Skip to comments.
Goose photographed flying upside down
The Telegraph ^
| 5/20/09
Posted on 05/27/2009 12:30:51 PM PDT by llevrok
Brian MacFarlane was amazed when he looked at the photo he had captured of the bird in flight.
The incredible display of mid-flight acrobatics is also a remarkable feat of wildlife photography.
MacFarlane was simply photographing geese buffeted by strong winds at Strumpshaw in Norfolk and did not expect to capture a moment of contortionism.
"The wind was making life difficult for the flying birds," said Mr MacFarlane.
"On closer inspection of the image I realised it had flipped upside down but kept its head the right way up.
"Quite a feat!"
Paul Stancliffe, of the British Trust for Ornithology, based at Thetford, was able to explain the bird's bizarre behaviour.
"It looks like this bird is in mid-whiffle," he said.
"When geese come in to land from a great height they partake in a bout of whiffling, this involves the bird twisting and turning to spill air from their wings and thus lowering their speed prior to landing.
"In 36 years of birdwatching I have seen this many times, particularly when watching pink-footed geese on the north Norfolk coast coming in to roost in the late afternoon and evening. I have, however, never seen a photograph of a bird in mid-whiffle like this. It is an amazing photograph." 
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Outdoors
KEYWORDS: photoshop
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-66 next last
1
posted on
05/27/2009 12:30:51 PM PDT
by
llevrok
To: llevrok
To: llevrok
3
posted on
05/27/2009 12:34:25 PM PDT
by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
To: llevrok
4
posted on
05/27/2009 12:34:55 PM PDT
by
andy58-in-nh
(You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.)
To: willgolfforfood
That’s not human. :: smile ::
5
posted on
05/27/2009 12:36:09 PM PDT
by
Talisker
(When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
To: llevrok
When the geese start whiffling down its time to put the call down and pick up the Benelli :)
6
posted on
05/27/2009 12:36:53 PM PDT
by
BobinIL
To: llevrok
A true politician in full flight. Waffling all the way down.
7
posted on
05/27/2009 12:37:27 PM PDT
by
handy old one
(It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristotlme)
To: andy58-in-nh
He’s about to quack up. LOL! I assumed he was just doing a John F. Kennedy, Jr. Hope things worked out better for the bird.
To: BobinIL
Goose: It’s not just for breakfast any more.
9
posted on
05/27/2009 12:38:31 PM PDT
by
ArrogantBustard
(Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
To: llevrok
He’s practicing for Britain’s version of American Idol.
10
posted on
05/27/2009 12:38:37 PM PDT
by
Red in Blue PA
(http://ccwsaveslives.blogspot.com/)
To: llevrok
Photoshop...derr, the head’s upside down...
11
posted on
05/27/2009 12:38:49 PM PDT
by
SouthDixie
(We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly.)
To: llevrok
Mavrick was flying,goose was his backseater.
Mavrick (and goose) went inverted against the Mig..................
12
posted on
05/27/2009 12:38:52 PM PDT
by
Finalapproach29er
(A woman will be the next President; I hope it's Palin instead of HRC.)
To: llevrok
mid-whiffle We may need such a maneuver to recover from the era of Obama.
13
posted on
05/27/2009 12:39:09 PM PDT
by
EternalVigilance
(The box is broken. You don't have any choice now but to think outside of it.)
To: llevrok
DKProf would find that picture strangely exciting.
14
posted on
05/27/2009 12:39:15 PM PDT
by
SJSAMPLE
To: EternalVigilance
15
posted on
05/27/2009 12:39:56 PM PDT
by
Red in Blue PA
(http://ccwsaveslives.blogspot.com/)
To: llevrok
All I know about these birds is that they taste good cooked over a bbq.
16
posted on
05/27/2009 12:40:14 PM PDT
by
svcw
(The prerequisite for receiving the grace of God ... is knowing you need it.)
To: Free State Four
Birds are smart enough to fly only under VFR conditions.
17
posted on
05/27/2009 12:40:23 PM PDT
by
andy58-in-nh
(You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.)
To: Finalapproach29er
...And then he flipped the bird. ;-)
18
posted on
05/27/2009 12:41:26 PM PDT
by
andy58-in-nh
(You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.)
To: llevrok
19
posted on
05/27/2009 12:44:19 PM PDT
by
OneWingedShark
(Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
To: llevrok
20
posted on
05/27/2009 12:45:07 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-66 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
