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Pectoral Sandpiper


Pectoral Sandpiper
Photo Information
Copyright: Kuzey Cem Kulacoglu (kuzeycem) Silver Note Writer [C: 2 W: 0 N: 32] (186)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2014-10-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 7D, Canon 400 mm F 5.6 L
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2015-08-15 3:23
Viewed: 4124
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sorry for the long note in advance:)
This individual Pectoral Sandpiper was the 7th national record for Turkey. It was found in 19 October in a lake in Inner Anatolia by a very good birdwatcher. It took me a week to get it and I was sure it had left but somehow it remained :)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos-TR:Çizgili Kumkuşu) breeds in northeast Siberia and Arctic North America. Asian populations winter in Australia while American ones winter in southern South America. I don't know which population this bird came from, but Siberian is more likely.
It's English and Turkish names are about it's distinctive breast markings which distinguish it from most species. It's yellowish legs and bill base, as well as it's back and scapular patterns make this species easily identifiable from most other Calidris sandpipers, but it might be challenging to separate it from Ruff. But the breast streaking should do the trick.
This is a quite regular passage/migrant to western Europe, in particular British Isles. It is near-annual in Turkey.
As for the story of this photograph;
I arrived at the scene around 8:00 AM. It was very cloudy and occasionally rainy, which wasn't pleasant. I first checked one side of the like and I failed to find it, which made me nervous. Then I stumbled upon a few birdwatchers who said that it was on the opposite shore. So we drove there. There I found 3 shorebirds feeding next to each other. I checked the first one: Ruff. Second one: Common Redshank. Third one: Bingo! Pectoral Sandpiper was feeding peacefully.
At first I took some record shots from a distance, but then I realised that this bird didn't care about me at all! So I got closer and closer and eventually I was a meter away from it, 2 meters short of my focus distance. I think it thought of me as a protection against the harriers that were wandering above the marshes.
Overall it was an amazing experience with a delightful vagrant and 2 full memory cards!
The weather was extremely cloudy and rainy so the light isn't very good, sorry about that.
Thanks for your critiques-means a lot. Cheers!
Hotelcalifornia, movoschu, ramthakur, KOMSIS, nanreh has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rousettus:kuzeycem 1 08-16 14:51
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2015-08-15 3:44]

Hello Kuzey,
Composition, focus, sharpness and clarity is very good. I liked the POV, soft light and the soft colors. Well done and TFS
Regards Sigi

Hello Kuzey,
Beautiful bird you have presented....even in such cloudy-rainy day, you captured it very nice. Excellent details and sharpness. I like its POV too.
Thanks for sharing with informative NOTE; Mainly how you prepared yourself for this attractive species,
Best wishes and have a nice WE,
Srikumar

Perfect shot of this nice bird. Absolutely sharp and nice pov.
Pierre

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2752 W: 280 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2015-08-15 19:50]

Hello Kuzey,
A picture perfect photo of the highest quality. This is such a beautiful species of shorebird which you have photographed in amazing clarity and detail. Your stalk worked out in your favor, thanks to the tip from the other bird watchers. I would be thrilled to death to have captured such an outstanding image. Well done!!
Ron

a perfect sharp foto. Also a good and nice note ! Thanks for sharing this beautiful sandpiper. - Monique -

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5136 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2015-08-16 7:41]

Hello Kuzey,
Excellent sharp detailed photo in splendid natural colours. Taken from a perfect POV. Very good DOF.
Regards,
Peter

I like you personal experience with this bird, Kuzey. Makes your note rich and interesting.
The picture, of course, is outstanding in terms of sharpness, colours and details.
Thanks for sharing this great capture.
Ram

neredeyse bir sene oldu. Bu güzeli ilk görenlerdendim. Tebrikler Kuzey Cem. Çok güzel olmuş.

Hello Kuzey
this shot is wonderful, details, colors, light and pose of the bird are perfect,
thanks for sharing this beauty
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 821 W: 0 N: 2414] (10640)
  • [2015-08-18 1:24]

Selamlar Cem,
Nefis güzellikte bir çekim ..
Kompozisyon, doğal renk ve detaylar harika görünüyor.
Emeklerine sağlık,
Seyfi

Sharpness, compositional balance, elegance. Kuzey is a work of great maturity.
Congratulations !!!

from ARGENTINA
Hernán Bortondello

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