Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Little Bittern makes a return



Thought the Australian Little Bitterns (Ixobrychus dubius) had flown off after the Jan-Feb floods perhaps never to be seen again. But here's a woeful picture to celebrate a return. Bird was distinctly visible from long way off yesterday, but there was little chance of sneaking up close. As things turned out, it fled back into the scleria when a nearby egret spooked it. But a hopeful sign coming as the lagoon shallows dry out. More sightings probable. Better pictures? Maybe.


Even when close to a bird in the clear, things don't always work out. Here's a Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) in 'clumsy' pose and, it must be said, an awful natural frame. Of course, it's ugly because it fails to meet a human's standard of beauty. The bird, happily, knows nothing of such things.


Same with this curiously coloured female Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris). Twigs littered all over the place, including across the bird. No trouble. Clone some of them away. It's more an art form than a skill, cloning, they say. They're right. And I've always been hopeless at art! Would the cloning be obvious without my mentioning it?

7 comments:

  1. Lovely to see Little Bittern back, never mind about the photo being short of your usual standard!

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  2. I've tried cloning a few times and it definitely requires lots of skill and way more patience than I possess!

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  3. Hi Barbara: you are right, of course. Trouble is, those with cameras want all to be picture perfect.

    Hi Mick: But cloning is worth persevering with. Whistler was just an exercise. Image wasn't really worth the effort, but a little cloning can be the making of some pictures.

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  4. Tony, Ssshhhhhh !!!'
    What are you saying?
    Who doesn't like to occasionally clean away an annoying tuft of grass?
    Nice post of the awkward, but unselfconscious Cisticola.
    Denis

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  5. Hi Denis: But confession's good for something or other, isn't it?

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  6. Hi tony, It's great to hear someone that is of the same frame of mind as I am. And you're right - a little cloning is OK, and doesn't stop you from seeking out ever better photos. cheers

    TonyC

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  7. Hi Tony: Oh yes, the quest for better pictures never ends!

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