I was really pleased to get these shots today. Pied wagtails are wonderfully agile as they twist and turn to catch insects on the wing. The light was great and this young wagtail is clearly already highly expert at its trade.
In this first shot it's eyeing up a hoverfly…
A moment later!
Now for some of the moves. First, the dive…
The leap…
The glide…
The stall…
And the getaway…
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
gdare
21 Oct 2011Great shots, Words!
RachelJuleiane
21 Oct 2011:hat: these bird series is truly amazing, and you've got really fast fingers, steady hands and alert eyes to capture the movements. :up:
anonymous
21 Oct 2011Michael writes:
Fantastic, Paul!
serola
21 Oct 2011Oh yes! Excellent shots!
anonymous
21 Oct 2011Mike Berwick writes:
Love wagtails! Excellent shots.
cakkleberrylane
21 Oct 2011Wonderful shots! Very rewarding, I'm sure!
Words
21 Oct 2011Michael, thanks. I always enjoy watching these feisty little birds.
Words
21 Oct 2011Rachel, thanks. The truth is I take a lot of photos while they are just sitting doing nothing, and then hope I capture the movement when it happens.
Words
21 Oct 2011Darko, thanks!
Words
21 Oct 2011Sami, thanks!
Words
21 Oct 2011Mike, thanks!
Words
21 Oct 2011Erwin, thanks!
Words
21 Oct 2011Lois, thanks!
ICU109
23 Oct 2011you grabbed enough shots that one can see the sequence!
Words
23 Oct 2011Kathy, yes it got its hoverfly. They are brilliant at catching flies on the wing. They sit and watch, and then leap into the air. They rarely miss. :chef:
ICU109
23 Oct 2011XCELLLLLLent shots I must say! now…..did the bird get the hoverfly reward? I am assuming it is an insect it was after. Hope so after all that choreography it went through for out enjoyment! What a beautiful set! Thank you.
SittingFox
24 Oct 2011Wow, that wagtail is well concealed in the top photo! Obviously their natural habitat is flint walls 😉
Words
24 Oct 2011Adele, LOL! They are very good at hiding though, especially when they are ground feeding.
ICU109
25 Oct 2011love the dive and the stall best. you have a fast trigger finger!
derWandersmann
25 Oct 2011LOL … fun shots!
(Pssst! It helps if you set your release mode to "burst" … and have a big memory card!)
Words
25 Oct 2011dW, good suggestion 😉
Words
25 Oct 2011Kathy, it's more point and press until the buffer fills up. I can get about 15 frames in 2 seconds.
ICU109
11 Nov 2011WOW!!! that's like a tommy gun!!!
Words
12 Nov 2011It does rattle a bit!
ICU109
16 Nov 2011😀
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Excellent shots :up: