Despite their size, frigate birds can jink and turn in an instant; if one decides it wants your fish, resistance is futile — you can't outfly it. This one at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz was one of a good number looking for scraps from a fisherman cleaning his catch.
[19 September 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 100 mm, ISO 400, 1/800 at f7.1]
All content © 2011 Pete McGregor
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6 comments:
A master flier. Photographed by a bird master photographer.
Amazing.
From Wikipedia: The term "frigate" (Italian: fregata; Spanish/Catalan/Portuguese/Sicilian: fragata; Dutch: fregat) originated in the Mediterranean in the late 15th century, referring to a lighter galleass type ship with oars, sails and a light armament, built for speed and maneuverability.[1]
That's one big bird!
Another Galapagos icon! One after the other!
It's great to see an image of one of them doing what they spend most of their time doing, rather than the usual ballooning red throat display. It reminds me of the proliferation of introduced Rose-Ringed Parakeets that now are flying about in raucous flocks all around Tokyo... the insight that I had of them as superb fliers... something I hadn't known by looking at them in cages... of the birds expressing themselves in their full capacity.
Zhoen, thank you.
Maureen, for such a big bird, their ability to manouevre is remarkable.
Miguel, I agree — photographs of the male display are so common they're almost hackneyed. But that's the problem with the Galápagos — one of the most-photographed places on earth. I'm glad I allowed enough time to get the initial compulsion to photograph eveything out of my system (tosome extent, at least), and could think more widely, could pay attention to the feel of the place.
Pointy! Just like you wrote about. <:
Lydia, seen from beneath, they look even pointier ;^)
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