Wednesday 13 April 2011

Flying Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) captured from below as it noisily displayed over a coastal pool last week. In the winter they are just a drab plain grey but as the breeding season progresses the adults aquire a rich rusty orange-red to the head, neck and upper breast with the barred flanks. The black tail band is far more distinctive in flight than when they are feeding or sleeping on the ground plus the much long legs than the Bar-tailed version projecting beyond the tail .... all good visual aids when you are trying to compare the two species we regularly see in the UK.   FAB.

[ f/6.3; 1/2000; ISO 320 @ 300mm and cropped]   
Posted by FAB at 13:43
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28 comments:

  1. Kerri Farley13 April 2011 at 18:23

    Oh what an AWESOME in flight shot!!
    WOWZA!

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  2. holdingmoments13 April 2011 at 22:33

    Superb flight capture Frank.

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  3. seijastiina14 April 2011 at 07:32

    Upeita lintukuvia!

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  4. FAB14 April 2011 at 16:55

    Hi Kerri. More by luck than any planned expertise by the watcher but I'm happy with the result.

    Cheers Keith. Appreciate the compliment.

    Hi Seijastiina. Welcome and thank you for your nice comment.
    Tervetuloa ja kiitos kiva kommentti.
    I hope I got the translation correct!

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  5. Stickup Artist14 April 2011 at 17:41

    Hi Frank, thanks for the visit and comment. That is a lovely capture! I have been struggling with images of birds in flight and so appreciate the settings you posted. Gotta be quick! Very interesting about the change of color to the feathers at mating season.

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  6. Inger-M14 April 2011 at 22:17

    Gorgeous bird!

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  7. FAB14 April 2011 at 23:52

    Stickup Artist. Thanks for returning the compliment. It's just a pity all the shots taken weren't as good ... practice, practice is definitely the key.

    Hi Inger-M. Thanks for your visit and comment.

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  8. elvira pajarola15 April 2011 at 07:43

    SUPERB ELEGANT Limosa Limosa in its "summer dress".......
    A true SPECTACLE!!!!
    So beautiful, Frank!!!!

    have a great weekend!!!!!

    ciao ciao elvira

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  9. theconstantwalker15 April 2011 at 21:25

    Lovely flight image...a beautiful bird.

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  10. FAB15 April 2011 at 21:37

    Hi Elvira. I hope you are enjoying some sunny Tuscan sunshine. Have a fabulous weekend. ciao ciao FAB.

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  11. FAB15 April 2011 at 21:38

    Cheers Andrew, a totally unexpected capture!

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  12. jeanlivingsimple16 April 2011 at 03:19

    What a very cool looking bird...and even cooler photo.Happy Birding!

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  13. FAB16 April 2011 at 13:07

    Thank you Jean and a warm welcome to FABirding.

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  14. Coy Hill17 April 2011 at 01:30

    Nice flight shot! Don't you just love it when the subject & the light cooperate!

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  15. FAB17 April 2011 at 21:08

    Thanks Coy. It certainly helps when it all falls into place but I have to admit there was a fair bit of luck involved here.

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  16. Carletta20 April 2011 at 04:43

    Gorgeous shot Frank!
    Like a lovely dancer it sure has fine lines in flight. I'm looking at that very long beak. Good for getting deep in the sand I guess.
    Your heron shot below is fabulous!

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  17. Carletta20 April 2011 at 04:47

    What a wonderful capture of it gliding so effortlessly with outstretched lines like a lovely dancer! I'm looking at that long beak too. I guess that's needed for getting down in the sand.

    Fabulous photo of the heron down below as well!

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  18. Stewart M20 April 2011 at 09:10

    Nice to see gotwits with breeding plumage - they are out of breeding plumage when they are down here.

    Cheers - Stewart M, Australia

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  19. FAB20 April 2011 at 13:56

    Thanks Carletta. Very little sand but a hell of a lot of mud to feed on!

    Cheers Stewart. Fortunately a few hang around to show of their true colours.

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  20. Shifan20 April 2011 at 17:25

    Superb. Love it very much.

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  21. FAB20 April 2011 at 17:42

    Thanks Shifan. Appreciate your visit.

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  22. Chris22 April 2011 at 21:28

    Fantastic flight capture Frank... It has still not returned over here!!!

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  23. FAB22 April 2011 at 21:30

    Cheers Chris. The winds are still in the wrong direction!!

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  24. MadSnapper26 April 2011 at 20:44

    He is beautiful, odd to change colors like that, i don't know very much about birds and this is news to me. I went through many of your post from the past, the mandarin duck made me laugh, the blue tit if my most favorite photo and the expression on the ducks face is priceless.

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  25. FAB26 April 2011 at 21:07

    Hi Sandra. Thanks for dropping by and I'm delighted you enjoyed a spin through some of the pics. Cheers FAB.

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  26. Kim, USA26 April 2011 at 23:22

    Oh my this is awesome. The beck looks long and sharp. ^_^ Happy week days!

    WBW

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  27. Carol Mattingly3 May 2011 at 22:56

    Frank where have I been. I had no idea you had a second blogsite. Well I do now so you can bet I'll be back. Carol

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  28. FAB3 May 2011 at 23:31

    Hi Carol. I have just unraveled a problem with the link image on the main blog (plus a few other missing pics!) so I'm delighted you found it.

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I hope you enjoyed your visit and I appreciate your comments.

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