Spoonbills preening, well most of them.

[Tom Rambaut]

7d, 500mm + 1.4 ext, 1/2000 @ 5.6, iso 400.

I waited for a long time just to get three all preening at the same time and on the same side. No. 4 just was not interested in self beautification and its head was behind spoonbill infront. It then put its bill in the water and I could see its head. Took this and soon after they all moved off.

Thanks Tom

Just noticed some sort of lines happening in the background, do others see this?

[Mike Milicia]

Nicely seen and great job getting all three sharp and 3 good preening positions.
Exposure looks good as well.
But that fourth bird is a problem for me. Would have been very cool without it.

I do see the lines in the BG. Are they not in the RAW file?

[Tom Rambaut]

I might try to take it out - have not done much of that sort of thing. I think it may be difficult as the two bird merge into each other.

I only noticed the line when I posted it. I'll look at the raw file and I think it can be rectified.

Thanks for the comments Mike.

[Stu Bowie]

Tom, always good to capture the same behavioural poses from numerous subjects at the same time. I see the lines too. You will probably see them in your RAW file, and they are most probably some sort of OOF fence line. I would maybe run some NR on the BG too.

[Dave Leroy]

I agree very well seen. Fourth bird is a bit of a nuisance given its pose and location, but other three are great.

I have sometimes seen far shore lines/ reflections show up as lines and have used a double dose of bg NR to blur them a bit.

Dave