Ah, the power of photography. These little fellows hopped right up to my feet, but I couldn't see all the detail you show here. I particularly love the little whiskers around his beak, and the pattern of his feathers.
Too busy looking for food to worry about a bit of schmutz, Zhoen.
Michael — hah! I did manage to get an even closer shot, but haven't noticed any fleas ;^D
Anne-Marie, it's interesting, isn't it, how sometimes a photo shows things not noticed at the time, despite failing to convey so many other aspects? We're lucky to have been there and, I trust, also lucky to be able to enjoy photos that recall and complement those moments.
The details in this photo are truly breathtaking. Those feathers look brush-stroked by tiny hands holding even tinier feathers. The artistry of natural world is truly awe-inspiring.
PS-- Wanted to write you about the photo of the hundreds of cormorants I posted the other day. Turns out that their food source has moved farther out to sea, too far for them to dive and feed. They are starving in droves. I walked the beach last night and found one standing alone, facing town, with its back to the sea. It's a true heartbreak. I called Native Animal Rescue and hoped for the best.
Thanks Robin Andrea. The wee bird was cooperative for this photo — the shutter speed was very low, so if it had moved even a fraction the photo would have been blurred.
That's terrible about the cormorants. I love those birds; they seem so independent from us, going about their lives as if we hardly exist. That feeling makes it all the harder to know what we're doing is punishing them. Thanks for doing what you could for that bird, and thanks for caring in general. It's good to know others feel the same way.
One of the toutouwai on Wilkinson's Track, Kapiti Island. This was about as close as the lens would focus.
He's got a bit of schmutz on his face there...
ReplyDeleteClose enough to see its fleas.
ReplyDeleteAh, the power of photography. These little fellows hopped right up to my feet, but I couldn't see all the detail you show here. I particularly love the little whiskers around his beak, and the pattern of his feathers.
ReplyDeleteToo busy looking for food to worry about a bit of schmutz, Zhoen.
ReplyDeleteMichael — hah! I did manage to get an even closer shot, but haven't noticed any fleas ;^D
Anne-Marie, it's interesting, isn't it, how sometimes a photo shows things not noticed at the time, despite failing to convey so many other aspects? We're lucky to have been there and, I trust, also lucky to be able to enjoy photos that recall and complement those moments.
The details in this photo are truly breathtaking. Those feathers look brush-stroked by tiny hands holding even tinier feathers. The artistry of natural world is truly awe-inspiring.
ReplyDeletePS-- Wanted to write you about the photo of the hundreds of cormorants I posted the other day. Turns out that their food source has moved farther out to sea, too far for them to dive and feed. They are starving in droves. I walked the beach last night and found one standing alone, facing town, with its back to the sea. It's a true heartbreak. I called Native Animal Rescue and hoped for the best.
Thanks Robin Andrea. The wee bird was cooperative for this photo — the shutter speed was very low, so if it had moved even a fraction the photo would have been blurred.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible about the cormorants. I love those birds; they seem so independent from us, going about their lives as if we hardly exist. That feeling makes it all the harder to know what we're doing is punishing them. Thanks for doing what you could for that bird, and thanks for caring in general. It's good to know others feel the same way.