Least Bittern In Peak Breeding Plumage.

[Daniel Cadieux]

• Canon EOS R6
• EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III
• ƒ/5.6
• 700mm
• 1/1250s
• ISO 1600
• Daniel Caxieux
• Mon, 05 June 2023 9:07 AM
• Daniel Cadieux
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.3 (Windows)

My first image of one as well (although I've seen a few from quite far away). I could here it hidden in the reeds, so I tried audio. It began coming closer almost immediately - I could see the movement in the reeds of it coming closer. It settled on this spot here that you see, I could not have asked for any better! I turned off the audio and it stayed there for 10 minutes, scanning left and right before retreating back to where it was. Such a cool bird!

Canon R6 + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC III, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1250s., f/5.6, ISO 1600, natural light (normally too late in the morning on a sunny day, but the sun was covered by thick smoke coming from forest fires north of us), FF, handheld. Minor bill cleanup near the lores, and a few other white specks on the plumage.

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Congratulations I bet you were pleased with the result, I think most people would have been. Colours look pleasing and a clear shot of the head, well done.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Very nice Dan, well composed as ever with great space to look into. I think you may have been a little conservative on the SS/ISO, I might have gone to 3200 to boost the SS for any slight movement and the R6 can easily cope will little issue on the IQ.

Just a thought but coming in from the LHS just to the second green shoot, may offer a better/cleaner edge?

TFS
Steve

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

HI Dan ... he looks like a guard at a night club :bg3: , I will not you in .... :t3
Composition is nice as is the stunning pose of the subject . Wish the dead piece of reed not that large in the middle of the frame ...
Very nice image .

TFS Andreas

 

[Brian Sump]

A dandy Daniel. Man that pose... haha.

Contemplative looks is fascinating. Talons for days, my gosh.

Great placement of the head/eye in the frame using the upper third line. Nice colors throughout. A peach my friend!

 

[William Dickson]

Well captured Dan. Natural looking and I like the pose with the feet grabbing the reeds. I have never seen a Bittern, so thanks for sharing this.

Will