Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs

Once again (for the twenty-eighth time), we have greatly enjoyed select­ing the photographs that have been submitted for this feature. Whilst

we have not been overwhelmed by entries, it is apparent from the next few pages that there are a number of bird-photographers who obtain great satisfaction from black-and-white work. We, in turn, are delighted to share their results with our readers.

Readers will recollect that, where possible in this feature, we try to show the work of 'new' photographers and 'new' species. In this context, of course, 'new' means new to the feature. This year we have one 'new' photographer—Steve Young—and three 'new' species—Little Bustard Otis tetrax, Cetti 's Warbler Cettia cetti and Jackdaw Corvus monedula.

Amongst the 'old stagers' whose work we show, particular mention must be made of Dr Kevin Carlson, who, for the third successive year, has had three photographs selected, and Mark Hamblin, who, for the first time, has also had three selected.

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4 2 8 t*1 '- ft'"fcH(': 128-438, September 1987]

196. Bee-eater Merops apiaster catching hoverfly (Kevin Carlson) (Nikon FE, 300mm Nikkor, FP4, 1/500, f8)

197. Male Little Bustard Otis tetrax displaying, Portugal, May 1986 (Kevin Carlson) (Nikon FE, 200mm Nikkor micro, FP4, 1/250, f5.6)

198. Kestrel Falco linnunculus hovering, Netherlands, April 1982 (Hans Schouten) (Nikon F, 600mm Novoflex)

199. Pair of Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus at nest, Lancashire, June 1986 (Tony Bond) (Canon A-l 135mm Canon, FP4, 1/125, auto)

200. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata approaching nest, Warwickshire, July 1986 (Mark Hamblin) (Pentax MX, 70-210mm zoom, FP4, 1/125, f5.6)

201. Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti, Portugal, April 1986 (Kevin Carlson) (Nikon FE, 600mm Soligor, FP4, 1/125,f8)

202. Curlew Numenius arquata wing lifting, Co. Cork, October 1986 (Richard T. Mills) (Nikon FE2, 600mm Nikkor with 1.4 X converter Tri-X, 1/500, f5.6)

203. Jackdaws Corvus monedula collecting nesting material, Co. Galway, April 1986 (Richard T. Mills) (Nikon FE2, 600mm Nikkor, Tri-X, 1/1000, f5.6)

204. Carrion Crow Corvus corone, Warwickshire, December 1986 (Mark Hamblin) (Pentax MX, 400mm Nikkor, FP4, 1/600, f5.6)

205. Rook Corvus frugilegus, Warwickshire, December 1986 (Mark Hamblin) (Pentax MX, 400mm Nikkor, FP4, 1/500, C5.6)

206. Meadow Pipit Anthuspratensis, Argyll,June 1986 (A. R. Hamblin) (Olympus ON2N, 300mm Zuiko, FP4, 1/125, f8)

207. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus singing, Warwickshire, May 1986 {A. R. Hamblin) (Olympus OM2N, 300mm, Zuiko, FP4, 1/60, f8)

208. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacillaflava, Lancashire, May 1986 (Dennis Green) (Hasselblad 500 C/M, 150mm Sonnar with extension tube, Tri-X, 1/60, fl6)

209. First-summer Little Gull Lams minutus, Merseyside, April 1986 (Steve Young) (Nikon FM2,400mm Nikkor, XP1, 1/500, f5.6)

210. Juvenile Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, Merseyside, August 1986 (Steve Young) (Nikon FM2,400mm Nikkor, XP1, 1/250, f8)

Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs 437

Kevin Carlson's Bee-eater Merops apiaster (plate 196) is one of the most interesting photographs of that species that we have seen. We are not sure if the bird is catching the hoverfly, or is simply tossing up an already dead fly prior to swallowing it. We favour the latter explanation—the shutter speed could not stop the fly's wing movement. But whichever, it is a quite outstanding photograph.

The second of Kevin's three photos is almost a repeat of his winning 'Bird Photograph of the Year' (Brit. Birds 80: plate 147) of a displaying Little Bustard (plate 197), caught in mid jump. This black-and-white version makes a most interesting comparison with the prize-winning colour shot, since one not only sees a somewhat different view of the bird, but also can directly compare work in colour and black-and-white.

Two magnificent raptor photographs follow. Hans Schouten (appearing for the second time) has a superb shot of a Kestrel Falco tinnunculus hovering, intent on scanning the ground below for prey (plate 198). Tony Bond (whose work appears for the ninth successive year) has a shot of Sparrow-hawks Accipiter nisus at the nest (plate 199) which shows well the size difference between male and female, without the male (having conveniently positioned himself in front) obscuring the female to any real extent.

Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata are not difficult to photograph, but Mark Hambl in ' s portrait (plate 200) of one pausing on a nettle-surrounded bramble on the approach to its nest is a most attractive study. We like this imaginative approach to nest photography. Coupled with the Spotted Flycatcher is Kevin Carlson's third photograph, a Cettis' Warbler, which is a fine example of an opportunist shot (plate 201), in this instance taken from a vehicle. Though a common species in southern Europe (this photograph was taken in Portugal), it is nevertheless a skulking species and we have seen few better studies of this bird away from the nest.

Richard Mills is another well-known photographer who has had many successes in the opportunist photography of birds away from the nest. For the past year or two, he has been using a 600-mm lens for this purpose. We include two of his photographs for the second successive year, both taken with the long lens. To obtain the fine study of the moulting Curlew Numenius arquata wing lifting (plate 202), he added a converter for further magnifi­cation. The result shows the quality of photographs that are now obtainable with these accessories, a quality that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.

The second of Richard Mills' photographs might almost be one for our ' think of a caption' feature, with Jackdaws (plate 203) collecting hair lining for their nests from the back of a cow.

Two further crows follow, both taken by Mark Hamblin during the course of the same photographic session. The two, a Carrion Crow Corvus corone (plate 204) and a Rook Corvus jrugilegus (plate 205), were amongst a number of not only these species, but also Jackdaws and Magpies Pica pica which were coming to feed on ieft-overs' from a sheep trough. Mark used a hide, and was rewarded by having the birds feeding to within 4-5m, quite unaware of his presence. It is experiences such as this that help to make bird-photography truly addictive.

438 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs

Photographs of two members of the family Motacillidae follow, accom­panied by a shot of their potential parasite, the Cuckoo Cuculus canorus. The Meadow Pipit Anthus trivialis (plate 206) is clearly en route to its nest, making an attractive shot as it perches briefly'in full sunlight. This and the Cuckoo were photographed by A. R. Harnblin; the Cuckoo (plate 207) is singing, its throat distended and a breeze lifting its mantle and nape feathers.

T h e Yellow Wagtail Motacillaflava (plate 208), also approaching its nest and looking very pipit-like, was photographed by Dennis Green. Dennis is a long-time supporter of this feature, this being the thirteenth year in which his work has been shown.

This year's 'new' photographer, Steve Young, supplies two delightful away-from-the-nest shots. The first photograph (plate 209) is a delightfully delicate shot of a first-summer Little Gull Larus minutus, which admirably catches the character of this species. The second of Steve's photographs is a juvenile Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (plate 210), apparently fly-catching, a common form of feeding by this species, almost heron-like in its approach to its prey.

May we thank all those who submitted photographs to us this year? We always enjoy seeing them, and, even if they are not published in this feature, the prints are retained in our files for possible future use.

R . J . C H A N D L E R , E R I C H O S K I N G , } . T . R. SHARROCKand D O N S M I T H