When Swans attack!

[pknight]

This Black Swan did not like the Silver Gull getting too near the water. Another use for the swan's long neck.

I also included individual shots of these two. All taken with Sigma 700-200 f/2.8 EX, ISO 200, as indicated.

126mm, 1/2000 @ f/5
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~knight/ssg.jpg

200mm, 1/250 @ f/5
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~knight/bs.jpg

200mm, 1/640 @ f/10
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~knight/sg.jpg

[dancinec]

Very nice captures, the first one looks like a sock puppet! Unreal the very long neck. I don't recognize the Silver Gull, was this taken in a zoo?

[Anthony J Howe]

Good shots, love the long neck of the Black swan, they have a lot of uses and this is one of them. he looks definitely ruffled in the second shot.
All very good shots.

[catsith]

funny series!

[DaleP]

Dennis: Given that the Black Swan and Silver Gull are Australian birds, I'd guess that pknight took them on holidays down here or is currently visiting. I can't see why any zoo would have a Silver Gull, as they're almost regarded here as a pest they are that numerous.

Nice shots pknight. I like the solo gull shot. He looks like he had alot of attitude that day.

[Gary Fairhead]

Nice shots with the second shot being my favourite,,,,,,very sharp and nicely exposed...a little more room on the right would have been nice.

[stoneylonesome]

Great capture, boy talk about a couple PO'd birds, hate to get between them. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pknight]

Thanks all.

DaleP: Actually these are in the zoo in my hometown, part of the Australia exhibit. There were a dozen or so wallabies in the next enclosure.

Gary: I agree about the cropping on the swan. I did these up fast for the web and used my default 4:5 crop ratio in PS.

[DaleP]

Ahhhh OK. I stand corrected. Is the gull part of the exhibit as well? I was under the impression they were a mostly Aussie type of gull, and as I said before, I find it odd that they would be exhibited.

[Reyno]

LOL!!! Good and funny captures.

[pknight]

Ahhhh OK. I stand corrected. Is the gull part of the exhibit as well? I was under the impression they were a mostly Aussie type of gull, and as I said before, I find it odd that they would be exhibited.

Yep, they are part of the exhibit, probably because they are native to Australia and thereby lend some additional authenticity to the exhibit. I had never seen one before this specimen. I would not be surprised if there were some pretty common American animals in zoos elsewhere in the world.

[Woolburr]

Not much of a birder, but can't help but comment on a shot that makes me smile and laugh. That first one is just hysterical. Very nicely done!

[Sindri Skulason]

Very good shots. Shot number two is my favorite. :-)