The original name for the Sage Thrasher was “Mountain Mockingbird”. I can see why.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I’ve been seeing these thrashers on Antelope Island for a couple of weeks now but decent photos of them have eluded me until yesterday morning when we found this bird that cooperated for a few very brief seconds. This is a background color that I only seem to get on the island. The source of the color is last year’s moth mullein stalks far away in the background. I regularly cuss the mullein stalks because they make it so difficult to get clear shots of birds and other critters on the ground but I do appreciate this somewhat unusual color in the bokeh.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I also enjoy how well the background color matches that of the eye of the bird. This thrasher didn’t give me much pose variety – a slight turn of the head and tail and a bit of a fluff was about it so I used a vertical composition for this image.
Entire populations of Sage Thrashers are regularly eliminated when sagebrush rangeland is converted to other uses and there’s more and more of that kind of thing going on in the west these days. Just this spring we’ve noticed a large area of sagebrush habitat at the foot of the Stansbury Mountains that has very recently been completely cleared of sage (typically done by dragging massive, heavy chains between two Caterpillars or tractors).
And more habitat bites the dust.
Ron
Ellie Baby says it all!
I love their song. And every time I see a chained landscape I get more discouraged.
Ron, the similarity of the two species is amazing! Superb photograph and you’re right on about the pleasing background. Tailor-made for those brown eyes.
I can’t believe that this bird isn’t just a western variation of our Northern Mockingbird. You’ve taken absolutely stunning shots of it. Background and all. Beautiful Thank you for sharing it.
Yes, the two species are quite similar, aren’t they, Cori? Thank you.
Wow! wonderful images with a BG to die for.
Glad you like the background, Dave. So do I. Thanks.
And when habitat (and its inhabitants) bites the dust all of our worlds are diminished. Whether we realise it or not.
I do love the little brown jobs Ron – their subtle colours and plumage enchant me. Thank you.
I remember that you like “lbj’s”, Elephant’s Child. So do I.
Wonderful shots Ron, thanks so much for sharing them!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Ron I think he was starting to rouse for you. Thanks.
Could be, Diana.