Birds in monochromes

Amazing how time flies: in 7 editions this contest will reach 100 editions!! Black & White for this edition of SMAP contest; the title is Birds in Black and White!

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Being the variety of colours one of the attractivness of our feathered friends, no doubt seeing them in monochromes is a challenge. But funny as it is, as I was searching through my photos, I found some that almost didn't needed to be stripped from their colours!

^{Great crested grebe - Podiceps cristatus}

This photo was taken in winter, where these birds are less colourful than in the breeding season, and it was a somewhat foggy morning. Swimming in the lake in a cloudy day, it almost looked like a natural b%w photo.

Grebes weren't the only one swimming in lake Como that day; another species, in even darker tones, was enjoying the cold water. I normally see them perched, but this one was an exception.

^{Great cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo}

i really enjoy seeing the water reflexion and little waves in monochromes; but photo wise, the perched bird wins this one for me!

Near warmer waters, another bird doesn't need a black and white photoshop: the hooded crows only have grey and black, and this one was caught in the middle of her lunch: fresh seafood!

I did try to find a more colourful species and take away their natural colours. No pink for the flamingos here; they tried to fleed the scene, but I was quicker.

^{Greater flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus}

No doubt I prefer them in the colour version, but I do like the way the scene looks in these colours too.

The last photo is probably my favourite. What better way to wrap a black and white post... if not with a blackbird?

^{Azores blackbird - Turdus merula azorensis}

Azorean blackbird is a subspecies, endemic to the Azores islands, but it looks the same as the common blackbird. And here he is, contemplating the fields, unaware his photo would be someday forever stored in a blockchain.

Have a great weekend!

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