A Watercock landing in a reed bed - a photo on Flickriver

A Watercock landing in a reed bed

            A very shy and elusive bird that is more common than I thought, but very hard to get a sight of or shot of. This is a waterbird and a member of the rail and Crake family. It is also a large bird around 40-45 cms long and weighing half a kilo or more. They are quite large compared to the other waterbirds here, but they are so impossible to sight in the green fields where they reside. They are easily identified by the frontal red shield and calls. The birds stick to the foot long grass in the countryside and hence very hard to spot - any sighting in our region is considered rare. 

While shooting on lake embankment next to a reed bed, a Red Necked Falcon was hunting around the fields and scared away around 100+ Swamphens, a few Bitterns and this Watercock. The Watercock flew to the reed bed and landed some 50 feet from me. This one is a male, the female is more  brownish in color.

Thanks in advance for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.

Some rights reserved

Taken on: May 28, 2024

Tags:

2K+

500 mm

Birds

Canon

EOS

Environment

F4L IS II

Flight

India

Manjeera

Nature

Outside

Sangareddy

Telangana

Watercock

Wildlife « less

Sets appears in: • My Best Shots • Best of Flight more » • Telangana • Birds « less

Groups appears in: • Platinum Photography Group *Level 1* • Official National Geographic Group more » • Birding In The Wild • Nature's Pot-of-Gold • Birds birds birds birds! • National Geographic Wild Life • National Geographic | World Wide • World of Birds • World Wildlife Showcase (Invited images only) • **Optical Excellence Level 1 ~ Post 1/Award 3 • Canon R5 • Marshbirds & Allies of the World - Rails, Bitterns, & More Birds « less

Camera: Canon EOS R5, f/6.3, 1/5000 sec, 700mm, ISO 1250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R5
Lens:	EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	1/5000 sec
Focal Length:	700mm
ISO:	1250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 13.3 (Windows)
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Stats: 737 views / 12 comments

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