It’s crazy how early spring seems to be arriving around here. It was 55 degrees Fahrenheit when I got up this morning and temps like that are virtually unheard of in early February in northern Utah.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
And yesterday morning some of the Antelope Island Black-billed Magpies were already building nests. This is a shot I was lucky to get because I wasn’t even looking through my viewfinder when I took it. I saw the bird coming in with nesting material but didn’t know where it was going to land so I aimed down the barrel of my lens as I followed the bird and then at the last second used my back-button focus to hopefully lock onto the magpie and then pushed the shutter. This time it worked but it’s very rare that it does.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
The magpie landed on the bush for a few moments…
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
and then took off toward me and down.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
I was happy to maintain focus on the bird as this happened. I probably owe that to the fast focusing and tracking abilities of the 7D Mark II.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This image taken an hour earlier was a heartbreaker. Magpies are notorious for flashing their nictitating membranes at inopportune moments for the photographer and it happened again. This is a small crop and I like the flight pose, light, exposure and detail in the blacks and it was all ruined by the membrane.
I guess I’ll look at the bright side. I got a catch light in the eye, even with the membrane closed.
Yes, I know I’m reaching for that one…
Ron
Saw a pair of kestrels copulating this morning. Crazy.
Food sources imagine wpuld be one of them…
Glorious magpie.
But.
Global weather weirding. Damnit.
I so hope that the birds, the animals, the plants survive… And I worry.
Here on the other side of the world we lurch from scorching heat, to unseasonal cooler temperatures. And back again. And have done all summer.
I guess I show my ignorance by disagreeing with the master, but the nictitating membrane does nothing to ruin the picture for me. I think it is as wonderful as it could be. I know I would be happy to get a shot like that.
That’s not ignorance at all, Michelle – it’s simply a matter of taste. And I think it’s an excellent shot for documenting the nictitating membrane.
It’s almost as if it knew you wanted that shot and it ruined it on purpose! Awww. 😀
I’ll admit that the same thought crossed my mind, Arwen. Had to work at not taking it personally…
Beautiful series. I especially like the first one.
Thank you, Susan.
Beautiful shots! Last year magpies nested in our backyard and raised four little ones! They are back visiting the tree where the nest is. Maybe they know something we don’t know. It is in the 50’s here in Montana!
Your blog is the first thing I read every morning! Your photos are superb and I learn so much from your comments.
“Your blog is the first thing I read every morning!”
I love hearing that, Jane. My blog was down for a while early this morning so I hope that didn’t mess with your routine!
50’s in Montana in early February is really something. When I lived up there the only time I remember those kinds of temps in February was during a chinook.
Wonderful action shots Ron, thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Very beautiful images Ron. I love the iridescent green in some of your photos. The Black-billed magpie is very prevalent around here, your stellar images have inspired me to try and photograph them. I do not know how many times when I am out looking for birds and end up saying “Oh, it is just a Raven” or “just a magpie”… They are “just beautiful” 🙂
IMO, they’re worth photographing big time, Ed. If I had to list 25 of my own favorite images there would be several magpie shots included in the list. I have a huge magpie print hanging over my fireplace and that says something.
These birds are so elegant!!! They’ve definitely become favorites . I don’t like the sound of this premature nest building…what is triggering this??? Temps? Light? I Worry about early egg laying and a sudden freezes…
I worry about the same thing, Patty. And lots of other things related to this weather…
Beautiful photos of a most beautiful bird. Thanks, Ron, for letting us see them.
Thanks for enjoying them, Bill.