Long-billed Corella

What makes this an interesting capture (slight blow-outs accepted) is that whilst its colouring (normally white) denotes it as the "Long-billed" variety of Corella, careful attention to its beak shows a point to where it should actually have worn away.

With this un-natural extension of its beak, grooming and feeding becomes a problem for it. He is supposed to be white. We have noticed that he tends to visit on his own whereas these are normally "flock" birds. Left to his own devices he will not be with us for long. We tend to pile-up the seed in the feeder so that at least he can "shovel" some food in. Nature is cruel........

Regards

This un-natural beak length begs a story...... see the image caption.

Your comments will be well-received......... Regards

An odd fellow indeed Grayham, well caught! Did you shoot this in raw or jpg? If the former then you might be able to un-blow the highlights on neck and shoulders, your a700's cmos has plenty of dynamic range that might have gotten lopped off in jpg.

Thanks for your visit and interest........

Regards

Thanks for your comments my friend............

Being an "old school" photographer, I've never quite got to grips with Raw imaging and shoot everything in Jpeg.  Something I mean to look at, one day (smiles) but not quite a "bucket list" item as yet. I have Scott Kelby's PSE6 manual which gives a step by step account but I'm still trying to hold true to in-camera capture and presentation with minimal need for post processing.... this shot was a particularly hurried one and posted, more for the interest it held rather than expertise.

Still enjoying the 700, as I work my way through it (smiles).

Best regards

Very nice shot. And thanks for your explanations, giving and extra interest in the picture. Congrats, Wobby.

interesting and thought-provoking presentation!

Hi Grayham!  What a beautiful, colorful bird, notwithstanding the beak impairment!  You really got some great light on the front feathers.  Very close shot as well with lots of detail.  Really enjoyed the story as well.  Take care ...

Thanks for your visits and comments. appreciate your input.

Regards

Thanks for stopping by...... your input is always welcomed.

Yes, I was able to get in closer than usual..... probably because he is aware of our concern to his ongoing health status.........

A few weeks have passed since I posted this, and unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to re-visit..... hopefully I will see him alive and well this coming weekend.

Thanks for your interest

Regards

Hi Grayham,

F/11 ?

You know that I know the facts about f-stops.

I have tested your lens in the lab and this could be much improved by F/5.6.

Lower the ISO, use a faster shutter speed, all good directions to move in with a 300 mm lens.

Nice scene  though.

Best Regards,  Mike

..........spot on as always my friend. I was using this lighter lens (health issue) for a quick capture of this poor parrot........ almost a "grab and shoot".

I have been working a little more with this lens (of late) hence a far sweeter fstop on many others..............

Glad you're back to keep me on the straight and narrow...............

Best regards

Excellent detail and colour Grayham. I can see the spot you are talking about, how unfortunate for this bird. It actually seems 'nature' can be as cruel as 'us humans' sometimes. A person can appear not quite as 'lovely or handsome' as we think they should, or perhaps with what may seem to be a 'grotesque' deformity, and often they are shunned or ignored. Yes it is sad, I hope he enjoys some of your food for a bit. While it is a story that is unfortunate, your capture and story brought new light to something I'd not otherwise known in your great land of the Parrotts.

Thanks for stopping by and contributing to the ongoing plight of this poor parrot. I've been a little incapacitated these past few weeks (Pmail coming) and have not been over to Louises to look for him. Hopefully he is still soldiering on..... though I read somewhere that birds eat their body weight in seed/friut xtimes daily (can't remember how many times).... and I don't see this chappie getting that sort of volume. I'll have a look for him on Sat/Sun.

Yes, nature dictates that the fittest will survive.

Talk soon my friend

A fascinating critter Grayham,  thanks for the interesting and ongoing narrative.

This looks like the definition of "being long in the tooth". 

I hope that you are doing well now and back amongst the birds.

A fascinating capture in so many ways.  Despite his beak deformity he seems to be functioning ok and from your account theres no loss of appetite, so hopefully the little guy will survive.  I remember a friend of mine who had a Budgerigar that had a similar complaint. It's beak would continue to grow, and a monthly trip to the vet would see it clipped and contained.  The budgie was always in a nasty mood after the vets though!

I hope your visitor comes back soon and proves everyone wrong!

Nice work Graham!

Best Regards

Alf

Thanks for stopping by............ yes, your quip is quite valid but I hope not too "final" as yet...... would still like to see him visit.

Regards

Lovely to hear from you (Pmail as well). Yes, I saw this as a two-fold opportunity... the "plight of the parrot" and a"tight close-up" shot with my 700.

The "plight of the parrot" won, hands down (smiles).

It has been suggested that we try to capture him  and have a vet trim the beak.... could be too traumatic?

Yes I hope to see him return as well......... no joy this weekend, but it was the worst of weather.

Time will tell.

Best regards

I think it has all been said above. A moving portrait.

Best Regards, Tibi

Thanks for stopping by........

Regards.