Tuesday, March 8, 2011

ABC Wednesday: H is for High Speed Chase

I am not talking about the High Speed Chase that we have often seen in the police movie.  I refer to chasing the bird in the mid-flight what the photographer often called "panning".  This Spot-billed duck (斑嘴鴨), Anas poecilorhyncha was taken at a wetland in Yilan county, east of Taipei.

I was on a tour with "Natural Kingdom", the only government registered natural tour operator in Taiwan.  The trip was to go to the Fu-shan Botanical Garden at Yilan county, but the guide took us first to this wetland to see migratory birds.  It was a sight that I have never seen in Taiwan.

I have seen the massive colony of Sandy Crane in New Mexico, and heard of the large number of migratory sea birds on the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge on Cape Cod.  But I have never expected to see this massive showing of migratory birds in Taiwan.  The main species at this location are Black-winged Stilt (長腳鵴), Himantopus himantopus, Gray heron (蒼鷺), Ardea cinerea and Egret.

The most impressive showing was by the Black-winged Stilt.

Hundreds of them would suddenly take off into the air all at the same time.  It is a sight to behold.

The area used to be rice fields and shrimp farms, now it is under heavy pressure from land developers.  I hope there will always be enough wetland left for this natural wonder.

To see more entries of ABC Wednesday click here.

9 comments:

Coffee Queen said...

You have so many extraordinary shots, both in the ABC Wednesday post and the rest of your blog. I just became a follower so I can see your future shots. I hope my pictures can be as powerful as yours some day!

Roger Owen Green said...

that 2nd shot, in particular, is striking.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Leslie: said...

My goodness! your photos are award worthy, I'm sure! Stunning and most colourful...You were sure lucky to be able to visit there.

Leslie
ABCW Team

Jama said...

Your photos are so awesome! I don't think I can go for a high speed chase with the birds...

magiceye said...

lovely captures!

photowannabe said...

Beautiful photos of the graceful birds. I love the way you captured them in flight.

Tumblewords: said...

Absolutely superb photography!

Nanka said...

Wonderful captures and love the nature photography in the wetlands !! Very impressive!!

Dianne said...

I think the shot of them standing on water is my favorite but really all of these are stunning

I also love the sky shot in your newer post
the tree silhouette is so lovely

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