Ok guys as many of you know I took a trip into the delta. I have to say i'm really impressed of what I've seen. The local fisherman/guide told me that there are more than 300 bird species! we were on boat and sometimes stopped by the banks. The fisherman said he's getting a lot of people coming in for a guided tour...so much so that he's almost ready to quit fishing all together! I really think that's the way to go..it gives them enough € to quit fishing and helps nature too
I can tell you,coming from Milan downtown to such a place was like going to disneyland. There were birds flyin' all around us...sometimes they were so many of them that the trees were white w poop...and the smell
I got like 3 gb filled and I ain't shooting 10fps! these are the 1st few I processed last night. I'm processing species by species.
It's the 1st time I didn't use the Tc on the 70-300 IS in months
All these shots are at ISO 200; XT+70-300 IS at F6.3 and F7.1
Almost all shots are full frame or slightly cropped.
Unlike many other aquatic birds Cormorants feathers are not water proof! that is something i've learned on this trip (that helps them diving to greater depths-no air bubbles)
1. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) coming toward us all wet and slippery http://www.pbase.com/nellotodica/image/96577589/original.jpg
2. After a bath trying to find a place to relax and dry out completely: http://www.pbase.com/nellotodica/image/96577587/original.jpg
3.The 1 leg pose in the sun: http://www.pbase.com/nellotodica/image/96577588/original.jpg
Next species:
4. White wagtail (Motacilla alba). in Italy we call them "White ballerina"
Too bad there's no eye contact here.. http://www.pbase.com/nellotodica/image/96577590/original.jpg
5.That's more like it http://www.pbase.com/nellotodica/image/96577592/large.jpg
Those eyes my darling..........they are like gem stones Absolutely cool cool cool on that commorant, those back feathers appear as a painting. Lovely little 'ballerina', looks a tad bit soft but heck the BG is killer on the last one I look forward to seeing many more of this outing Nello......
Excellent job, Nello. Those cormies must be used to people. They are very skittish around here. I like the third shot best. First time I see a ballerina. Nice looking bird. # 5 is my pick. Looking forward to see the the whole Po's delta series.
Socrate
Thx Socrate Yes the cormorants are used to fisherman's boats! actually they follow the boat sometimes looking for some easy catch as some of the fish falls through/jumps out of the net that's why he was checking us out
La ballerina bianca is quite common. I've seen a few in the city too but when they have to nest they hang around water most of the time! In the country side they'll come in the house if you let the window open looking for some food Shasoc wrote:
Excellent job, Nello. Those cormies must be used to people. They are very skittish around here. I like the third shot best. First time I see a ballerina. Nice looking bird. # 5 is my pick. Looking forward to see the the whole Po's delta series.
Socrate
May 06, 2008 at 12:26 AM
anthony whitmo Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Cormorants are such a kewl looking bird. I love their eyes and their displays. I watched a television program that showed how in the oriental countries they have cormorants trained to fish for them. They tie a small rope around the Cormorants neck, the cormorant dives off the boat into the water, returns and jumps back in the boat with a fish in it's mouth. The fishermen grab the cormorant gently around the head and the cormorant spits the fish out. The rope around the cormorants neck is to prevent it from swallowing the catch..
it was pretty kewl to watch......
Looks like you had fun on your trip and look forward to more
Yeh they have amazing eyes..they hypnotise you
I like the last 1 too but I cut her tail off. Mea culpa on that 1 Karl Witt wrote:
Those eyes my darling..........they are like gem stones Absolutely cool cool cool on that commorant, those back feathers appear as a painting. Lovely little 'ballerina', looks a tad bit soft but heck the BG is killer on the last one I look forward to seeing many more of this outing Nello......
Karl
Thx for the kind comments Lil & Roger & Tim. it was fun indeed. I think i'll be back pretty soon Lil Judd wrote:
Great series Nello,
just love the Cormorant shots
Lil thehotel wrote:
Nice captures, from these shots you had to of had a GOOOOD time.
Wacky roger Tim Kuhn wrote:
Wonderful cormies Nello. It sound like you had a wonderful time. Nothing beats the smell of thousands of birds!
Bring on the next batch!! Nice stuff.
Tim
Glad you like the cormorant Jude I'm still trying to figure out why the last 2 are kinda soft. It's not shutter speed thats 1/250s w IS. The thing is that the upper part of their body is very sharp (you can see the individual hairs) but the bottom lacks detail! maybe the detail was just too fine for the lens to resolve. Jude Perera wrote:
Nello, you have done a very good job on the first three images. Well done. Last two shots looks bit soft.
Jude
Sounds like a dream trip Nello. Now I know why cormorants often spread out their wet wings to dry in the sun, they probably can't fly when soggy! Nice work on this series.
Thank you Terry! they're quite fun to observe. I watched them dive,dry out, then dive again for about 40min. It was waaay to cool, so much so I forgot to take more shots of them Terry D wrote:
Man you nailed em Nello. Some great shots of the Cormorant ...can't wait to see the rest.
I've never seen them closeup... pretty neat looking birds.
T
Yes they're quite awesome
The dof was just enough to fit the bird and the fallen tree. When the subject is still (like this 1) I usually check the Dof w the dof button on the side of the lens mount i am gray wrote:
The eyes in # 2 are awesome. Your DOF is great!
Glad you liked them Chris! Chris Willis wrote:
Nello, those cormorant shots are excellent, congratulations and thanks for posting them.
Chris
Edited on May 06, 2008 at 05:09 PM
May 06, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
these are the 1st few I processed last night. I'm processing species by species.
Well done. 
Last two shots looks bit soft. 