Bosque Blackbird Blast-Off


Posted by Bill Whala on Wed Nov 26, 2003 8:43 pm

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Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds Bosque Del Apache NWR

Nothing special about this. I just like how nearly every single bird in this image is at a 23.58 degree angle to the horizon. :mrgreen:

Last December we came across this flock of blackbirds that were flying from a tree to the cornstalks and back to the tree. Every time a car would come by these birds would fly from one spot to another as a large flock. I decided to see what I could get of them doing this so the next time I saw a car coming I pointed the camera at the birds while they were on the cornstalks. Sure enough they flew when the car got to a particular distance from them. I fired off two or three shots of them. This was the best one.

I can't wait to get back down there this weekend.

Nikon F5, 300/4 AF-S, TC20-EII, tripod and ballhead.
Provia 100, RGB Matrix metering @ 0, Aperture Priority @ f9
Full frame.

Comments and critiques are always welcome and appreciated. Thanks for looking. :)
Bill Whala

"Aves of similar plumage tend to converge with one another"

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by AlexC on Wed Nov 26, 2003 8:55 pm
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I think it going to be torture week for me!!!
8) 8) 8)
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by Jill on Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:07 pm
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Bill, Perhaps Alex should take a leave of absence for at least a week! This image is outstanding!!! How the birds don't bump into one another has always fascinated me!!
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by Jim Urbach on Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:21 pm
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Bill,

A most interesting blast off. I like the mixture of the 2 blackbirds.

Jim
Enjoy viewing

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by Steve Mason on Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:49 pm
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Very cool!!!
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by Andrew Mc on Wed Nov 26, 2003 11:05 pm
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You sure it's not the horizon that's at 23.58 degrees to the birds ;). Nice one.
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by Peterh on Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:42 am
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Great shot of this flock.

It's not only geese over there...

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by Mike Wilson on Thu Nov 27, 2003 4:35 am
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What an awesome image. I will be keeping an eye out for these birds hoping to get something half this good! Sweet.
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by Penney Goodwin on Thu Nov 27, 2003 6:54 am
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You're too funny! I love this. I am definitely going next year - these flight shots are amazing, but experiencing the sounds must be over the top.
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by Ken Newcombe on Thu Nov 27, 2003 7:13 am
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Bill,

Love the red and yellow, well done!
 

by Jim Zipp on Thu Nov 27, 2003 7:53 am
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Bill, I love the mix or red and yellow in these guys. Nice shot.
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by BrianS on Thu Nov 27, 2003 8:48 am
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I really like this post. Great uniformity and I also wonder how they don't bump into one another.
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by Wil Hershberger on Thu Nov 27, 2003 9:17 am
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Awesome shot. I like the mix of colors and the uniformity. Outstanding image.
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by George DeCamp on Thu Nov 27, 2003 10:37 am
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This is just wild! Awesome image, wish I saw this and captured it like this!
 

by Chris Valentine on Thu Nov 27, 2003 11:40 am
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This is great! The mix of RW and YH blackbirds makes this shot sing just a little louder. Headed for Bosque tonight, can't wait!
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by Robert Ludwick on Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:25 pm
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AlexC wrote:I think it going to be torture week for me!!!
8) 8) 8)
Me too. I promised myself that I will not go to Bosque until I get a new DSLR and 500/4. Excellent shot BTW.

Bob
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by E.J. Peiker on Thu Nov 27, 2003 3:17 pm
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Very cool - I hope there is a flock of these around this weekend.
 

by Bruce Sherman on Thu Nov 27, 2003 3:20 pm
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Great work on this one, Bill. Who says "Birds of a feather flock together"? Obvioiusly nobody told these guys.
 

by Carol Clarke on Fri Nov 28, 2003 3:40 am
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This is a great shot Bill, wonderful flashes of colour and sharpness and the icing on the cake for me is the perfect diagonal across the image.

Very nice!!

8) :shock:
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by Wayne Ellis on Fri Nov 28, 2003 4:58 am
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Bill,

I really like this, well captured.
Comments and reposts welcome

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