Reach for the Sky

[Guest]

Now to begin with I admit to not knowing anything much about birds, whenever I see a photo op I just try shooting them.
We were passing by Wallaga Lakes on the NSW South Coast this week when I spotted a family of Pelicans and what appeared to be daddy showing his kids how to fly.

1.
"First you jump in the air as you spread your wings ...
2.
... then flap your wings like crazy ...
3.
... and you're up, up 'n away ...
4.
... too easy!"
5.
If anyone knows what bird the little guy watching in #3 might be, feel free ... is it a young pelican?

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Reach for the Sky

Mark, somedays I visit our 4M and view someone's photos and I find myself "smiling" and "grinning" and thinking "YES what a wonderful story in pictures" ... and this one is PRICELESS !

Thanks for sharing and its time for you to TAKE A BOW !

[Jezzer]

Re: Reach for the Sky

Mark

I can only agree with chevvyF1's comments which hit the nail on the head - my grin was good and proper.
A nice 'fotostory' but well caught and executed as well. Difficult to get it right with your bright light over there and their white plumage. Have to say you would be on a winner just by selecting the pelican because they bring a smile to most people's faces just seeing them.
What camera / lens combo did you use?

Regards

[Guest]

Re: Reach for the Sky

Mark, somedays I visit our 4M and view someone's photos and I find myself "smiling" and "grinning" and thinking "YES what a wonderful story in pictures" ... and this one is PRICELESS ! Thanks for sharing and its time for you to TAKE A BOW !

Thanks there, Chevvy but I think a Bow is unwarranted for these which fell short of what I wanted. I shot most at f/5.6 at iso400 @ 1/4000, which I think was a stupid setting. f/7.1 @ iso350 @ 1/1600 would have been fast enough and resulted in higher IQ I think. Trouble was that I got carried away and didn't take my time or give the shots enough thought - but then one never knows how long the window will remain open.

Mark - I can only agree with chevvyF1's comments which hit the nail on the head - my grin was good and proper.
A nice 'fotostory' but well caught and executed as well. Difficult to get it right with your bright light over there and their white plumage. Have to say you would be on a winner just by selecting the pelican because they bring a smile to most people's faces just seeing them. What camera / lens combo did you use? Regards

Our bright light is always a problem shooting white birds, jeremy. To compensate I mostly set the E-3's exposure compensation at -0.3 or -0.7 EV, and I used the 50-200mm at full zoom for the shots above .

[Floribunda]

Re: Reach for the Sky

These are nice Mark - and a good story too.
I think the little bird is one of the cormorants.
"A wonderful bird the pelican" ......... As the ditty goes!

[Guest]

Re: Reach for the Sky

Thanks Lyn, there seems to be something odd about #1 - to the untrained observer they appear to be a disparate group and watching their behaviour for the best part of a half hour I was still none the wiser as to what was going on. How many species then are there in #1?

[Floribunda]

Re: Reach for the Sky

Thanks Lyn, there seems to be something odd about #1 - to the untrained observer they appear to be a disparate group and watching their behaviour for the best part of a half hour I was still none the wiser as to what was going on. How many species then are there in #1?

Hi Mark - I am not bird expert - but I think what you have here are 3 species.
The Australian Pelican
The Little Pied Cormorant (your attentive little bird!)
The Little Black Cormorant.

In No2 - the bird on the far right of the group is a Juvenile Little Black Cormorant.

The Little Black Cormorants are interesting as they fish co-operatively with the Pelicans, and I suspect that this is the behavior that you were witnessing.
They had either all returned from fishing or were preparing to go, and keeping an eye on each other.

Meant to say that No4 is my favourite shot of the set. Love the way Mr Percy is banking.

[Guest]

Re: Reach for the Sky

Thanks for the IDs Lyn, I have to say that seeing them grouped like that on a sandbar about 50 metres from where I stood, they did capture my interest. It struck me as unusual that different species should appear to be so comfortable that close to each other. If the cormorants and pelicans have some kind of cooperative fishing arrangement then that explains it.

Mr Percy in #4 definitely does deserve a bunch of frequent flyer points for such an graceful bank. Indeed, with those angled wing tips he looks just like a 747 veering away to starboard!

[tommy781]

Re: Reach for the Sky

number 4 is simply fantastic for me

[Guest]

Re: Reach for the Sky

Thank you Tommy - I was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time with the right settings.