Saturday, January 28, 2012

Common moorhen, Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility

Common Moorehen standing on a branch above a pond covered in duck weed

I had seen the unique-looking Common Moorhen quite often on my summer walks around the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility treatment ponds, but it was only really this occasion that I was able to get an unobstructed shot of one before it slipped back into the reeds. The bright color of its bill can really pull the eye in, but it wasn't until I saw this image that I realized how large their feet are! A fascinating bird for sure, and the chicks are really adorable too.


13 comments:

  1. With that beautiful green backdrop, this is a stunning photo. Those feet are a bit scary looking though.

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    1. Thanks, John! The green really does stand out in this shot (it was a nice day with tule fog covering the sky). The feet are kind of crazy. They remind me of American coot feet, which look an awfully lot like dinosaur feet to me!

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  2. Amazing photo, the colors on the beak are on the tops of the legs also. And yes, the long thin toes are so a focal point. Simply amazing!

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    1. Thanks so much, Carol! They are a unique and beautiful bird!

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  3. Awesome shot of the Moorhen, the colors are just beautiful.

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    1. Thanks, Eileen! Overcast days can really help to make the colors pop!

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  4. Thats a stunning shot, the lighting is spot on.

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    1. Thanks, Marc! When I first started photography, I was a golden-hour junkie. But over time I really came to appreciate the overcast days even more. I actually started skipping photography on the clear days, and looking for opportunities when the high-level coastal fog might hang around for a few extra hours so that I could squeeze in some extra photography!

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  5. I can´t help it, but I love their feet. :)

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