ML610629023

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Stunning find. I saw it obscured through reeds and grass beside a flooded trail, standing in shallow water and preening. I thought it was a rail at first. Standing in calf-deep water, I waited for 20 minutes until it crept out into the open trail and began foraging in the shallow water. Patience paid off, and I got great photo opportunities from 15-20 feet away with my 400mm. I believe this is an immature bird, but it still had stunning iridescent motley blue-to-purple and green coloration in the plumage. Huge yellow toes, red eyes, medium-sized yellow-tipped beak, white under tail covert. Coot-like forehead "shield" above the beak. It stretches its neck forward as it walks/wades and pumps its tail sometimes while foraging. Pics. Have a short video too, if useful.

Technical information

Model

NIKON Z 9

Lens

NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S

ISO

1250

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/4.5

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

1280 pixels x 853 pixels

Original file size

1.28 MB