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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 11/17/2006
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Thanks again Joggie!!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 11/17/2006
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Oh Rina - Thanks for the comment and I agonized over posting this shot for that VERY reason. But Marcus, good sport that he is, was absolutely gentlemanly in what (in retrospect) must have been an stabbing dart of fear that his thunder might be stolen!! :P
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 11/17/2006
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Thanks very much Liz . . . I'm often asked "Why are you taking that?" (A reference to my camera). I always say . . . the day I don't I'll miss the lil green aliens landing at the local Pizza Hut parking area . . . and somebody with a point and click camera will have the shot and sell it to the National Enquirer - retiring to a remote South pacific Island with considerable wealth and a 55 foot long yacht! Therefore, having the camera has prevented an alien invasion (not to mention saving the life of some poor unsuspecting snapshot taking Hollywood tourist)!! LoL!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Joggie van Staden
{K:41700} 11/14/2006
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The about says it all - great stuff Doyle!
Joggie
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Caterina Berimballi
{K:27299} 11/9/2006
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Splendid capture Doyle. You did great taking advantage of a rare opportunity. I personally won't do birds any more... not that I can't or anything... just wouldn't want to, you know, steal Marcus's thunder ;P
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Liz Wallis
{K:26133} 11/3/2006
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I always miss the best things because my camera is not at hand..beautiful work to capture him like this..fantastic shot Doyle
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 11/1/2006
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Thanks very much Mary!! Hope all is continuing to do well with you! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 11/1/2006
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Dave:
Thank you very much for the follow up comments and the Bird ID input. It's certainly appreciated. Todd's comments on the other shot also listed links for comparison . . . apparently . . . photography can be quite educational too! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Dave Holland
{K:13074} 11/1/2006
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Here's an image of a Peregrine falcon to compare it with:
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1187853
In my opinion the main differential here is the Prairie falcon, which tends to have dark axillary feathers and which doesn't nest in urban territories. I guess it might be possible to confuse Merlins with Kestrils, but the facial features of Kestrils are very different.
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Dave Holland
{K:13074} 11/1/2006
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Doyle, I spent a few minutes glancing through your eclectic portfolio this evening. Lots of experience and talent there.
You have a couple of really nice images of urban Merlins here. I can't post a link but if you do a search of the keyword 'Merlin' you will find some interesting info on Ornithology sites. I've been living near Merlin nests for the past few years and they wake me up each summer morning. The call is distinctive, and after a few mornings they aren't so attractive. Songbirds clear the area pretty fast, and bird baths become places for food to wash itself before death. Here's an image I took of a couple of Merlins in August:
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1146534
I posted a few others as well, and of course Todd Weeks has some excellent (but gruesome) pics of Merlins with prey. I agree that these can not be Peregrine falcons, though I agree they occupy a related niche in the urban ecosystem. Our Canadian Merlins are migrating through your area now, and you may be seeing them in wintering territories. Some however could well be nesting there without moving further north.
Cheers, Dave.
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Mary Slade
{K:40338} 10/31/2006
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Beautiful image. The colours and textures. And again, capturing that eye looking at you- amazing.
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/31/2006
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That it does Susie!!! That it does!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/31/2006
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Oh Jason! "Watching you like a hawk"? Bwahahahahaa . . . you should certainly be 'PUN'ished for the pun . . . perhaps some time spent in the 'PUN'-itentiary! Hehehehee . . . Thanks for the comment and the smile my friend!!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Susie Peek-Swint
{K:7303} 10/31/2006
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Another great capture Doyle ~ I love the detail on his eye.. certianly pays to keep your camera handy!
regards, susie
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Jason Hopson
{K:3283} 10/30/2006
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You have a couple of really good photos of this falcon, Doyle. This one seems to capture it's 'personality' really well - and he's definately watching you like a hawk!
Jason.
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Thanks Ray! I love birds of prey and the elegant, sleek appearance they give. It would have been a thrill for me even without my camera . . . :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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stingRay pt.4 .
{K:250401} 10/30/2006
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What a beautiful looking creature Doyle and such an excellent shot of this wonderful hawk. I love that look it gave you, that was a warning and a half if ever I've seen one. I also love the attachment. Well done to you my ever-ready friend, great shooting with excellent clarity of detail.
On three separate occasions I have witnessed two different hunting birds swooping into our garden to carry off one of our smaller diners (we feed wild birds). Two of them were sparrowhawks the other was much larger and took a ring collar dove after stripping some of the feathers away. All far too quick for me to grab my camera:( Once again, well done to you Doyle. My very best wishes to you as always.....Ray:)
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Wow Jessie . . . you make me blush . . . well . . . errrrr . . . ok . . . I SHOULD blush! LoL! But thanks so very much for the kind comments . . . really. Hope you're doing well my friend!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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jessie voigts
{K:6772} 10/30/2006
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you are a photography genius. i wouldn't have even had my camera around my neck, let alone think to take it! what a lifetime chance this was! how cool! and thank you for sharing it with us!!
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Shirley D. Cross-Taylor
{K:174022} 10/30/2006
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You're welcome again, dear Doyle!:)
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Thanks very much Dear Nessa!! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
(. . . and yes, he watched and dissappeared the moment I got too close for his comfort!)
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Fantastic Marcus! I really appreciate your comment and I'm thrilled with the thought! :) :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Thanks John! (I mean AJ) . . .
Yes . . . I'm NEVER far from it! As I stated elsewhere in the comment thread . . . if I left it there'd likely be an alien invasion of massive ray gun toting proportion and NOBODY with my particular talent to shoot it! I am a commander in a high-tech security facility and by bringing the camera I keep the planet safe! Just another one of the many lil things I do to keep the world safe from alien aggression because that's the caring, giving kinda' guy I am! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Oh Marian! Thanks so much and I bet it COULD happen to you too! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Arrrrgh! You're killing me here Lisa. I'd have loved to capture it too . . . my only regret on the find. Still, he was gone, literally, in the blink of an eye! The lower right is the less gross view of the pigeon's remains. Apparently . . . feathers were flying during the kill. I appreciate your comments (always) and . . . as I told Michele . . . If I left the camera there'd likely be an alien invasion . . . so I am, in essence, saving the World for truth, justice and the way of humankind everywhere by bringing it to work with me too! LoL! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Thanks Hanggan! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Thanks Paulo!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Thanks Michele. The day I forget my camera I KNOW there'll be an alien landing and possibly even an exchange of raygun/gun fire. By keeping the camera near . . . I make the world a safer place!! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/30/2006
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Thanks Shirley . . . having raised parrots, etc . . . I imagine the talons and beak of this lil one could really do wonders if you got too close. So I refrained from any attempt at petting him! LoL! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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vanessa shakesheff
{K:68840} 10/29/2006
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Wonderful shot ..he is keeping an eye on your that,s for sure..lovely detail and colour..nessa 7/7
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Marcus Armani
{K:36599} 10/29/2006
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Hi Doyle, this is a peregrine the cream of the crop for bird shooters, also the fastest animal in the world! you really came across a beauty, and took full advantage of it, Im very impressed as I have been shooting birds for years and only have maybe 6 decent shots of these, this is one to be proud of, excellent to say the least..
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AJ Miller
{K:49168} 10/28/2006
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So, you're walking from one office to another, presumably in the middle of a working day, and you JUST HAPPEN to have this massive Nikon machine in your pocket. Respect. That's a dedicated photographer. (Or is that your job?!)
Great story and two good shots.
AJ
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Marian Man
{K:80636} 10/28/2006
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wow!!! great capture dear Doyle!!!!! that can never happen to me :)
excellent details!!!!!! bravo!!!!
all the best
Marian
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So Cal Photograhper
{K:18529} 10/28/2006
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Quite a bit of ruffled feathers on the ground I see.
First of all I think it's great that you have your camera with you at work. You never know when a moment might present itself.
Great capture. Would have loved to have seen him fly off with his kill.
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Hanggan Situmorang
{K:37833} 10/28/2006
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Very good framing and moment captured here, Doyle.
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Paulo Sézio de Carvalho
{K:2273} 10/28/2006
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Great shot!!!!
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Michele Carlsen
{K:146013} 10/28/2006
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Hi Doyle,
Very interesting 'about' and great find too ! Bet you were surprised , but thankfully had camera with you like all good photographers must carry them... He looks pretty suspicious of You at this moment !
Great image Doyle!
Michele~
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Shirley D. Cross-Taylor
{K:174022} 10/27/2006
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Wonderful to capture this photo, Doyle!:) You can see the caution and agression in his eyes.
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/27/2006
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You know it's funny Jan . . . I thought he'd let me walk right up on him . . . This spot is about 2 feet from the sidewalk and not even two feet to the parking lot . . . but a long strip. He let me circle but as soon as I crossed the line he had in his mind he tooked the food and flew off in a split second!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Jan Hoffman
{K:39467} 10/27/2006
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These hawk fellas don't like to have their lunch-time munching disturbed. You are gonna get a bad rep. Excellent capture.
--jan
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Doyle D. Chastain
{K:101119} 10/27/2006
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This is the view THROUGH the tree that I walked up on!
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He appeared to have noticed me! |
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