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WilliamsonsSS_6730
WilliamsonsSS_6730
hahn23


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Camera: Canon EOS-5D
Lens: Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Location: Upper Beaver Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park
Date: Jul 26, 2012
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/60s
Galleries: Nature, Birds
Date Uploaded: Dec 15, 2012

Viewed: 55
Comments: 11
Favorites: 0

 A strikingly beautiful male Williamson's Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus. He winters in Mexico, but spends his summer in the mountains raising chicks with his mate. Absolutely one of my favorite birds... partly because they are such pleasant birds, but also because they are photogenic.

Between April and early October, I am one of the volunteer Bird Walk leaders in Rocky Mountain National Park. The hikes are 90 minutes and don't require a reservation. All are welcome to join my "ranger" led hikes. Check the park newspapers for time and location.

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AuthorThread
 12/17/2012 01:16:49 AM
A gorgeous creature - love that splash of yellow down the chest and the bit of bright red under the chin.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 08:37:35 PM
Gorgeous work - the background almost mirrors the feathers on this very pretty bird
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 05:19:52 PM
Originally posted by tome:
Beautiful bird, looks like a very small fella. I actually expected the background to be much smoother... could it be due to diffraction of light through the pine needles (assuming this is a pine forest)? Gorgeous image nonetheless, 400mm seems to be your walk-around lens :).

Very little separation of background from bird, which caused the needle detail to be discernible. Had there been several yards of separation, the bokeh would have been very smooth. This is a bird in the wild and it's always a delight just to observe them and photograph them if I can. The bird has the option to flee at any moment. I don't get to choose the background ... other than to be patient and/or move my feet.
 12/16/2012 04:49:39 PM
Beautiful bird, looks like a very small fella. I actually expected the background to be much smoother... could it be due to diffraction of light through the pine needles (assuming this is a pine forest)? Gorgeous image nonetheless, 400mm seems to be your walk-around lens :).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 01:02:01 PM
The bird is great but that background is to die for.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 10:55:03 AM
Beautiful bird and background.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 10:45:22 AM
Love that little flash of red. And the BG is fabulous, setting him off like the little jewel he is.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 09:06:24 AM
Never heard of that bird, great photo of it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 09:00:08 AM
Gorgeous bird, and the bokeh is out of this world!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2012 04:27:21 AM
Originally posted by Pug-H:
Missed the focus on the eye, but a nice bird. Are they related to woodpeckers?

The focus is just fine.
 12/16/2012 04:03:36 AM
Missed the focus on the eye, but a nice bird. Are they related to woodpeckers?
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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