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African Fish Eagle


African Fish Eagle
Photo Information
Copyright: Japie Venter (japie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-10-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 50-500 F/4-6.4, Digital ISO 100, Skylight
Exposure: 1/60 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Predaceous birds - Aves predadoras, Birds of Southern Africa, 40-49 Points (Chapter 5) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-31 0:05
Viewed: 19596
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
African Fish Eagle (Roberts - 148)

It is a distinctive white chestnut-brown and black raptor. Size 63-73 cm - larger than a guineafowl. Afrikaans: Visarend

The African Fish Eagle has a white head, neck and upper breast. The 'shoulder' of the wing and the lower breast and belly are rich chestnut brown. The rest of the wings are black and the very short tail is white. In flight it appears to have a short tail, and broad, rounded wings. The white of the head and tail, contrasting with chestnut and black wings, is distinctive. There is a yellow patch of skin on the face which encircles the eye, and extends to the bill. The bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper mandible. It is yellow at the base, with a black tip. The legs are yellow, and the eye is brown. Young birds appear very mottled - greyish-brown, black and white, but are the same size and shape as adults and are usually found near water.

This large stocky, eagle is often seen perched in a tree close to water. It normally occurs singly or in pairs, and frequents areas close to dams, lakes, wetlands or estuaries. It may also be seen soaring high above the water, and the evocative call, often given in flight, is far-reaching and easily recognisable.

The call is a loud ringing Keeow- kow-kow-kow, descending in pitch towards the end.

Fish Eagles breed from March to September. The nest is a large pile of sticks, lined with grass, green leaves and reeds. It is usually placed in a large tree, but sometimes on a cliff ledge or low bush on a steep slope.


The camera settings:

Program Setting Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/60
ISO: 100
Tripod: Yes
Flash: Yes
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: Yes
ellis49, Janice, liquidsunshine, red45, NINIX, willie, azulu, PDP, carper, Callie, pompey, Luc, gerhardt has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To NINIX: Hoe Ver?japie 1 01-31 06:57
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Critiques [Translate]

Great shot Japie.
It look very nice against the dark BG.
Very good handle of exposure, Very good details, colours and compostion. I like the POV too.
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-01-31 0:48]

Well done Japie. Excellent shot with good detail and colours. Great pose too. TFS.

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 1 N: 335] (1321)
  • [2005-01-31 1:15]

Pragtige foto van 'n pragtige voel. Your positioning is excellent. Good quality.

Great shot Japie,
Excellent details and sharpness.
Good colours, notes are excellent.
Thanks for posting

Great, majestic eagle! I love proud and stubbornness in his eye!
Well done :-)

ohh hy is pragtig. It is so sharp, you can see the little hair under the beak!! Everything is just perfect about this.!

Groetnis
Elize

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-01-31 4:38]

A beauty. His face, his eyes, spots of sunlight at his head... Amazing capture of beautiful bird Japie!

  • Great 
  • NINIX Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 47 N: 355] (3001)
  • [2005-01-31 5:01]
  • [+]

Ha Japie,

Good shot. You realy get afraid of the eye and to look. Van hoever heb je de foto van de visarend genomen?

Hendrik

On the top of my wishlist. Great portrait Japie. Very good post.Well done

  • Great 
  • azulu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 111 W: 0 N: 75] (374)
  • [2005-01-31 6:54]

Very nice shot Japie. Beautiful bird with nice colours and sharpness. Great details and good composition. Nice job.

Congratulations

Alexandre

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-01-31 10:40]

Very nice capture Japie, the white feathers are great with the flecks from the 'quills'(?). Very good portrait and great note.

Very good portrait I like the position in the frame.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 95 N: 2610] (7555)
  • [2005-01-31 13:40]

With you, If the picture is older than a month, it should not "count" anymore! Go find NEW ones, unfair to "ride" on old ones - I mean, where is the challenge, and where is my chance to fin a fish eagle.
This is again a lovely mug shot, I love the way the neck is streched here. Good exposure and the dark BG is tops, Baie goeie een hierdie - vir die kalender - volgende jaar.
Groetnis

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 4 N: 746] (2774)
  • [2005-01-31 16:48]

Brilliant shot Japie, the white is well exposed and stands out against the dark BG.
Nice light and great note, as always.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-02-01 19:14]

A very serious eagle with a serious and descriptive note.
Thanks for sharing.

Aargghh! This is an exceptional capture. High on the wishlist.

@#$%@*! Lucky... @$#%*!

Jelousy does make one nasty. :) Great shot!

exscelent shot!realy good contrast against the dark BG.i like the clarity and the details.very well done!

  • Great 
  • miqra Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 140 W: 3 N: 23] (151)
  • [2005-02-19 11:50]

Very good detail, excellent color, excellent shot, well done!

Hi Japier

I'm really astonish with the quality of your images. I have add you at my favorites and a lot of your pictures too.
I'm sure that looking your photos I'll learn a lot about...
Congratulation

Claudio

  • Great 
  • Jeppe Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 0 N: 33] (193)
  • [2005-03-19 12:00]

Very excellent pose and a fine graphics - I like the closeup look and reflections in the eye - thanks Japie for this fine job.

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