Red-Bellied Woodpecker Close Up

February 05, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

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The red-bellied woodpeckers at Saw Wee Kee Park like to eat suet, but shelled peanuts and raisins were the preference today.  This male came within 3-4 meters to grab nuts off the ground, and there is a fair amount of detail in the bird's photo due to close proximity:

 

- red blush on breast and belly

- red cap and nape of neck, as well as red around eye

- red eye

- black and white feathers on back

- top of legs covered with black and white feathers

- green legs and feet

- base of tongue is pink, transitioning to black and changing to light gray on the pointed end

- dark hairs under the bird's chinny chin chin!

 

This morning it was cloudy and dark, and I mounted a TTL flashgun on the camera as a light supplement. Am not a fan of direct flash, but in this case it helped knock the ISO down to 320 and put a gleam in the woodpecker's eye. There is a small amount of shine from the flash on the bill, tongue, and peanut, but other than that the flash is not evident.


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