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Bar Tailed Godwit


Bar Tailed Godwit
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Kettel (pauljk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 204 W: 64 N: 65] (226)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200, 300mm AF-S F4 Nikkor, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-26 0:43
Viewed: 5476
Favorites: 5 [view]
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Bar-tailed Godwit

The Bar-tailed Godwit is a relatively short-legged species of godwit. The bill-to-tail length is 37–41 cm, with a wingspan of 70–80 cm. Males average smaller than females but with much overlap; males weigh 190–400 g, while females weigh 260–630 g; there is also some regional variation in size. The adult has blue-grey legs and a very long dark bill with a slight upward curve and pink at the tip. The neck, breast and belly are unbroken brick red in breeding plumage, off white in winter. The back is mottled grey.


The Bar-tailed Godwit migrates in flocks to coastal western Europe, Africa, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand - where the sub-species Limosa lapponica baueri is called Kūaka in Māori.

In 2007, it was shown to undertake the longest non-stop flight of any bird. Using satellite tracking, birds in New Zealand were tagged and tracked to the Yellow Sea in China. According to Dr. Clive Minton (Australasian Wader Studies Group) "The distance between these two locations is 9,575 km, but the actual track flown by the bird was 11,026 km. This is the longest known non-stop flight of any bird. The flight took approximately nine days. At least three other Bar-tailed Godwits also appear to have reached the Yellow Sea after non-stop flights from New Zealand."
One specific female of the flock, nicknamed "E7", flew onward from China to Alaska, and stayed there for the breeding season. Then on 29 August 2007, she departed on on a non-stop flight from the Avinof Peninsula in western Alaska, to the Piako River, near Thames New Zealand, setting a new known flight record of 11,570 km. Stray birds from Europe and Asia occasionally appear on both North American coasts.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
iris, valy67, inked, maurydv, aido, drchoneydew has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 60 N: 970] (3088)
  • [2008-04-26 0:47]

Hello Paul,
An amazing shot with the best clarity and focus on the single Godwit with so many others filling up the environment.
Fanatastic idea.
I love the dominant blue and white palette you have used.This one goes into my favorites.
TFS & Cheers

Hello Paul !
I really like this picture, it is excellent. The one bird in focus has excellent details, and I also love the pose, you managed to freeze him very nicely, at the perfect moment. All the others birds around, more or less blurred, make a wonderful BG. I like composition, POV and nice natural colors too. Very well done !
Valérie.

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 132 W: 0 N: 249] (771)
  • [2008-04-26 1:59]

hey Paul,
wow this is awesome! fantastic composition.. really nice with the clear focus bird in the middle, and the rest at various depths. I also think it has a real underwater look about it.. as if it's a school of fish, only it's a flock of birds.. goes into my faves too.. awesome. tfs
Gethin

wow, amazing picture, very artistic, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2008-04-26 2:55]

Hello Paul,
Superb photo with an excellent sharp focus on one Godwit. Beautiful natural and clear colours. Great DOF and composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Paul,
Very nice capture. great composition and sharpness.
TFS
Wei

Great take, its really difficult to focus when thousand or perhaps millions of them flying together.
TFS
Best regards,
Kean

Paul,
Great picture. I love your point of view and the way that you focused on one single Godwit. Well done.
-Matt

Bellissimo gruppo in volo, eccellente POV, ottima composizione con messa a fuoco centrale, molto buona la nitidezza e splendidi i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2008-06-27 1:07]

Hello Paul,
This image was on the front page as I passed today, had to stop and say what a great image I think it is. The light is quite striking, almost a glow rather than directional, doesn't seem to be any shadows anywhere. The image has immense depth due to the varying levels of focus throughout, beautiful colours and detail. Exposure is spot-on. The only negative I think is that the bottom right bird is clipped, with the whole of the bird in the image this is a perfect 10 for me. An excellent image!
Regards,
Adrian

oh my gosh i LOVE this! this is my new goal..having a difficult time with the new zoom, its HEAVY and "touchy"

love this shot!

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