Photo of the week

  • Background:
  • European Roller, 1/400 s; f/7.1; ISO 1250; 600 mm; Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM S  Photo by Maciej Szymanski
  • Green-underside Blue
Canon 70D, Lens Canon 28-105, f5.6, 1/1000, iso320 Photo by Georgi Gerdzhikov
  • This portrait of the Black Stork was taken during spring migration in Sakar mountain
Canon 70D, Canon 400/5.6 lens, f7.1, 1/1250 ISO 500 Photo by Georgi Gerdzhikov
  • That picture was taken during spring migration of 2020 in Sakar Mountain
Canon 70D, lens Canon 400/5.6, f5.6, 1/400 ISO 500 Photo by Georgi Gerdzhikov
  • Our guest Jetmir Troshani took this picture of this immature Golden Eagle in heavy snowing from our Golden Eagle`s hide in Bulgaria, during Golden Eagle photography tour in the end of December 2019. Gear: Nikon 850D, lens Nikkor 600mm f/4E FL ED VR, f/5.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 2000 Photo by Jetmir Troshani
  • Our guest Tord Andreasson took this picture of this superb Dalmatian Pelican in breeding plumage at sunrise at Kerkini Lake, Greece, during our Dalmatian Pelican`s extension tour in 2020. Gear: Olympus Mirrorless E-M1 Mark II, lens Zuiko 40-150/2.8 PRO, f/4, 1/1600 sec, ISO 3200 EV+1  Photo by Tord Andreasson
  • We tested our new hide for Rollers and Common Bee-eaters in the town of Belene, Bulgaria. From the hide you have eight views with different background and sticks. We took this pictures in our last workshop in may. EXIF - Canon 70d, Canon 400/ 5.6 lens, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 640. Photo by Georgi Gerdzhikov Photo by Georgi Gerdzhikov
  • I spent amazing week in Bulgaria during Butterflies and Macro Photography 2018 tour. There was in Chervenata stena Nature Reserve when I took this picture while they copulated. EXIF: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f 13, 1/80, ISO 320 Photo by Maire Hietaharju
  • I was waiting for the vultures in a photo hide in Extremadura when the local pair of Spanish Imperial Eagle have suddenly appeared in front of me! A beautiful raptors and the only species so far that I have photographed first and observed seconds latter! Canon 5D MIII, 500/4 Canon lens, f 6,3, 1/400, ISO 640. Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • I was waiting for the vultures in a photo hide in Extremadura when the local pair of Spanish Imperial Eagle have suddenly appeared in front of me! A beautiful raptors and the the only species so far that I have photographed first and observed seconds latter! Canon 5D MIII, 500/4 Canon lens, f 6,3, 1/400, ISO 640. Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • Our first Capercallie photography tours produced very good images. Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, ISO 400, 2.8, 1/320 sec. Tamron 35 – 90 mm lens. Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • I have taken this superb White Pelican in breeding plumage at Kerkini Lake, Greece, while photographing the even more stunning Dalmatian pelicans. Canon 5DMark III, Canon 500/4, 1/1000, f13, ISO 400. Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) Морски орел
An interesting image from the Danube Delta. Has the bird turned its head backwards while landing?? No – actually there are two sea eagles in the photo. Their body positions have been captured in a way, which makes them look like one bird, making the photo quite funny.

EXIF:
Canon 1D X
Canon 400mm F/2.8 USM IS II
1/1000sec. F/4 ISO 320
Image by Bogdan Boev
 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Barn swallow - having seen a mixed flock of barn swallows and sand martins catching mosquitoes low above the grass, I have quickly set up my camera, put the right, settings and using manual focus I soon took few hundreds shots, of which there are 3-4 good flight shots.
EXIF:
Canon 1DX
Canon EF 400 f/2.8 USM IS II
1/2500 sec. f/4.5 ISO 640 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • During our birdwatching tour in Bulgaria with my family , we spent one afternoon in bird photography hide and I was able to make this shot of drinking goldfinch.
Exif:
Canon 1DX
Canon 400 f2.8 USM IS II
1/2000 f4.5 ISO 200
Image by Sami Sankey


 Photo by
  • Sparrowhawk 

    Today I was lucky enough to observe a successful attack of this sparrowhawk. Everything happened for a second or two, it started with the scared whistles of birds as they flew all around the feeder and finished with the grey silhouette which hit the flock. The sparrowhawk remained for a few moments in the grass with legs deep inside the bush, and when it took off and landed 4 meters away from me, I saw a siskin in it's claws. It gave me a chance to photograph it and flew away with his prey.


  EXIF:
Canon 1D X
Canon EF 400 f/2.8 USM IS II
1/3200 sec. f 5.6 ISO 500
Image by Bogdan Boew Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Great spotted woodpecker vs. Jay
Recent activity from our forest hide!INear feeders is overcrowded and birds become agressive sometimes.In this case smaller one won the battle.
EXIF:
Canon 1DX
Canon 400mm 2.8 USM IS II
1/4000 f3.5 ISO 800
 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • The bird was caught just before landing and was 'triggered' its air breaks, therefore the wings and tail were wide open. It was caught against the sky and on the background are the snowy hills of Ponor mountain.


EXIF:
Canon EOS 1Dx
Canon EF 400 f2.8 USM IS II + 
Canon 2x III teleconverter
1/1600 sec. f7.1 ISO 400


Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • An image from our latest tour for Golden eagles and Dalmatian pelicans. We had the perfect conditions for photography and the mighty bird arrived just in time - the 'golden hour' light when the sun is low and paint the background in pinkish colors.

EXIF:
Canon 40D
Canon EF 400mm F2.8 USM IS II
1/1250 sec. f 2.8 ISO 400
Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Another image from our Forest hide. We are changing the perches regulary and as usually there are many birds it is often the case that one will perch right on the spot - as that Robin did. Exif:
Canon EOS 40D
Canon EF 400 f2.8 USM IS II
1/1000 sec. f 2.8 ISO 200
 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Hawfinch is one of most common birds in front of оur forest hide now. The winter cold makes them stay on the feeders all day long and this gave me a chance to wait till the last sunset light and capture this one in perfect atmosphere with warm background.
EXIF:
Canon 40D
Canon 400 USM IS II 
1/1600 sec. f 2.8 ISO 200 
Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) Жълта овесарка
 
 Subzero temperatures attracted many birds in front of our forest hide feeders .Yellowhammers become regular visitors as well.
EXIF:
Canon 40D 
Canon EF 400 f2.8 USM IS II
1/40 sec.   f5      ISO 100
Image by Bogdan Boev
 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • WILD ECHO team wish you 
Merry Christmas and 
Happy New Year! Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Sparrowhawk
The bird landed six meters from me, which was too close for my 400 mm lens, bird had wonderful reflection in the water , which I could not fit in the frame .That's why I made two vertical frames , which photomerge in Photoshop to get entire picture with bird and its reflection!

EXIF: (for both frames)
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 400mm f2.8 USM IS II
F 2.8 1/2000 sec. ISO 200
photomerged in Photoshop / Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • The eagle came early in the morning, his chest was frosted after a freezing night. Weather got cold and it started snowing. I used a slow shutter speed to make the snowflakes look like lines and the bird stood still for this dramatic portrait.
EXIF:
Canon 5D Mark III 
Canon EF 400 f2.8 USM IS II + 2x teleconverter
F 5.6 , 1/10 sec. ISO 400
Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • On our birding tour to Ethiopia we have had the pleasure to enjoy close views of the endemic Ethiopian wolf last week - the rarest canid in the world, of which less than 500 animals are left. It was a privilidge. That animal came as close as 35 metters and even caught one of the giant rats in fronf of us. 5D3 and Canon 400/5.6 Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • We just started our golden eagle photography tours for this season!
This is one of the two young birds in front of the hide, which made this lovely peacock-like pose.
EXIF:
Canon 7D Mark II 
Canon 400 f2.8 USM IS II @ 2.8
Shutter speed 1/1250 
ISO 640
Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Spotted crake (Porzana porzana)
I saw this spotted crake and started slowly approaching it. At first it hid in the grass, but in a few moments it showed up again. I did this shot when the bird was searching for food by the reeds.
EXIF:
Camera: 5D Mark III 
Lens: Canon EF 400 f2.8 +  Canon 2x III teleconverter 
1/400sec. 
f 5.6
ISO 800
Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • I have finally manage to photograph the beautiful Two-tailed Pasha on clean, sandy colored background that emphasis best the color of this most exotic European butterfly.
exif:
Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM
1/200 sec. f 6.3 ISO 400
Image by Dobromir Domuschiev Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur)
 Image made in our new drinking pond hide.Just in the end of the day pair of turtle doves landed.Тhe male bird immediately start displaying few seconds later followed a brief copulation.
 EXIF:
Canon 40D + Canon 400 f 2.8 USM IS II 
1/1600 sec. ISO 400 f 2.8
Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by
  • I found this very obliging Purple Emperor on a usual spot and could not resist of course to spend few minutes with it after we have missed it on our Butterfly and Macro Photography trip earlier in the month, due to the late spring.
 EXIF:
Canon 5D III + Canon 100mm f2.8 USM 
f9 ISO 200 1/160 sec. -2/3 compensation  Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • European green woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Warm weather last week made our drinking pool hide very attractive for many species.This green woodpecker is often there for bath and drink.
exif:
Canon 40D + Canon 400 2.8 USM IS II @ 2.8
1.1250 sec. ISO 400 
Image by Bogdan Boev
 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Image from our new drinnking pool hide!
Levant sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes) Късопръст ястреб
This bird has become one of the regular visitors , coming to bathe and drink water. Often stays more than 10-15 minutes , giving us plenty of time for photography
EXIF:
Canon 40D
Canon 400 2.8 USM IS II @ 4.5
1/500 sec. ISO 200
Image by Bogdan Boev Photo by
  •  Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) Чакал
   Shot from our latest tour in Danube Delta
Aggresive female infront of white-tailed eagle hide ,trying to keep away hooded crows from the bite.
Exif:
Nikon D7000
Nikkor AF-S 300MM F2.8G VR @ F4.
ISO 640; 1/3200sec.; -0.3
Image by Rado Tsvetkov Photo by
  •  One of the easyest and colorful birds for photography in Bulgaria.Shot made from camouflage tent.It was cloudy day, wind direction just perfect and bee eaters landed all the time from right side of the perch  
exif:
Canon 5D Mark III 
Canon EF400 2.8 USM IS II + 2X converter @ 7.1
ISO 400
1/1250 sec.
Image by Bogdan Boev  Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Soon after their return from Africa, the Egyptian vultures start the
breeding season. I had the opportunity to take these images in the Eastern
Rhodopes mountain, while Boris - a German photographer was waiting for the
wolves, being in a nearby hide for four full days.
EXIF:
Canon 5D III + Canon 400 f2.8 USM IS II 
1/1250sec.
f4
ISO640
 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • Last two days I have been testing a new site for building a photography hide in the Eastern Rhodope. Beside the vultures, two Black kites were also attracted by the bait, so I managed to get few flight shots from the canvas hide.
Exif:
Canon 5D mark III
Canon 400 2.8 USM IS II @ 3.2
1/1250 sec. / ISO 800
 Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • After some waiting the eagle flew out of the distant tree in front of the hide, diving straight towards the bait and I managed to get it in the posture I wanted.
Canon 5D3 + Canon 400 2.8 USM IS II + 2x converter Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • We have been photographing Griffon vultures when this smart Wolf in his winter coat turn up in front of the hide in perfect light! Canon 5D3 and 500/4 IS. Photo by Bogdan Boev
  • January 2014,This morning we had 3 eagles in front of the hides, two adults and this juvenile, with much action as the eagles were fighting for air control against vultures nearby. This gave us several flight shots opportunities. Nikon D3 + 500 mm AFS. Photo by Patrick Dieudonne
  • I feed the birds at our village house garden for over 20 years by now and only once, 5 years ago, I have seen a Middle Spotted Woodpecker at the feeders. However, since late October a male MSW is visiting the feeders at least twice a day, much to my delight. Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • While photographing Griffon vultures we had 3 different foxes who kept visiting the baits in front of us. This one was the bravest and offered some good shots, this one being the best one to my opinion. 5D Mark III and 500/4 lens. Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev
  • Turtle Dove coming to drink at sundown in front of our wetland birds photography hide. As it was walking, a lot of insects took off and were flying around. These beautiful birds are always alert, doesn't matter how familiar they are with the site and despite the daily visits. 
Nikon D7000, Nikkor 200 - 400/4, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/800s.  Photo by Sergey Zlatkov