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Thread: White-winged Crossbill

  1. #1
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Default White-winged Crossbill

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    Birders and photographers have been flocking to the Jersey shore to see a group of White-winged Crossbills, and a pair of Red Crossbills, that have been visiting some Japanese Black Pines for the past few weeks. I finally got my chance on Thursday to see these rare visitors from the north. Amazing to watch these little birds pry open the cones with their offset mandibles, and then lift out the seeds with their tongues. Also interesting how well their color matches their chosen meal. Form follows function.

    D90 | 500f4 with 1.4X | ISO 640 | 1/1600s @ f7.1 | -0.3 EV | monopod

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Bill:

    Really good colors here, sharp, well exposed, nice sense of habitat/natural history.

    I might try a version with the two needles just in front of the bill removed.

    Hope to see more, perhaps with that unique bill in action.

    Cheers

    Randy

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post
    Bill:

    Really good colors here, sharp, well exposed, nice sense of habitat/natural history.

    I might try a version with the two needles just in front of the bill removed.

    Hope to see more, perhaps with that unique bill in action.

    Cheers

    Randy
    Thanks Randy. I did remove a distracting reddish oof pine cone, but didn't think about the two needles. I'll take a look at that possibility. Maybe tomorrow I'll post an image of the female working on a pine cone.

  4. #4
    Terry Olmsted
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    Those needles don't bother me a bit, Bill. If I were to remove any needles I would remove the ones behind the tail. I really like the overall comp and wonderful detail. Never seen a White-winged Crossbill - we have the Red Crossbill. I'm looking forward to your image of the female working on the cone. Your image is a real treat to see.
    Terry

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    Very nice bird! what a unique bill!
    Lovely light, composition and eye contact. Well done.

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    Bill, I think Randy really has a good suggestion w/ those 2 needles. Sharp and well exposed. Nice work!

  7. #7
    ChasMcRae
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    Nice bird and sort of strange to see it from New Jersey ? Send him this way.
    I love the setting and it makes the pic. removing things would clean it up but if you did not still a great setting.

  8. #8
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Everything works here Bill. I really like the light, detail and colours, and overall nice and sharp too.

  9. #9
    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I love it, even with those two needles. Excellent comp, techs, and habitat. I love the hint of blue in ULC. Very enjoyable image to view.

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    Very nice image, Bill. The color scheme is very attractive and, as you mentioned, form is certainly following function here. Needles don't bother me. I look forward to more from this series.

  11. #11
    Nico Steenberg
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    Great IMG. I like the perch, eye contact and comp. Subject is sharp and well exposed with good colours Well done Bill

  12. #12
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    A super image, I keep looking at it again and again, gorgeous light and colours.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    This one just has a nice look for me. The needles give it a nice "starburst" pattern all emanating away from the focus of the image (bird and cone). If removing any needles, I'd only remove the one closest to the beak.

  14. #14
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Thank you all for the kind comments. I took a quick look at cloning out some needles, and concluded that I sort of like the way the bird is framed by the radiating needles. I might try a version eliminating the one closest to the bill, as Steve suggests.

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    Lifetime Member James Salywoda's Avatar
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    Excellent bird and composition Bill typical habitat of these unique looking species.

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