Post your Bird Portraits (2)

Portrait of a Young Bald Eagle
The eagle in early morning light. The eagle appeared above the pier and made its way along the coast line and flew right in front of me. A nice way to start my morning bird photography.

Half of a Cedar Waxwing couple building a nest somewhere near this old maple in my front yard.

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19250730
Green-winged Teal drake

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That's one, squared away Drake there, Mike; very nice!

RDWP wrote in post #19250774
Half of a Cedar Waxwing couple building a nest somewhere near this old maple in my front yard.

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Very pretty sharp shot of this beauty, RDWP!

fotoi wrote in post #19250734
Oh yeah, that’s a beautiful closeup Mike.

Thank you very kindly, fotoi! I really appreciate your encouraging kind words.

avondale87 wrote in post #19250742
Magnificent
Whilst I love my wrens I really admire ducks and their refinery.
Such beautiful colours and detail in this Mike
I expect you'd feel like getting into that water given what we hear of your temperatures. If there's water to find

Thank you a hundred times over, for your glowing, encouraging comments, Richard. We still have water around in a few places, and most of the ducks concentrate there. Our biggest concern is this fall and early winter, when the big migrations come thru. We won't have near the usual amount of water in the valley grasslands, which is so needed by our ducks and geese.

I always enjoy hearing from you, Richard. Your kind words make my day.

Snydremark wrote in post #19250775
That's one, squared away Drake there, Mike; very nice!

Many thanks, Rob! Your compliment is greatly appreciated.

Finch stopped by to say 'elo on a light overcast day, which rendered this particular lighting effect that I don't catch too often.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2m5d​5bm

RW123 wrote in post #19250762
Portrait of a Golden Eagle
The eagle in early morning light. The eagle appeared above the pier and made its way along the coast line and flew right in front of me. A nice way to start my morning bird photography.

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Beauty of a capture, there, Rich! But minor correction that you’ve got a young Bald there, instead of a Golden. The big, axe-like beak and white patterning give it away; added to Goldens not making their way West of the mtns except rarely, and I don’t *believe* ever documented down out of the foothills.

We are exceptionally lucky to live in a place where they’ve recovered so well and grant us these kinds of encounters so often. And you capitalized on the encounter beautifully.

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19250699
Absolutely gorgeous, Bill!

Incredibly sharp, Mark! Very nice capture!

Wow, Richard...this shot is really nice! It's a unique, and very attractive capture! Terrific photography!

Tom...this is really a gorgeous shot! The dove is sharp and beautiful, plus his perch is so attractive. The lovely blurred background definitely makes this shot pop!

Very nice, sharp shot, John! The patterns and colors in the water are quite attractive.

Very nice capture, G88!

Very nicely photographed close-up of this scoter, Adam!

You've got yourself some wonderful subjects with the whistling ducks Paul. These two are such captivating shots, and so well photographed. I've really enjoyed all the images you have posed of the recent Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks.

Thank you Mike for the most generous and kindly comments.
Those Ducks are comical and fascinating to observe.
They'll nest in tree cavities and whistle when they fly by.
Happy trails.

avondale87 wrote in post #19250721
Thanks Robert for your kind comments. Yes we really appreciate these

Adam this is a really beautiful portrait also. Love the colours and water effects
Very nice

That top one is such a beautiful, endearing photo Paul
You've captured that moment so beautifully

Vassilis these are so nice.
You're fortunate to have them but your skills are what enables us to share in their presence

Thanks Eric and Mike, very much appreciated

You've collected some beauties in that locality Matthew.
Another fantastic photo of these striking beauties.

Thank you for the kindly comments Richard.
Happy trails.

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19250730
Green-winged Teal drake

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That's quite a beauty Mike, nice shot.

Summer tanager

IMAGE LINK: https://billmorris.smu​gmug.com …ntheair/Birds/i​-bksZqwp/A

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19250730
Green-winged Teal drake

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Very well shown, the low angle really makes for a strong composition, and your signature color palette style is demonstrated here nicely, Mike Were you crouched or in the prone for this capture?

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19250696
Boy oh boy, Matt...the heat is intense. We've had a couple of 112 degree days, including a string of 100 degree plus days. Unfortunately I have to sit those days out on the couch.

It doesn't matter when people say "it's a dry heat"... 112 is brutal, to the point of being unbearable. I'm miserable over here in our chilly 95, like you I mostly skip these sorts of days. Bring on the Autumn, please.

adam 91 wrote in post #19250522

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2m6E​n2a Common Scoter by Adam Palmer, on Flickr

This shot has it all, Adam, great clarity and detail (sharp water droplets!), eye contact, but what I like most is the subtle blue coloring captured in the plumage.

Snydremark wrote in post #19250645
Nice! I have had a few different birds calling toward the camera recently, too. I've started noticing that odd, serrated structure at the back of the mouth in a number of birds now. Does anyone know what it is? All I can guess is that it must be some sort of thing to help hold on to any....recalcitrant dinners. I've now seen it here, in one of my Wren shots and a Swallow that I captured last weekend.

Doing some digging, you'd be correct in that assumption, those serrations are for gripping food that has other ideas. Can't find an anatomical name for them though.

chuckmiller wrote in post #19250751
Fantastic.

Appreciate the comment, Chuck, thank you!

avondale87 wrote in post #19250721
You've collected some beauties in that locality Matthew.
Another fantastic photo of these striking beauties.

Once again, thank you, Richard. That particular birding spot has been my go-to for a few years now, though in the last year it's been overran by newly minted Covid outdoor adventurers, so it's now rare to have the place to myself like I used to. I have found that going out when it rains, or it's 100F degrees (37.7778 C), usually keeps the fair weather crowds away

RDWP wrote in post #19250774
Half of a Cedar Waxwing couple building a nest somewhere near this old maple in my front yard.

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Nice...