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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Aug 29, 2010 15:23:43 GMT
Here's a series of shots of a bird I got during my recent trip to Nug-as, at Alcoy, Cebu. It's supposed to be a "Handsome Sunbird" - but, well, you decide! I call it an UGly HandSome (UGSOME) Bird. :-) Handsome (Kuno!) Sunbird (Aythopyga shelleyi) Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Tv 0.004 sec (1/250); Aperture f/8.0; 400 mm + 1.4X TC X 2 pcs. stacked; ISO Speed 1600 Exposure Bias: +1/2 EV     |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 29, 2010 15:43:32 GMT
a wise man once said "I'd rather have a clear picture of pokwang than a blurred picture of mariel.." or something of that sort  Noise levels are bearable, actually very good given the technicals. That is the 400 2.8 sir? it really eats up TCs! |
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Post by Toto Gamboa on Aug 29, 2010 16:11:31 GMT
Hehehe. The hazards of having a "handsome" name.  |
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Post by des on Aug 29, 2010 16:14:51 GMT
This is a very odd beast! If it is a Handsome why is there so much red on the breast? It looks like it might possibly be a Handsome-Crimson hybrid! Have you got any other angles eg to show its rump?
Des
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Aug 29, 2010 23:01:24 GMT
a wise man once said "I'd rather have a clear picture of pokwang than a blurred picture of mariel.." or something of that sort Noise levels are bearable, actually very good given the technicals. That is the 400 2.8 sir? it really eats up TCs! Edu, I don't have the 400 2.8 - I can't afford it nor can I carry it. It's just my plain old workhorse - the EF 400mm f/5.6. However, with proper technique, it does handle TC's well enough; :-) |
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Aug 29, 2010 23:44:48 GMT
This is a very odd beast! If it is a Handsome why is there so much red on the breast? It looks like it might possibly be a Handsome-Crimson hybrid! Have you got any other angles eg to show its rump? Des Here's a couple of unintentional shots that may help, Des:   By the way, this bird's call is certainly that of a Handsome Sunbird. :-) |
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 30, 2010 8:51:10 GMT
It looks like it is molting. The bird may not be looking its best but it was certainly well photograph. Well done Bobby. Mabuhay.
I was with Nilo, Boy Mac, Alain, and Rey. The guide there by the name of Zardo is very good and we certainly missed your company. But we had to walk at least 2 kilometers to go to the bird site. There was a day that we had to walk 4 kms one way. The easiest day was about a kilometer walk. We had a lot of lifers and a lot of endemics. Don't envy us, at least you did not have to walk.
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Aug 30, 2010 10:32:48 GMT
It looks like it is molting. The bird may not be looking its best but it was certainly well photograph. Well done Bobby. Mabuhay. I was with Nilo, Boy Mac, Alain, and Rey. The guide there was very good and we certainly missed you your company. But we had to walk at least 2 kilometers to go to the bird site. There were a day that we had to walk 4 kms one way. The easiest day was about a kilometer walk. We had a lot of lifers and a lot of endemics. Don't envy us, at least you did not have to walk. Thank you Ka Ely! You're always so kind. As for the trip, I never thought you had to walk that far! Anyway, I am happy for all of you, but also happy I did not have to endure those long walks!:-) |
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Post by Ariel Matias on Aug 30, 2010 14:42:54 GMT
Great set. I am seing a bit grains from my monitor but still very nice exposure and details. Well done!
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Aug 30, 2010 23:04:39 GMT
Great set. I am seing a bit grains from my monitor but still very nice exposure and details. Well done! Thanks for the feedback, Ariel. I really appreciate it. I did not bother to use any noise-reduction on the photos coz I found them adequate for the purpose. :-) |
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Post by mantarey on Aug 31, 2010 2:25:23 GMT
Nice series Bobby. Some of the birds were just at the early stage of moulting in Bislig. We were fortunate that some of our captures have their plumages still intact and so they're still handsome birds. |
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Post by alainpascua on Aug 31, 2010 3:00:57 GMT
I also wonder and always throw the question why are handsome sunbirds are called handsome even if they are females. Kingfishers are also called kings even if they are females! |
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Post by Bob Kaufman on Sept 1, 2010 3:24:42 GMT
Great detailed shots of an interesting bird, Tukayo. It looks like it went through a shredder. ;D
Waiting for Sir Des' conclusion. It could be a hybrid after all.
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Post by Mark Itol on Sept 1, 2010 13:40:45 GMT
Lovely shots on a photogenic environment, Bobby!
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Post by JV Noriega on Sept 2, 2010 10:52:05 GMT
Very very nice set Bobby! you are taking your 400 to the extremes by stacking tcs, with very good sharp results! I love the composition with the rounded spiky flower in the middle and the bird on it! A one in a million shot/series! Very well done!
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Sept 2, 2010 12:09:32 GMT
Thank you very much my friends - those are very inspiring words indeed! :-)
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Post by Clemn A. Macasiano Jr. on Sept 3, 2010 1:00:25 GMT
Well done Bobby .... Lets hit the area after molting time.  |
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Post by Nilo Arribas Jr. on Sept 7, 2010 1:17:26 GMT
I noticed a similar pattern (molting) among other endemics. Excellent capture of the Handsome Sunbird Sir Bobby. Give it a month or two and this bird will be another good reason to visit one of our fav birding grounds |
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Post by steve pryor on Sept 17, 2010 14:24:46 GMT
This is a very odd beast! If it is a Handsome why is there so much red on the breast? It looks like it might possibly be a Handsome-Crimson hybrid! Have you got any other angles eg to show its rump? Des Hi Des, I am not too sure why all the mystery. We are on Cebu! This is race bonita. "Male differs from bella in darker yellow lower back and rump, and breast heavily streaked with red." Op.cit.: Cheke & Mann, P. 338. I examined the possibility of characteristics intermediate between A. bella, and A. siparaja, and just don't see anything that might attest to such a possibility. No eclipse phase has been recorded for A. bella. For me, this is an immature male A. bella bonita transitioning to adult plumage. |
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