I am not into "Birding" but I am compelled to compliment you on this photo series Josh. Photographic excellence is worthy of respect and admiration and there is much herein that meets that standard. Wow!
mdrchina wrote:
I am not into "Birding" but I am compelled to compliment you on this photo series Josh. Photographic excellence is worthy of respect and admiration and there is much herein that meets that standard. Wow!
Mark, thank you very much for your kind compliment! I am flattered that you like the images. FYI, the eggs of the falcon couple hatched recently; there are 3 chicks that will have to be fed by the parents. Dad has to work extra hard now to feed 2 adults and 3 chicks.
I went to the site yesterday, hoping that I could capture some mid-air food transfer. I saw the father went out to his hunting area on the nearby hill. For the very first time, I saw the female flew out of the nest and waited for her mate half-way. We waited with baited breath and then we saw the male fly back. She took off to meet him but to her and our disappointment, the male didn’t bring any meal... , at least that time-around. I spent 3+ hours but and this is the action I was able to capture. Well, I was able to capture the male posing and flying off the perch, which was good but my main goal now is to capture some mid-air food transfer actions. That’s when the male would either drop the kill he would carry in his claw and the female will catch it or the female would fly somewhat upside down and grab the food from his claw. Either or is fine with me .
This image is cropped since they were still far away. She approached him from below but noticed that he is empty-clawed... .
Beautiful set showing their drive to procreate. Kudos to you for your skillful work! I can imagine it's challenging to say the least, given how quick they are. These are simply stunning portraits with fantastic detail.
Beautiful set showing their drive to procreate. Kudos to you for your skillful work! I can imagine it's challenging to say the least, given how quick they are. These are simply stunning portraits with fantastic detail.
Thanks for posting.
--Kim
Thank you very much for your kind compliment, Kim! I hope I can get them to do some mid-air food transfers before too long. The hard work is ahead of them in raising the chicks.
mdrchina wrote:
Great work borne of still greater patience and skill. I'll bet she gave him hell!
Thank you again, Mark! I spent 3 hours again there this morning. The male made 2 kills while I was there. He ate one far away from the nest and he brought one fairly close to the nest and the female flew up to him, picked up the meal and brought it back to the nest to feed the chicks. Of course, the actions were not always readily visible, or they were facing the wrong direction, etc. like the one here when the female in the back was about to turn around with the kill in her claw. Of course, she was not facing me when she did that. I did manage to catch a few images as she was flying towards the nest down the cliff where I was standing. There were actions this morning alright, although again no mid-air food transfer, and the actions were not always photographable well. Oh, well, there is always another day.
Really sorry I missed this when it was first posted, but better late than never.... So many great comments and all well deserved - captivating photographs, beautiful post processing, subjects (wonder if birds know porn when they see it?? :-D ), action, environment.... Glad you won the competition and so many accolades. Truly a privilege to see this series and the follow-up images.
say_doyster wrote:
Really sorry I missed this when it was first posted, but better late than never.... So many great comments and all well deserved - captivating photographs, beautiful post processing, subjects (wonder if birds know porn when they see it?? :-D ), action, environment.... Glad you won the competition and so many accolades. Truly a privilege to see this series and the follow-up images.
Thanks for posting!!
B
Bill, thank you very much. I am glad that you stopped by and that you liked the images. There is really no need to apologize at all.
, at least that time-around. I spent 3+ hours but and this is the action I was able to capture. Well, I was able to capture the male posing and flying off the perch, which was good but my main goal now is to capture some mid-air food transfer actions. That’s when the male would either drop the kill he would carry in his claw and the female will catch it or the female would fly somewhat upside down and grab the food from his claw. Either or is fine with me 
.
