This is a cousin of the Loggerhead Shrike, a common bird of the Western USA. The Woodchat Shrike is significantly smaller and more colorful, but behaves very similarly to the Loggerhead (“butcher bird”). This was taken in Northern Portugal last month. This is one of the first images I have processed that was taken with the Canon 800 mm f/11.0 lens. It was mounted on a Canon R5. Certainly not the quality of other prime lenses, but I found that European birds were much more difficult to approach on foot than those in North or South America. Hence, many of the shots were taken hand held from a car window. The birds would tolerate the car, but as soon as you even cracked the door, away they went. The super light-weight 800 mm lens was certainly easy to use in this setting. Because of the fixed aperture and low light (late afternoon) this was shot at 1/1250 sec, f/11.0, and ISO of 1250. I used an EC of -.3 and should have gone to -.6.
- Created Timestamp01/01/1970 00:00:00
Great photo!
Thank you. It was a really neat bird. Very animated; would sit on this fence post and then dive down to the ground, catch some type of beetle, and come back up to the post to eat it.
Thanks for including the information about the lens and settings. I think it’s a wonderful shot – I like the composition and cropping. The detail in the bird and its perch is great, too. I’m not sure why you think the EC should have been lower – the picture seems well-exposed at -.3. Overall are you pleased with the R5? I’ve been contemplating getting one.
Thank you for the nice words. EC of -.3: I selectively reduced the exposure of the white bars and neck on the bird significantly in post. The large white wing bar is right on the edge of being blown out. R5: I love this camera. I previously shot 5D4, 7D2, 70D, 5D3 and the R5 is significantly more fun and more effective to shoot. I bought my wife an R6 and although she loves the camera, when you crop shots, there is a big difference between the R5 and R6. The EVF takes some getting used to, but once you… Read more »
Stunning!
Thank you. It was a neat bird.
Looks like he’s wearing a red wig! Cool looking bird!
I love the Lichens on the post with the birds crest!