2/7/2012: Roseate Spoonbills Feeding, Merritt Island NWR

This is another feeding action shot using the Canon SX40HS and its built in digital tel-extender for 1000mm equivalent hand held. Roseate Spoonbills at Merritt Island in January are not quite in breeding plumage, but they coming in, and they are always highly colored due to the abundant shrimp diet. The warm afternoon winter sun of Florida helps too. This gentleman was making the most of the shrimp, as you can see from the fountaining water. Can you see the out of focus reed that extends from the lower left corner up across the bird?

The second shot shows just how rapidly they move while feeding. Note the bow wave.

And finally a shot just for fun, taken from further away, on another day, in another pond, with the Canon SD100HS behind the eyepiece of the ZEISS DiaScope spotting scope, for something like 2200mm equivalent.

Cameras as above. Program with iContrast and -1/3EV exposure compensation. 1) f5 @ 1/1250th @ ISO 160. 2) f5.6 @ 1/1250th @ ISO 160. 3) 1/500th @ ISO 200. f5.9 effective.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness. 2) cropped for composition.

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