BIRDS 115 – STARLING (MONO)
November 1, 2019 16 Comments
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Large flocks of Starlings roam the flatlands of the Somerset Levels in autumn.
Other recent bird pictures are here: 1 2 3 4 5 .
Click onto the image to open another version in a separate window, and click onto that image to further enlarge it.
Technique: Z 6 with 70-300 Nikkor lens at 70mm; 1600 ISO; Lightroom, using the Camera Dramatic profile; Court Farm, southeast of East Huntspill, on the Somerset Levels; 25 Oct 2019.
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About Adrian Lewis
This is great fun. I’ve been watching the Starlings and other blackbirds gathering on the wires between the highway and the fields lately but there aren’t any of this type of tower in that area, just the normal wires and poles. This presented a great opportunity and you knew what to do. 🙂
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I looked up at the pylon through the viewfinder and was completely taken aback – it was raining hard and I was behind the wheel of my car. Haha! a pic for us birders!!!!!! >>> Sturnus vulgaris is the bird. 🙂
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Wonderful strong and dramatic image; love the processing. We get flocks of starlings here – usually twice a year – but have only seen them once this year, in Spring. They come and noisily invade our bird feeders. I didn’t used to like it because they frightened off all the little birds but I have learned to enjoy them being around.
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Starlings are great – garrulous, sociable, always busy and bustling around. Glad you like the picture, M, it was quite a sight. A 🙂
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Their feathers are so beautiful; iridescent. I’d like to get a decent close-up!
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Absolutely! The best way might be to conceal yourself near your feeders when they’re around – but you’d still need a telephoto.
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Beautiful image, and strictly black and white.
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Michael, thank you – yes, lots of contrast, courtesy of another LR reproduction of one the Z 6’s picture controls. Adrian
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As always, very creative shot Adrian. Love the composition and b&w treatment. I like to observe flocks of birds… be it in the fields or on light posts along the freeways. I find them intriguing because it reminds me of our social life — some like to hang in a large group, some in a smaller group and then there are the loners who likes to hang out by themselves even if it makes them the sole target. The more I hang with the society, the more I find myself wanting to be the lone bird… but then again, I’ve always been somewhat of a lone bird. 😀
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Emily, I haven’t heard from you for ages, and its very good to do so again now – I hope things are well with you, my friend. As for me, I’m getting older and achier, but otherwise I’m fine.
I know what you mean about birds flocking – LOL! maybe I’m a lone bird too >>> but, as you say, lone birds are the sole target! Very good to hear from you. A 🙂
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Good to hear you too… and know that you are doing fine. Yes, it has been a while since my last blog. Work had kept me super busy and not in a good way. So after 2 1/2 years, I flew the coop. Your post reminds me of my ex-job. I was definitely a lone bird at work and was a constant target from my flock. Unfortunately, you can be with a big flock and still be the sole target lone bird. But all is good… I got my life back. 🙂
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Getting your life back is the thing, that’s what really matters. Retirement has brought the same thing for me. Good luck for the future!!! A 🙂
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Interesting image, nice.
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Thank you, Ted! A 🙂
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Excellent shot! Are they preparing for something?
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Thanks, Harrie! Not preparing for anything in particular, I think, just roaming the open countryside, feeding in large flocks on the fields – much better to be in a flock, because if a predator (eg a Sparrowhawk) appears, there are many more pairs of eyes to spot it >>> and then many more whirling bodies to confuse it visually as it makes it attack >>> whereas a lone bird only has two eyes and is the only thing in view – the sole target, the only thing on the menu!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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