Black-tailed Godwits coming in to land

[loose cannon]

(Well I think they are BT Godwits.)

Possibly could do with more room around the birds but had to crop out some gunk.

Very early morning grab so shutter speed was less than desirable but sometimes that produces interesting results. I quite like the blur in this as it reduces the clutter if you know what I mean.

Bit more light on the lead bird's head wouldn't go astray but only noticed that after posting.

[Gaz]

Very nice, I really like the blur as well...completes the story.
Can't help with an ID...to me, if it has wings there's a good chance it's bird

[Alan]

Love shots like this Mick - that shutter speed works a treat

Can't help with the ID sorry

A friend of mine used to say there were only 3 kinds of bird - dicky bird, seagull and eagle

Makes life much easier

[loose cannon]

I've broken it down to bird images I keep and those I don't. Removes all the confusion....and speaking of confusion, don't get me started on shorebirds.

Slow shutter seems to work as long as there's a glimmer of good light somewhere in the image. This was really dark at capture but I could see some blotches of bright white on the lcd and thought it would scrub up ok with some tlc in pp.

Thanks guys.

[seaslug]

Beautiful image. That light is near perfect.

[loose cannon]

Thanks Greg. It get's bright very quickly up here in the northern latitudes and there's a brief window of opportunity, maybe twenty minutes, sometimes as short as five for really good light. In the wet season I can be home from a birding excusion well before 6:30 am. Once the sun cracks the horizon it's not long before it's blindingly bright.

Can stay out and still get good images for at least another hour or two most days but the good light disappears quickly and some days it just doesn't happen at all.

[Phoenix]

Nice effect indeed, great panning job.
Reckon you have two kinds of waders as one has black legs and the rest are yellow. I think the black legged one might be a bar tailed godwit.

[kevinj]

That is a great image Mick,love the effect the slow shutter speed has created and the lighting is spot on.If it was mine,it would have a frame around it and be proudly displaying it where my family and friends could enjoy it.

[loose cannon]

Nice effect indeed, great panning job.
Reckon you have two kinds of waders as one has black legs and the rest are yellow. I think the black legged one might be a bar tailed godwit.

Well spotted Jo!

That is a great image Mick,love the effect the slow shutter speed has created and the lighting is spot on.If it was mine,it would have a frame around it and be proudly displaying it where my family and friends could enjoy it.

Thanks Kev, most of my favourite images over the years generally are outside of the 'normal' standard issue bird images, pushing the boundaries in less than optimum conditions can deliver good rewards . Helps if you work the same area over and over, this spot is close to home and I feel very comfortable working here.

[sejac]

Very poetic look. Not sure what that actually is either, but it looks beautiful.

As other know-alls have already commented, the slow shutter works a treat. Nice light too. The light on the lead bird's head ..... Sir Mick, it doesn't matter, or in any way detract from the image. Perfect as is.

[loose cannon]

Thank you Charles.

[P Plates]

Beautiful. I love the tones and with the sharp heads with blurred wings coming into landing, it works perfectly.