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The "Toppie"


The
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: 2004-12-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital ISO 100, Skylight
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa, 40-49 Points (Chapter 2), Eliz strange, exotic or little known species - 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-07 6:13
Viewed: 9836
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mother nature smiled at me during my recent Pilaansberg trip and presented me with some nice opportunities for photos.

This is the Dark-capped (Blackeyed) Bulbul (Roberts: 568)
It is a mostly brown bird, with a dark head and yellow vent. It is commonly known as a "toppie". Size 20-22 cm - this bird is larger than a sparrow, but smaller than a Laughing Dove. Afrikaans: Swartoogtiptol

The bill is fairly short and straight. The bill, legs and feet are black and the eye is dark brown with a dark eye-ring, which is not readily visible.

Dark-capped Bulbul is mostly greyish-brown above and whitish-brown below, with a distinctive dark head and pointy crest on top of the head. The back of the head merges into the brown of the back, and the chin is also blackish.

This is a one of the more common bird of the eastern regions of the country. It is found in woodland, coastal bush, forest edges, riverine bush, montane scrub and in mixed farming habitats. It is also found in exotic thickets, gardens and parks.

The Black-eyed Bulbul is usually seen in pairs or small groups. It is a conspicuous bird, which tends to sit at the top of a bush. As with other toppies they are active and noisy birds.

This species eats fruit, nectar and insects.

The most typical call of this species is a lively sounding liquid call of klip, klop kollop and a variety of variations.

This species nests mainly from September to December. The nest is fairly rigid, thick walled and cup-shaped. It is situated inside the leafy foliage of a small tree or shrub.

The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/9
Shutter Speed: 1/60sec
ISO: 100
Tripod: Yes
Flash: Diffused Off Camera ETTL.
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: No
White Balance: AWB
NitzanCK, jossim, Crypton, Callie, Lesley, radz, milloup, carper, pompey, Signal-Womb, Luc, red45, gerhardt, deud has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To milloup: One Problemjapie 3 01-07 12:13
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Critiques [Translate]

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ****
Color: ****
DOF: ****
POV: ****

Great shot, great details and BG.
TFS.

Oh..this photo
Excellent sharpness, beautiful BG.
Great position, Good work Japie.
Well done.

A shot to be envied Japie. Stunning. Excellent composition. Good work

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2005-01-07 6:50]

Encord une foi, très belle photo et beau spécimen. L'oiseaux et la branche qui ne sont pas très colorés ressorte bien avec ce PDC flou et de couleur claire. Cadrage est excellant.FÉLICITATION

tres belle photo Japie !
je trouve que la composition avec la branche est exellente.
ton objectif a vraiment un super piqué a 500mm.
good job.

Do not let the note fool - this is also a thief! One with a butter backside and a liking for fruit, especially the few figs one might have on the tree.
They are very vocal and friendly, just like this super shot depicts. I like the dead trunk here and the way he is sitting all puffed-up, looking for all the world that he will nevr steal a berry, grape of whatever soft fruit we may be growing.
As said, this is a very good picture of Botterboude.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2005-01-07 7:58]

Beautiful bulbul .Liked the green b/g&sharpness.Recently i saw one so tiny bird ,you caught it very well.Thanks.

Excellent, Japie. Everything in this image works...very fine photo!!!!

Well, no matter what Callie said about him, he's so cute that I'd gladly let him steal my berries in return for the pleasure of getting a glimpse of him ;-))
Great capture of this little punker, everything ship-shape, no nits.

Great shot Japie.
Stunning, just stunning.
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2005-01-07 10:34]

Well Japie Venter, your the toppie,
Very good shot again, fantastic details with this sharpnes, good colours, fantastic pof and dof, jullie sud- afrikaner zijn echt goed. mijn complimenten

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 4 N: 746] (2774)
  • [2005-01-07 11:37]

Another beauty Japie, perfect background and lovely crisp subject. Good texture to the feathers and tree stump.
Great note also.

  • Great 
  • Esox Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 239 W: 20 N: 344] (972)
  • [2005-01-07 13:04]

Hi Japie!
Incredible sharpness on this shot, and a great DOF.
You managed very well with the flash.
A wonderful one, sure!

Very good looking punk, Japie. I like how he's placed in the frame with the help of the old trunk. Ideal background. I like his lively eye and the overall composition. If he's short of fruits, send him here, Normandy has huge apple orchards :-).

That is a superb shot for sure. Great composition and detail. Good use of DOF. Well done again.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-01-08 11:40]

Great shot Japie! I like blurred green BG, composition, DOF and of course subject. Another superb photo from you.

Beautifull Tiptol, Japie. Great image as usual!!
Nice wwork.

Wat kan ek sê? Perfect shot! Beautifull compo, sharp details and an interesting subject. I have it on my wishlist, have lot's of red-eyes... no black or white. That crest is stunning. Well done, Japie.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2005-01-10 9:20]

it is great! super compo, great sharpnes, ideal colour palette and all this against absolutely warm and beautiful background!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-01-10 14:53]

Excellent post, Japie.
All the qualities of a pecfect one to my eyes.
A great-great-great one!
Thanks

Sharpness, composition, dof are perfect.

Nice shot.. in spite of the uniform brownish colors of the bird and tree, the details are so sharp that it does make a splendid pic.

This is what you call one of those perfect shots, I like everything about this one Japie. Well done to perfection. :)

PT :)

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