Long-billed Curlew at Breakfast (view larger for water spray)

In your field you really are a master!

Thank you Maurizio! 

Thank you for the visit Diego!

A very nicely composed beautiful shot, Phil!

Perfect dof and sharpness, and the corner to corner composition is also spot on.

Sincere Compliments

Alf

Thank you for the comments Ruud!

I really appreciate getting your valuable perspective on this one Alf!

Excellent clarity and dof

Your comments are greatly appreciated Pat!

Excellent capture Phil! The water spray is so well documented. Good eye on your part, and excellent equipment. Lovely detail and colour. Do you know if they have a long tongue as well, or do they just slide it down the bill, then 'GULP' ??? Sincere regards, Gail

Really enjoyed reading your comments Gail!  Thank you!  I know their tongue is only about 20-25% of the total bill length, so it wouldn't help much.  I'm assuming they are able to slide the prey up the bill, probably by raising their head and using gravity.  Its a long ways to go!

An outstanding presentation my friend. I like everything about it.... colour, lighting, definition.......... spot on.

Well done.

Regards

Great to hear from you Grayham!  This one spent a lot of time on the tidelands enjoying a long meal.  I got a number of opportunities, but none better than this one.  Thanks!

Hi Phil,

Amazing close up. Did you stay in a hide? Interesting and brave composition, but it works.

Best regards Per.

Hi Per,

Thanks so much for your comments!  Great to hear from you.  No, I wasn't in a hide.  I inched closer and closer with each shot, crouching as low as I could to get an eye level view of the bird.  There were several birds on the shoreline.  All were so intent on feeding that they didn't react too much to my presence. 

Hi Phil,

I have to agree with the others...terrific capture.  A unique and interesting bird and composition.    Very sharp, and colors and exposure are spot on.  One has to contemplate what evolutionary pressure could have produced such a unique and slender bill...but undoubtedly effective for grabbing prey before it senses the danger.

Bad afternoon for the frog/crab though.   I'm trying to decide on what he was dining - could you tell?

Best regards,

Dennis

Thank you Dennis, great comments!  I tried blowing up the tif file to see if I could recognize the "victim."  I guess I'm not a very good biologist, because it didn't help.  I know their bill is best adapted to capturing invertebrates, especially shrimp and crabs.  Regards

Phil,

I tried "blowing up" the photo on my screen by using the key combination <CTRL>+ on the keyboard, several times (<CTRL>0 returns to normal size).  It is definitely a small crab, but what species, I can't tell. 

Best regards,

Dennis

Thank you for trying Dennis.  Its helpful to know it is a crab.  I really appreciate your efforts!  Regards

Great colors and sharpness and you really captured the right moment in this shoot.

Great work.

Best regards Tore

Thank you very much Tore!  Really appreciate hearing your thoughts.  Regards

A perfect behavioral composition and capture! Well done Phil. Best regards, Rob

Thanks for commenting on this one Robert!  It's always a pleasure to get your input!