Slim pickins from Texas

MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
edited September 7, 2008 in Wildlife
Well, I had to jump on the bandwagon. :roflAnyhow, I went to the Dallas Zoo yesterday.

Saw this harpy eagle. Man, I would hate to be on the receiving end of those talons. :wow

HarpyEagle1.jpg

I also was able to see this beautiful, but injured bald eagle. It will never be able to fly again, but it had a mate and it seemed happy. I love their strong beaks and eyes.

BaldEagle1.jpg

And then as luck would have it I noticed this ruby throated hummingbird sipping on nectar in one of the gardens at the zoo. My luck was only partial, because after two flashes my batteries went dead. The first two are with flash, the last ones are not and needed to some work to make them respectable.

I wish the wings hadn't obscured the head.
RubyThroatedHummingbird57.jpg

I don't mind this rear view of the feeding hummer. I like the look of the wings and the iridescent line down the back.
RubyThroatedHummingbird54.jpg

As I was chasing this one around it stopped and perched for a few seconds. See the pollen on the top portion of the beak near the base.

RubyThroatedHummingbird59.jpg

RubyThroatedHummingbird58.jpg

I like the reach for the flower with this one. It must have been tired.
RubyThroatedHummingbird53.jpg

Comments

  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2008
    Stephen-

    I like these. I actually don't mind the hidden head of the hummer--the wings are such a nice capture and you can see the beak peeking out and aimed at the blossom. To me, it's a nice change from most hummer shots.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Lauren
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2008
    thumb.gifclap.gifthumb

    RubyThroatedHummingbird58.jpg
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2008
    Slim pickiongs indeed! lol3.gif Mate I love that rear view of the hummer. Different to the usual hummer shots and as you say, the iridescence is beautiful. That harpy is a funny looking bird too! eek7.gif
  • bhowdybhowdy Registered Users Posts: 658 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2008
    Very nice job in these trying times Stephen .... We are officially in the dog days of summer! Bring on the southern migration! clap.gif
    ________________

    Bob
    Maryville, TN.

    http://bhowdy.smugmug.com/
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2008
    good series Stephen...perched hummer is awesomeclap.gif is Gustav gonna be bothering you?
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2008
    redleash wrote:
    Stephen-

    I like these. I actually don't mind the hidden head of the hummer--the wings are such a nice capture and you can see the beak peeking out and aimed at the blossom. To me, it's a nice change from most hummer shots.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Lauren

    Thanks Lauren and double thanks for convincing me that the first shot is worth keeping. thumb.gif
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2008
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    thumb.gifclap.gifthumb

    RubyThroatedHummingbird58.jpg

    Thanks Ric. It turned out pretty swell for being almost completely dark in RAW since my flash didn't fire. It was in some deep shadows trying to stay cool.
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2008
    Wow! It was that recoverable?? I still haven't made the switch to RAW, but that might have finally sold me!
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2008
    Giphsub wrote:
    Wow! It was that recoverable?? I still haven't made the switch to RAW, but that might have finally sold me!

    Yes sir. This is an untouched RAW image that I converted to jpeg just for posting. The hummingbird pics above except for the ones with flash were all this dark but recoverable.

    HummingbirdRAW.jpg

    I have also taken care of the blue color cast that you see on the white plumage around the neck and chest area. Those retouched jpegs are in my galleries.
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2008
    bhowdy wrote:
    Very nice job in these trying times Stephen .... We are officially in the dog days of summer! Bring on the southern migration! clap.gif

    Oh yeah. I am already trying to plan a trip to south Texas again. Migration time is always fun down there. Spring in my area is much better than fall migration though. I'm not sure why.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 5, 2008
    Good set Stephen thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited September 5, 2008
    Some how I had missed these. Good hummers, but I love the harpy clap.gif
  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2008
    Really nice job on all of them thumb.gif
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    Good set Stephen thumb.gif

    Thanks Harry!
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2008
    dlplumer wrote:
    Some how I had missed these. Good hummers, but I love the harpy clap.gif

    No worries...sometimes the forum moves quite quickly. I try to make a habit of checking out other pages other than just the first page to see if I missed any gems. Thanks for the comments.
  • evil eggplantevil eggplant Registered Users Posts: 464 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2008
    harpy eagle? quite a bird. Nice shots, especially the hummers.

    Slim Pickin's my &*%^(& thumb.gif
    Maestro wrote:
    Well, I had to jump on the bandwagon. rolleyes1.gifAnyhow, I went to the Dallas Zoo yesterday.

    Saw this harpy eagle. Man, I would hate to be on the receiving end of those talons. :wow

    HarpyEagle1.jpg

    I also was able to see this beautiful, but injured bald eagle. It will never be able to fly again, but it had a mate and it seemed happy. I love their strong beaks and eyes.

    BaldEagle1.jpg

    And then as luck would have it I noticed this ruby throated hummingbird sipping on nectar in one of the gardens at the zoo. My luck was only partial, because after two flashes my batteries went dead. The first two are with flash, the last ones are not and needed to some work to make them respectable.

    I wish the wings hadn't obscured the head.
    RubyThroatedHummingbird57.jpg

    I don't mind this rear view of the feeding hummer. I like the look of the wings and the iridescent line down the back.
    RubyThroatedHummingbird54.jpg

    As I was chasing this one around it stopped and perched for a few seconds. See the pollen on the top portion of the beak near the base.

    RubyThroatedHummingbird59.jpg

    RubyThroatedHummingbird58.jpg

    I like the reach for the flower with this one. It must have been tired.
    RubyThroatedHummingbird53.jpg
    ___________________________________
    "exxxxcellent" -C. Montgomery Burns
    __________________________________________________
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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2008
    Well Mr. Evil Eggplant, I did have to go to the zoo to get these images. :D
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