Cuckoo Nuts Visit JV

[Sylvia Ramos]

Hi, this is a joint post from me and Tonji!

Thank you so much JV for showing us this bird being such a great host! We really enjoyed your company.

Tonji and I invited ourselves over to JV's place last Sunday after seeing his the photo and video that he posted of the Philippine Hawk Cuckoo. We saw this bird many times before and we were never able to take a photo of it. We saw it in Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon, Mt. Palay-palay in Cavite, and Mt. Makiling in Los Baños. We were just amazed and incredulous to see JV's post.

The bird seemed very comfortable in the village. We were able to approach it, and it stayed in the same two trees feeding on caterpillars for one hour. What a treat to be able to have that much time to compose and choose the settings for the effects we wanted!

Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus pectoralis

iso 641, 1/125, f6.3, 5Dmk2, 500 mm, 1.4x, tripod


iso640, 1/60, f5.6, 5Dmk2, 500 mm, 1.4x, tripod


iso 400, 1/50, f5, 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +1.4x, tripod


iso400, 1/50 f5, 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +1.4x, tripod


iso 400, 1/160, f5, 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +1.4x, tripod

[Ely Teehankee]

These are beautiful pictures. To start with its a beautiful bird and with the right equipment and expert handling the result is understandable. Well done Sylvia & Tonji, the only pair of bird photographers that post in one thread. Mabuhay.

[gabriel buluran]

all pictures are great. I love the first one most! the light hitting the face of the bird is to die for!

[Farmer Nestor]

WOW SUPERRRRR !
congratulations Sylvia & Tonji.
Your f2.8 300mm + 2x TC rocks

[Ralf Nabong]

Amazing series Tonji & Sylvia!

Perfect exposure, color and detail on the second shot!

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

Beauty !

[ppaaoolloo]

Eye catching!

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks for the nice comments guys. This bird was a great model and a great photo lifer. Its our 227th bird, one of the easiest photo lifers we have had in a while. It was a very pleasant photo shoot since JV spotted the bird right away and because the light was good we were done in an hour. After taking the photos we had a great time in JV's place, its always great to meet other fellow birdnuts.

Thanks a lot to JV for showing us around and having us over on a Sunday. I know he is a busy guy so it made us appreciate his taking the time out for us even more.

[mantarey]

Beautiful set from the Dynamic Duo. Love the details, pose, light and the melted BG of the third pic. Congrats guys, very impressive work.

[Sylvia Ramos]

Thanks for all the comments!

[Bobby Kintanar]

Yes, I agree with all of the above! Great shots! :-)

[Romy Ocon]

Wow.... cuckoo macros!!!!

Great set, Sylvia and Tonji!

[tina mallari]

Beautiful captures Tonji and Sylvia

[Adri Constantino]

great set sylvia and tonji!

[Mark Itol]

Wowowow! All beautiful pictures, Tonji and Sylvia!

[JV Noriega]

Congratulations Tonji and Sylvia for a job well done! Such stunning detail on the shots!

Well, folks, here are Tonji and Sylvia, the Cuckoo-nuts themselves in action!

[Lydia Robledo]

Nice shot of the bird-mates in a passionate mood, JV.

cucku-roo-coo-coo,
telyds

[JV Noriega]

... in passionate mood... wow that 's the most fitting way to describe these two... how lucky they are to be sharing the same interests in life... a perfect birding couple! --- now if only i could convince my wife to take up bird photography... hmmm

[Sylvia Ramos]

Thanks for all the comments!

OH my gosh JV thanks for taking our pics and posting this! We look mildly stressed in the pictures .. it was still early in the shoot and we were wondering whether we were able to take any pictures. Or, maybe I was wondering if I should ditch the hat for my bird photographer portrait! HAHA!

[Tonji Ramos]

Caught in the act again, haha.

Thanks for these pictures JV. Its really easier to spend a lot of time birding if you and your partner are together. No need to rush back home.