Jackdaw looking very sure of himself

[AlbionMan]

This is my first post here... (I have chosen one I am fairly happy with) my main interest is wildlife photography, but also do a lot of landscape work.
I love photographing Jackdaws... maybe because they sit still for a while... but mainly because I like them!!!
I really want to continue to raise my standards, in every respect, and welcome C&C and any good advice that can be offered...

[deetheturk]

A warm welcome to the forum Rich, very nice first post, looks like he may be blind in his right eye? or is it just the way the light is hitting it?

[Daisy Mae]

A warm welcome to the forum Rich, very nice first post, looks like he may be blind in his right eye? or is it just the way the light is hitting it?

It does have an opaque look.

Jackdaws fascinate me. I used to put out half apples for the blackbirds to peck away at...then i watched a jackdaw lift and fly with a half apple . How it even got off the ground i have no idea.

Great pic Rich.

[James G]

Unless I'm very mistaken the opaque eye is actually the nictitating membrane a transparent or translucent third eyelid present in some animals.

Its a hazard? when photographing birds since the 'blink' is very rapid and unpredictable... you just take your chance...

Nice Shot by the way

[Rebel]

Nice shot Rich, something definitely happening with its eye there!

[AlbionMan]

Thank you David, Sharon, James and Matt....

I have just scrolled through other shots of the same bird.. but only have the left eye!!!

There was no evidence of sight problems when he was flying around, so feel it must be the "extra memebrane"....

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Rich. I'm unfamiliar with these birds and am also curious about the eye color. You might google a bit and find out if they have said membrane. Most raptors have it so they don't lose sight completely by blinking at a critical time. I've not seen it in other birds but that is definately what it looks like.

Posting your equipment/EXIF data may prove beneficial for anyone offering C/C.

Your techs look really good on this shot. Nice detail revealed in the dark feathers. It looks like you nailed it good and sharp in camera and maybe a bit of additional sharpening in post would be beneficial to really bring out that feather detail. Compositionally while he posed nicely the bird didn't do you any favors with the choice of perch as the background is a complimentary color/brightness though geometrically a bit messy. You've minimized that well by blurring it. Overall nicely done.

[James G]

I had the same problem last October... was photographing seals in Galway Bay, but took a few shots of the corvids foraging on the shore.

[AlbionMan]

Thanks James, it does look like the same thing... the membrane looks a likelihood.

Thanks Dan... I use a Canon D60 with (on this one) a hand held Sigma 150/500 zoom... using TV at a speed of around 1/1500. I haven't kept the RAW image (storage) so haven't the EXIF now... I will certainly keep it and post it with new images... Thank you for your comments about the shot... I appreciate them

[Dave Humphries]

Hi, Rich. I'm unfamiliar with these birds and am also curious about the eye color. You might google a bit and find out if they have said membrane. Most raptors have it so they don't lose sight completely by blinking at a critical time. I've not seen it in other birds but that is definately what it looks like.

I think nearly all (if not all) bird species have the nictitating membrane and I am sure that's what we're seeing here.

The eye colour of our UK Jackdaws is a pale blue Dan, being basically a black bird, raised exposure often results in it appearing washed out though, so I have applied a little artistic licence to my example to increase the saturation to match what I remembered. I have seen much bluer than this and wonder whether it changes by season (e.g. to attract a mate).

I really want to continue to raise my standards, in every respect, and welcome C&C and any good advice that can be offered...

Hi Rich,

My suggestion for your shot would be to crop approx. 15-20% from the width off the left hand side of this composition.

The exposure and focus are good.

Hope that's helpful, Dave

[AlbionMan]

Jackdaws eyes are naturally bright blue.... colour is lost through an element of over exposure

This is the same bird, some 15 to 20 minutes earlier... showing his other eye.

[Shadowman]

Nice capture.

[AlbionMan]

Nice capture.

thank you John

[klpurkett]

Welcome to CiC! Nice captures... I prefer the second one, mostly because the bird stands out from the background a little more, and the eye thing isn't an issue.

[Wavelength]

Nice images; Does this bird belong to the family of crows? I think crows have such an eye membrane which i have seen

[AlbionMan]

Nice images; Does this bird belong to the family of crows? I think crows have such an eye membrane which i have seen

Thank you Nandakumar. Yes, the Jackdaw is a member of the crow family

[AlbionMan]

Welcome to CiC! Nice captures... I prefer the second one, mostly because the bird stands out from the background a little more, and the eye thing isn't an issue.

Thank you Kristy

[Stagecoach]

Good captures Rich, and interesting learning regarding the eye.

[AlbionMan]

Good captures Rich, and interesting learning regarding the eye.

Thank you Grahame. I've learned a lot about the eye membrane as well, colleagues on a dedicated birdwatching site seem to confirm that it is the membrane in place in the eye