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Great Skua


Great Skua
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-08-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D90, Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/1600 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite bird in-flight photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2013-09-06 5:47
Viewed: 3130
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The great skua is an aggressive pirate of the seas, deliberately harrassing birds as large as gannets to steal a free meal. It also readily kills and eats smaller birds such as puffins. Great skuas show little fear of humans - anybody getting close to the nest will be repeatedly dive-bombed by the angry adult. These birds migrate to the northernmost isles of the UK from their wintering grounds off the coasts of Spain and Africa. At a distance they look stout and dark and show white wing flashes in flight.

Overview
Latin name
Catharacta skua
Family
Skuas (Stercorariidae)

Where to see them
In breeding areas on coastal rocky islands and moorland; at other times seen around coasts, often in the neighbourhood of seabird colonies, scavenging from other birds, or picking food from the surface of the sea.

When to see them
Arrives at its breeding grounds in April and leaves in July. Look for it offshore in spring and especially in late summer and early autumn when it is migrating along western and eastern shores of the UK.

What they eat
Fish, carrion, other birds

Source: www.rspb.org.uk
samiran88, Hotelcalifornia, Ishi, ramthakur, amanengone, anel, Maynayquan, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Peter,
An impressive stance in the air,nicely framed,best clarity and details.
Regards,
Joy

Hello Peter
A well captured inflight bird's image.
superb sharpness and colour.
best composition too.
best wishes,
samiran

  • Great 
  • Cobo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 236 W: 1 N: 535] (5799)
  • [2013-09-06 8:37]

Excellent picture Peter. I like how the bird is contrasting on the blue sky, and the compo is very good! Congratulation. Saludos.

hallo Peter
Super scherpe opname en precies naar jou toe gedraaid ,kan niet beter
veel details en prachtige natuurlijke kleuren
bedankt weer gr lou

Hello Mr.Peter,
Very tough to capture such picture,I think.To me those who can capture such fastest bird picture,they can capture any picture and he/she is the best.We don't know which way bird will take turn,so really very tough.
Well captured with good sharpness and details.Colours looks natural.Like it.Great work.
Thanks for sharing,
Regards and have a nice day tomorrow,
Srikumar

Interesting position of the flying skua, well captured!
Perfect!
Best regards,
Paul

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2013-09-06 13:35]

Hello Peter.
Gorgeous in flight shot of this great skua. Nice sharp details.
Regards Siggi

Super model, superb shot. Congratulations Peter.
Best wishes
Ahmet

Hello Peter,
照的很清晰 非常突出的空中鳥
光線柔合 羽毛光澤清晰 有著多種層次感 真是很美麗
取景角度特別棒
上整個翅膀很明顯排列序次 下面翅膀卻是很優美 經典作品
STONE

impressive pose with this skua, very fine performance Peter!
regards Nasos

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 298 W: 21 N: 1943] (13387)
  • [2013-09-07 0:50]

Great shot, Peter!

I love the texture of the wings and the POV against the partly cloudy sky background.

Well done!

Ishi

Skua has an impressive wing span, Peter, and you have captured it extremely well from a nice vantage point.
The body language of the bird in flight shows aggression very clearly.
Thanks for sharing another wonderful picture from Iceland.
Ram

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2013-09-07 12:53]

Incredible inflight capture Peter!!!
What a beautiful presentation showing this bird at it's best. Tac sharp focus and gorgeous contrasting black and white plumage makes this a winner in my book. Great work!!
Ron

Impressive in flight photo Peter! Beautiful flying pose, very good composition and wonderful lighting. Very interesting bird too!
Regards,
Christodoulos

very agressive, good capture, TFS Peter

Hello Peter;

Very impressive picture from this aggressive bird. Goog point of view,, excellent presentation and composition, good sharpness, contrast, saturation of colors excellent.

Thank you for sharing.

Philippe

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2013-09-08 7:11]

Hello Peter,
An impressive bird this Great Skua. An interesting picture with a great contrast between the dark plumage and the fine colored sky. Dynamic and vivid shot. Well done again!
Kind regards
Anne

Hi Peter,
a wonderful flight view of this skua. Well taken...
Pierre

Ciao Peter. Impressive DOF for the power of flyght. Details and sharp perfect agaist the soft environment.

Roberto

Hi Peter,
So nice to make up for viewing this missed post of yours. Very unusual pose of flight to be captured. Excellent POV, superb sharp details, magnificent composition, and marvellous natural colors. I love the beautiful BG too. Thanks and regards.
John

Hello Peter

WOW ! Great in-flight shot of this aggressive pirate of the seas, the bird's flight pose,
your POV on it, the great focus, sharpness, and details gives dynamism to the image, TFS

Asbed

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