different and I will get some nice footage of the youngsters as well - working on a magazine article on these guys.

They are a nocturnal bird - so during the day the tend not to do much - can be very hard to spot - they camouflage into their surroundings very well and stand motionless when threatened then freeze and often drop to the ground and assume the position (will get a shot f this to post in the future) at this point they can be approached to within inches and in fact this is one of the main ways that they are caught to be tagged etc.

Tough to photograph as their surroundings are always busy - and I need shots of them in their habitat for the article anyway - so not going to see beautiful clean backgrounds all that often (Im hoping they choose a different nesting spot - cause photographically its a shocker - with a big wooden beam right behind them).

Very wary of humans and really keep a eye on you - stare straight back at them and you have a chance of getting closer - break eye contact and when you look back they will be gone.

Anyway enough rambling...

D3S
Sigmonster @800mm
F5.6
1/160TH
1600 ISO
Matrix Metering
Handheld (laying on ground)

Comments more than welcome.

[Roy Priest]

Lance, the Stone Curlews are certainly unique looking. That great big eye just pulls you into the photograph. I like the BG.

[Dave Mills]

Hi Lance, another new species for me and a neat one it is. Good low angle and nice detail. Well placed in the frame,muted backround and I love the eye on the subject. It really holds your attention...

[John Platt]

That eye is amazing, it really draws you into the picture.

[Mark Young]

Very nice image Lance. Nice eye contact and low angle. I didn't realise you guys got them down your way. There's not too many places in Sydney where you can find these birds these days either.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Mark - One of the few places you can be guaranteed to see one - they have been here for a very long time. Spook easily id approached on foot - however approach in a vehicle and you can drive right up to them and they are not bothered - so thats my main method.I only try to approach on foot for a low angle shot like this every few days.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Never seen quite as much intensity in the eye of a bird. Glad to hear a few of them are on the comeback. The bird looks tiny judging by the grass.

[Lance Peters]

Never seen quite as much intensity in the eye of a bird. Glad to hear a few of them are on the comeback. The bird looks tiny judging by the grass.

Hi Jackie

No they are not small - stand 40-60CM High :)

[Richard Waas]

Lance I love the selective focus allowing the bird and a wee bit of the foreground green to be in focus. Great job!!!!