The swamphen and the Pelican

stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
edited December 9, 2008 in Wildlife
Slim Pickins from some new spots.
Holes in the ground with water in them.

1. Purple Swamphen

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2.

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3. Pelican flying, doh!

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4.

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Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
steve
Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
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Comments

  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2008
    They all look pretty good to me. thumb.gif I guess slim pickins is a relative phenomenon rolleyes1.gif

    Dan
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2008
    Thanks dan.

    I get bored easily.. :D
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
    Blog + Twitter
  • EkajEkaj Registered Users Posts: 245 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2008
    Wow nice shots on the swamphen. Is it related to a chicken?
  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2008
    Thanks, ekaj,

    I doubt if the Purple Swamphen are related to domestic chickens, but i do not know.
    They belong to the Rail Family.
    And they are in the same Order (Gruiformes) as cranes, rails, moorhens, and coots.
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2008
    The swamphen is a very colorful subject. I wish we had some of them.
    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!"
  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2008
    Sorry Harry, they are native to Australia and have spread to some pacific islands and New Zealand as well..
    Maybe they will make it all the way across the ocean one day.. :D
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
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  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2008
    I just got back from eNZed and these guys are all over the place. I didn't have a long lens and didn't get a decent image of one though we saw literally hundreds. We thought they were beautiful but they're not very highly thought of by the people who live around them. Apparently they tear up farmers fields and pastures and in the suburbs they scatter rubbish around when they put the bins out for pickup. Also the Kiwis claim that they are native there. Sounds like yet another thing for Ozzies and Kiwis to argue about ne_nau.gif
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2008
    Dan, we sent them over to annoy our kiwi cousins... rolleyes1.gif
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
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  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2008
    stevehapp wrote:
    Dan, we sent them over to annoy our kiwi cousins... rolleyes1.gif

    Mission accomplished :D
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2008
    The Swamphen is definitely a cool subject...I'd keep after it.mwink.gif
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2008
    Cool Steve. Keep trying at the swamphens. In the sunlight they are just brilliant.

    You can add possums (the Australian version) to the list of things we gave to NZ. They just love the little critters! rolleyes1.gif
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2008
    hi mike, where ya been, mate? :D

    cheers,
    steve
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
    Blog + Twitter
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2008
    I really like the color of the swamphen! Good looking bird! Pelicans are always fun to shoot. They aren't very skittish and you can get some heckuva good BIFs with them as well.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 9, 2008
    Thanks Stephen.
    I have been really enjoying the pelicans gliding lately. They really can soar with a minimum of effort..
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
    Blog + Twitter
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited December 9, 2008
    stevehapp wrote:
    hi mike, where ya been, mate? :D

    cheers,
    steve

    Hi Steve. Busy with new job and other stuff going on. Haven't been online much.
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
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