White-throated Kingfisher in flight

There are quite a few birds I've observed along the banks of the Bued River that I'm dying to get in flight - Philippine Cuckoo-Dove, Cinnamon Bittern, Coppersmith Barbet, Colasisi, and the Collared and White-throated Kingfishers.

On this early morning birding walk, I got one of my most wanted birds-in-flight. I wish I caught it with the wings in downstroke position so the colorful topwing feathers are visible, but I'm happy to take whatever BIF card nature deals me. 

_____

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis, resident)

Habitat - Clearings, along large streams and rivers, and in open country. 

Shooting Info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, March 30, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II,
400 mm, f/5.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, approx. 15.6 m distance, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 800 x 533. 

 High-res 1500 x 1000 version

Lowland White-eye in flight

The tiny size (4 inches total length) and very erratic flight behavior of this bird make it one tough subject to catch in the air. I was very lucky this morning to capture it in good light, in full wing spread, at the banks of Bued River.

I actually got it near the edge of the frame, so I have to extend the blue sky canvas a bit at the left to strengthen the composition. The 7D MII + 400 f/4 DO II combo managed to place the focus accurately on the unpredictable target, even when using the AF points at the extreme left.

_____

Lowland White-eye (Zosterops meyeni, a near Philippine endemic)

Habitat - Second growth, scrub and gardens. 

Shooting Info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, March 25, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II,
400 mm, f/5.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, approx. 11 m distance, manual exposure in available light, hand held, small crop resized to 800 x533 . 

High-res 1500 x 1000 version

A Crested Myna's Body English in Mid-air

This bird was on a flight path heading straight to my position along the bank of Bued River. Then  it saw me pointing a big, white metal tube in its direction. Thinking perhaps that I was a threat, the bird quickly tried to change course, and I caught it in the  middle of an interesting-looking body twist.

_____

Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus, resident)

Habitat: Open country and agricultural land. 

Shooting Info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, March 8, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II,
400 mm, f/5.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 800 x 533. 

 

 

 

 

 

High-res 1500 x 1000 version