Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) Rowes Lagoon NSW Australia

[Rod Warnock]

Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) Rowes Lagoon NSW
Canon EOS 7D Lens 400mm L USM 5.6 ISO400 Ext Tube 12mm F7.1 1/800 available light 1 April 2012
On way to Canberra stopped for spell in driving at Rowes Lagoon NSW (water in it after a long..long absence). This was a quick grab shot of a longtime favourite bird. Brought back memories of how excited the late Grove Craven and I were to get images of this species at Canowindra NSW on Kodachrome 10 ASA in the very early 19060s. Despite attempts over the years to get suitable images here was an unexpected opportunity as a party of the Yerllow-rumped Thornbills twittering and feeding ...every lively..not that easy to get a keeper image...lots of rumps with head away. Don't ever expect a single shot taken and a keeper!! People who say they do get them are full of cowyard confetti!! Take a 100 you might get a keeper often you won't.
Thanks for viewing
Best regards
Rod Warnock

[Dave Leroy]

It sounds like a very tough bird to catch up to.
Nicely done on the photo. Nice and sharp with a very clean bg as well as eye contact. You must have been very close.

[Rod Warnock]

Thanks, Dave. Roughly about 5 metres away the 7D with extension tubes doesn't accurately record distance but it does allow fairly vigorous cropping as here and enough space to allow bird to be natural.
Best rregards
Rod

[Robert Holguin]

Great shot. I really like the pose, great light, wonderful background, and nice detail.
Well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Beautiful subject. Awesome details on the upper back, but I get a feeling this is where critical focus was. Also wish for a better head turn, but do realize that cooperation from our beloved birds is not always there and this seems but be a shy species from your description. Flash used?

[Rod Warnock]

Daniel: Thanks for your comments. I agree that focus is on back and head soft by comparison and yes it was flash so my available light comment was an error as the birds were in mottled shade. Must have had a senior moment !!
No! These birds are not shy but they are quick moving and they are reasonably common so the challenge is to get a pose that is sharp and in focus .....therefore many deletes.
Best regards
Rod