Cetti's Warbler by Denise Emmerson
This week's winning shot by Denise Emmerson is not one of those that has been carefully planned and plotted for a long time, but it's a fine portrait of a notoriously shy species. The fact that this Cetti's Warbler has been digiscoped makes it a remarkable image of a bird that can be so difficult to photograph well, even using the latest DSLRs and expensive telephoto lenses.
The pose is perfect for Cetti's, capturing that aggressive 'I'm a noisy Cetti's and I don't care' attitude. The exposure is spot on and the focus is perfect, even more impressive when using a scope and small compact camera; shutter speed was 1/800th second, with the camera set to f3.5 aperture at ISO 160.
Digiscoping may have certain limitations when it comes to fast-flying or fast-moving birds, but sometimes, when I look at the quality of digiscoped shots such as this superb image, I think maybe I should seriously give it a try!
Congratulations to Denise on her Photo of the Week.
You can read more on bird photography from Steve Young, including product reviews and a regular Photo Challenge for readers, every month in Birdwatch magazine.
Other notable images
Kingfisher, undisclosed site, Shropshire (Photo: Paul Burgess)
Gannet and Great Skuas, Lamba Ness, Unst, Shetland (Photo: Robbie Brookes)
Tawny Owl, undisclosed site, Warwickshire (Photo: Phil Neale)
Long-eared Owl, Landguard NR, Suffolk (Photo: Jonathan Theobald)
Arabian Woodpecker, Saudi Arabia (Photo: anon)
Subalpine Warbler, Eoropie, Lewis, Outer Hebrides (Photo: Tony Marr)
White-tailed Eagle, Mull, Argyll (Photo: Peter Walkden)
Wryneck, Noirmont Point, Jersey (Photo: Mick Dryden)
Manx Shearwater, Bardsey Island, Gwynedd (Photo: Ben Porter)
Barred Warbler, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire (Photo: Martin Standley)
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Amble, Northumberland (Photo: Heiko Peters)
