Bathing Killdeer

Two days ago we woke up to a cloudy morning so we put our shooting plans on hold for the day but soon the clouds began to clear from the south so we decided at the last minute to head for Farmington Bay which is not only a shorter drive but it’s further south than Antelope Island, which gave us a better chance for some decent and relatively early light.  I’m glad we did – if for no other reason than this cooperative Killdeer.

 

 1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

The Killdeer was a little wary of us as we approached but as soon as I turned the engine off it settled right down for its morning bath.

A note about shutter speed for these shots:  When birds are bathin’ and shakin’ the feather movement is very fast and since I had plenty of light and wanted to freeze that movement I made the conscious decision to go for a minimum shutter speed of 1/3200.   I think it worked out pretty well to stop the motion of both the feathers and the water spray.

All images are in the sequence that they occurred.

 

 

 1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

First the Killdeer seemed to be testing the water temperature before proceeding.

 

 

 1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 Since the bath water seemed about right the bird began to bathe with gusto.

 

 

 1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 For these first few shots the Killdeer was turned slightly away from me but that angle gave a good look at how well it’s able to get some of the water to run down its back and upper wings for a very effective washing action.

 

 

 1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 I found it very interesting to see how the “flipping” action of the bill is able to throw so much water over its back.

 

 

 1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 I was also intrigued by how the forces of adhesion and cohesion allowed this sheath of water to form between the bill and the water surface as the bird raised its head out of the puddle.

 

 

 1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 I liked the peek-a-boo effect in this shot.

 

 

 1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 The bath is complete so it’s time for some shaking to get rid of some of the excess water and…

 

 

 1/3200, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

some convoluted preening before…

 

 

 1/3200, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

getting out of the puddle for some more shaking and drying in the warm sun.

I think the fast shutter speed made all the difference in these shots.  I often like the effects of motion blur (as long as the head and eye are sharp) but in this case I enjoy seeing the fine detail that 1/3200+ gave me with such fast action.

Ron