It was real slow for bird photography out on Antelope Island this morning but I did get a nice lift off shot from this Western Meadowlark.
Western Meadowlark lift off
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Prairie Birder has a Friday theme of “Feathers on Friday” on their blog, I thought it would be great if some of my viewers added their Friday bird images as links over there. A great young birder who lives on the prairies of Alberta, Canada whose favorite subjects in school are history and natural history/science.
Mia
More Western Meadowlark images
More Prairie Falcon Fun ~ This time with prey
Signs of Spring ~ American Avocets and Double-crested Cormorants
Western Meadowlark - Up close and personal
He’s a determined looking Meadowlark isn’t he! Outstanding take-off shot. You captured the force and the muscles behind the movement very well.
Laurence, thanks for your very kind comment on this image. He is a very determined looking Meadowlark!
Gorgeous capture! The colors are so vivid, especially with nice pale background!
Thanks for very much for commenting Tammy. The pale background does help that yellow to really stand out!
Amazing capture! Perfect DOF! Love the posture at lift-off and that chest color just knocks you in the face!
Thanks Kathy, it worked out very nicely despite the bird flying almost directly at me. The Western Meadowlarks are getting their breeding plumage and that yellow sure is an eye catcher!
This posture really shows off the yellow breast. Mia, when you are shooting at fast shutter speeds, do you leave the lens image stabilization on?
Thanks for your comment Julie. That breast really is yellow!
I always have my VR on with the 200-400mm VR, with my 80-400mm VR lens I only shut it off when it was on a tripod.
Beautiful photo as usual Mia. Your photos make me sigh from beauty and envy.
Thank you very much Linda. Our subjects are so wonderful!
Very beautiful, as always Mia!
My link is: Feathers on Friday-Black-billed Magpie http://prairiebirder.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/feathers-on-friday-35/
PrairieBirder, thank you very much.
I love your Black-billed Magpie image!