Purple Sandpiper rush breeding plumage

[Krijn Trimbos]

Hi everyone,

Another Purple Sandpiper from Spitsbergen. This time more of an action shot. When I first started making pictures of the little guy it seemed like it was stumbeling on the ice trying to get a grip, but I think it was trying to confuse and distract food items that were resting/ feeding on the ice water, so that the Sandpiper would be able to catch them. In any case this is the sharpest shot I got showing that behavior.

Hope you like it,

Canon EOS 50D 1/1250 f8
ISO 400
Canon 500mm L IS USM F4.0 + 1.4 Converter
Handheld

I added some canvas to the right and did some work on the BG with all the specular highlights from the ice.

[Arthur Morris]

Love the raised wings, the posture, and the ice. The plumage looks killer. If you have a regular portrait, please post it here. I have never seen one of these in full breeding plumage (like this one seems to be).

[Krijn Trimbos]

Love the raised wings, the posture, and the ice. The plumage looks killer. If you have a regular portrait, please post it here. I have never seen one of these in full breeding plumage (like this one seems to be).

Thanks Artie,

Here is one of the same bird walking on the ice with more of a profile view. I reworked it from RAW quickly so the colours might be a little off. Will show some of these beautiful waders on the tundra here later.

Cheers,

Krijn

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Cryin' What a beautiful bird. I should have mentioned that the original post (and the second one as well) looks a bit too contrasty.... Tell us a bit about the trip. Ship???

[arash_hazeghi]

nice pose and low angle, ice is really cool. Would reduce the contrast a bit for my taste. TFS

[Krijn Trimbos]

Thanks Cryin' What a beautiful bird. I should have mentioned that the original post (and the second one as well) looks a bit too contrasty.... Tell us a bit about the trip. Ship???

Hi Artie,

No ship. I joined Jasper (AKA douchbag) to Spitsbergen and we flew there. We mainly used a car and our legs while we were there. We did one boattrip which was spectacular for landscapes and very very cold, saw some seals and a lot of ice, no polar bears. The birding is amazing, we got good oppertunities on King Eider, Red Phalarope, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long-tailed Duck, Arctic Tern, Arctic Skua (parasitic Jeager), Ptarmigan, Northern Fulmar, Semipalmated plover, Barnacle and pink-footed Geese, Eider ducks, little auk (Dovekie) and Glaucous Gull all in breeding plumage. We were lucky to see the red-throated diver, and ivory gull. I had the best time ever, returning to this place. I hoped to get some better shots of the Red Phalarope and instead got them mating, hoped to get some nice shots of the purple sandpiper and got them on ice, hoped to see the King Eider and got it full frame sitting on the Tundra. Needless to say we had a blast. Hope this gives you an idea of the trip.

Cheers,

Krijn

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose and setting, I agree about less contrast and would sharpen the bird more. Spitsbergen is definitely on my wishlist.

[James Salywoda]

Nice pose and composition I too agree about having a bit less contrast but still an excellent shot.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Artie,

No ship. I joined Jasper (AKA douchbag) to Spitsbergen and we flew there. We mainly used a car and our legs while we were there. We did one boattrip which was spectacular for landscapes and very very cold, saw some seals and a lot of ice, no polar bears. The birding is amazing, we got good oppertunities on King Eider, Red Phalarope, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long-tailed Duck, Arctic Tern, Arctic Skua (parasitic Jeager), Ptarmigan, Northern Fulmar, Semipalmated plover, Barnacle and pink-footed Geese, Eider ducks, little auk (Dovekie) and Glaucous Gull all in breeding plumage. We were lucky to see the red-throated diver, and ivory gull. I had the best time ever, returning to this place. I hoped to get some better shots of the Red Phalarope and instead got them mating, hoped to get some nice shots of the purple sandpiper and got them on ice, hoped to see the King Eider and got it full frame sitting on the Tundra. Needless to say we had a blast. Hope this gives you an idea of the trip. Cheers,
Krijn

Thanks. Do you have Skype? Can you post a Dovkie image?

[Nico Steenberg]

Great low angle and comp. IMG is sharp and well exposed with great DOF. Well done !