"Not so" Great-tailed Grackle - First Post

Posted by Wayne Nicholas on Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:22 am

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Between the heat and the molting, these guys can get down right ugly. I couldn't resist taking the photo since he was striking such a pose. The way I look at it, my posts can only go up from here.

Thanks for looking.

Canon 10 & 500mm IS w/1.4x TC on Kirk window mount
ISO 400 1/60 @ f/5.6
Partial -1/3
Fill -2
RAW

[b]Wayne Nicholas[/b]
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by Heather Forcier on Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:31 am

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Okay, so it looks a little ruffled, but you got that beautiful color in the feathers - very cool!

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by Anthony Medici on Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:36 am

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Ugly, maybe. But the image still looks great. Great composition taking advantage of the over the shoulder look.

Tony

Last edited by Anthony Medici on Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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by LHays on Fri Aug 22, 2003 5:04 am

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Wayne
He may be scruffy but I wouldn't have passed this shot up either. It's gorgeous. The colors, pose, and detail are excellent. Glad to see you here.

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by Paula G on Fri Aug 22, 2003 5:14 am

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Hi looks lovely and scruffy, Wayne, True to life. I like his colours and pose.
Cool shot.
Fancy, meeting you here!!

Paula Graham
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by Andrew Mc on Fri Aug 22, 2003 6:43 am

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I've never seen one of these before, but I think "grackle" is a pretty good name for this ruffled looking thing

. You really have captured it nicely.

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by Laura Stiefel on Fri Aug 22, 2003 7:19 am

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Scruffy indeed! The over the shoulder look is terrific and I love the comp.

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by AlexC on Fri Aug 22, 2003 8:24 am

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This is what parenthood can do to you!!, I did to me !!!
Now imagine not being able to change your pants and shirt for 3 to 5 months at a time, I surely would look worse than this!!
All the Grackles in my area look the same!! A little over exposure wise, but not bad!!
Congrats!!!

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by E.J. Peiker on Fri Aug 22, 2003 8:41 am

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Oh man he is pretty beat up. I see these birds in the summer with completely missing tails - just recently found the whole tail assembly of a female in my backyard and amazingly they still fly. I love the colors in this one and the perch/background.

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by Alan Murphy on Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:30 am

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Wayne,

The quality of light in this image makes up for any violation of dress code the bird came with. Great shot.

Alan

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by Sandy Mossberg on Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:40 am

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Wayne, my Boat-tailed Grackles dress better than your Great-tailed ones. This guy appears disgusted with the cards he's been dealt. I don't blame him.

I really like the image. The iridescence is well displayed. I might move the bird a hair to our right in the frame.

Great to see you posting.

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by Richard on Fri Aug 22, 2003 12:44 pm

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Wayne,

Killer over the shoulder pose! Gorgeous color, especially on the background and back of the bird. Very well done!

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by matt kuchta on Fri Aug 22, 2003 12:46 pm

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Very amusing pose - scruffy indeed. Nice juxtaposition with such a soft BG. Color is wonderful.
-matt

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by RichardMittleman/Gon2Foto on Fri Aug 22, 2003 1:30 pm

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Nice image of a bird who looks as if he was out drinking last night and got in a bar fight...and lost.

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by Wayne Nicholas on Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:07 pm

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E.J. Peiker wrote:Oh man he is pretty beat up. I see these birds in the summer with completely missing tails - just recently found the whole tail assembly of a female in my backyard and amazingly they still fly. I love the colors in this one and the perch/background.

I see quite a few Great-tailless Grackles here, too, E.J. I am just so amazed when they can still fly, I forget to get a shot.

Sandy Mossberg wrote:Wayne, my Boat-tailed Grackles dress better than your Great-tailed ones. This guy appears disgusted with the cards he's been dealt. I don't blame him.

Hey Sandy. It's good to have your comments back. Always insightful with the perfect mix of wit.

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by Dennis Olivero on Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:28 pm

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Wayne, the feathers here made me chuckle. Thanks for the smile and good to see you're here..

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by Larsen on Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:35 pm

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Nice photography! The bird makes me think of the saying "look what the cat dragged in", with an added addition: "and look what it did to it first".

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by Wayne Nicholas on Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:51 pm

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Larsen wrote:Nice photography! The bird makes me think of the saying "look what the cat dragged in", with an added addition: "and look what it did to it first".

ROFL!

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by Jim Urbach on Fri Aug 22, 2003 4:50 pm

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Wayne, One scruffy looking fellow but lovely colors in what feathers remain.

Jim

Enjoy viewing

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by Wil Hershberger on Fri Aug 22, 2003 4:58 pm

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Wonderful comp and exposure of the bird. Too bad that he didn't dress for his portrait.

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