Male Osprey Perching

On a nesting pole at Caloundra. The female is behind him in the nest.

Shot with stacked TCs (James' Kenko 2x TC and my Canon 1.4x TC) on my 400/5.6L (total focal length 1120mm). Very slight crop for composition reasons.

View all photos taken: Saturday, 30th May 2009, This photo: 11:35am

Previous Photo: Brahminy Kite

Comments

  • James Lagden said:
    I would be pleased with that one.
    I think they should tidy the nest a bit to remove those twigs that stick out all over the place ;-)
  • maasha said:
    Not hand held I presume ...
  • [ Kane ] said:
    OMG, the reach! hahah wicked.
  • SkattyKat said:
    Gotta love that one David !!
    Wonder who his hair stylist is ?? lol
    Fantastic !
  • Adam Randell said:
    Wow!! That a heck of a ZOOM!!! Well captured David.
  • David de Groot said:
    Oh I know, very poor housekeeping indeed!
    No, on a tripod for this one. I considered handholding, but I'd pushed the iso a bit already and figured it was just as easy on the tripod as he wasn't moving much.
    Yep :) And it took it really well - no noticeable CA, still very sharp, I'm quite impressed really.
    Scruffy aren't they ? ;-)
    It would have been good to be able to get on the roof of the two story apartments off to the left-rear of the bird and thus been on the same level as him, but I think I'd need even more focal length then.
  • looby88 said:
    Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
    The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
    ..... okay so its an osprey not a jabberwock, impressive set of weaponry even so
    I'm liking this new lens !
  • David de Groot said:
    hehehe they are indeed very impressive claws (and beak).
    What's really funny is watching them hunt. They dive down and actually land on the water, then flop about until they can get airborne again, all while gripping a fish in it's talons.
  • looby88 said:
    They are quite a rare bird here and have to be protected from thieving so and so's who would pinch their eggs, I have never seen one, one day perhaps, perhaps if I go to Scotland I might see one, call in on Tim and eat his cakes, he has promised me a cake !! Thats worth a 500 mile trip isnt it !! Oh and another 500 miles back of course, fortified with yet more cake for the journey !!
  • David de Groot said:
    They're rare in some parts of Australia too, just not around my parts ;-) Mostly habitat destruction is having an impact. They like to nest in tall trees out in the open near water, and housing developments tend to remove that sort of thing :(
  • looby88 said:
    housing developments and humankind in general have a lot to answer for. I'm guessing you have protected National parks like we do, and nature reserves... not big enough in my opinion generally, and too scattered, not linked up. There are folks waking up for the need of " green corridors " for animals to move along.
    Big : (
    from me too
  • David de Groot said:
    There's finally a move here to have more green corridors, but it's taken a lot of time, and often the mighty $ wins out :(
  • Cass n Dan said:
    Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :D
  • The_Munchable_Is said:
    That's Staggering that you got such a great quality shot with both teleconvertors on... Nice job
  • David de Groot said:
    Thanks!
    It's pretty darn impressive eh ? Very sharp lens this.
  • linesiam1 said:
    very nice!
  • David de Groot said:
    Thanks :)