Black-winged Stilt in high key

It's not too often that the lighting conditions are just right to allow good exposure  of the contrasting plumage of this bird. In early 2011, I got lucky to be able to freeze this individual as it took off from one of the fishponds in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

 

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Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus, migrant)

 

Habitat: Wetlands from coastal mudflats to ricefields.

 

Shooting info – Sta. Cruz, Zambales, Philippines, February 9, 2011, Canon 1D MIV + EF 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC II,
700 mm, 1/1600 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, manual exposure in available light, 475B/516 support.