Migrating black-winged stilts

Thursday, March 25, 2010 -

It's migration time and in the past days many flocks of black-winged stilts have been reported near home. Today I've found one flock on a beach in Sestri Levante, flying in multiple passages on the shoreline, searching for a place to rest. I've enjoyed several passages at close range and fortunately I made a few handheld sharp shots in spite of the poor light.

9CXVXA4872ZH

Nikon D200 + AF-S 300 f/4D, 1/800 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 180, handheld.

Nikon D200 + AF-S 300 f/4D, 1/800 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 250, handheld.

Nikon D200 + AF-S 300 f/4D + TC 17E, 1/800 sec @ f/6.7, ISO 250, handheld.

Nikon D200 + AF-S 300 f/4D + TC 17E, 1/800 sec @ f/6.7, ISO 320, handheld.

Nikon D200 + AF-S 300 f/4D + TC 17E, 1/500 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 220, tripod.

After a few minutes they found a good place and landed on the shoreline, so I could set up the tripod and observe them from a distance. They stood together, just on the wave-breaking line. Sometimes a taller wave than average made some of them jump and fly for a few seconds. Waiting with patience, in the end they arranged in the almost perfect parade-like pose.

Nikon D200 + AF-S 300 f/4D + TC 17E, 1/320 sec @ f/8 ISO 320, polarizer, tripod.