Two unusual subjects for me on the same morning – for me that’s unheard of.
I spent yesterday morning at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and had a glorious time but the morning sure didn’t start out that way. The automatic gate at the refuge is supposed to open at sunrise (6AM this time of year) but when we arrived at about 7 (after a 90 minute drive) the gate was still closed and there were now several angry birders/photographers chomping at the bit. Eventually it opened but after losing some of the best light of the day photographers in particular weren’t happy campers.
Mia posted a query asking why the gate was still closed (and when it might open) to the Bear River MBR Facebook page but they have yet to respond…
1/1600, f/7.1 ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, setup or called in
But this little feller helped to brighten my morning. Long-tailed Weasels are common but seldom seen (or at least approached closely) on the refuge but this one approached me, probably out of curiosity.
1/1600, f/7.1 ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, setup or called in
And it came in close more than once. The light angle was poor and I could barely twist backwards in my pickup far enough to get my lens on the furtive little mustelid but I was able to get a few shots that are ok.
1/1600, f/7.1 ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, setup or called in
Once he/she came in too close for my big lens but of course I fired away despite that. The weasel was as much fun just to see as it was to get photos of. In all my years of making trips to Bear River this was only the third time I’ve been able to photograph a weasel up close at the refuge.
1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
My second unusual encounter of the morning was with this Virginia Rail, a species that is often heard but seldom seen. It popped up out of the grasses so close to the road that I had to reach for my shorter lens. This bird had what seemed like about a dozen tiny black chicks following it around but I never was able to get any photos of them because they stayed deeply buried in the grasses.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
The rail only stayed out in the relative open for a few moments but in that short time it did find prey. I was curious about what the food item was so I did a tight crop on the head but still wasn’t able to ID it definitively. My best guess is that it was either a small snail or an isopod (possibly a “pillbug”).
No, I didn’t get any great shots of either the weasel or the rail but a big part of the reason I’m a nature photographer is to experience nature and both of these encounters helped to scratch that itch.
Ron
PS – Sorry about the late post this morning. More “technical difficulties”…
But RONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN, whine. You already have a book. Your blog. Your posts. Your pictures. 😀 It wouldn’t be the first blog to become a book. 😀
The Weasel is adorable. Great pics. Too bad the chicks stayed in the grass.
The lazy life? You? Cue hysterical laughter.
Different priorities.
While I would love, and buy, a book you created it would also take you away from the field. So I do understand. However, if cloning becomes a possibility quite a lot of us would demand that you put a clone to work. Immediately.
You hit the nail on the head, EC. If it’s a choice between doing a book and spending time in the field (which it is) then my choice is a foregone conclusion.
Dear Ron Slug-A -Bed–I got a kick and a good laugh out of the “lazy life” comment, too…god only knows when you get up and get going in the morninggwoth or without coffe), how long and how far you have to drive, what kind of conditions you patiently endure, and then how much time you put into well-considered, well-vetted, personalized comments and replies, etc., etc., etc…..but It is one of my all time favorite comments…AND, I’ll take a good laugh any way I can get one!!!
Well, Patty, if it’s something I like doing I don’t consider it work. But then I guess that doesn’t make sense because I loved teaching but I considered it “work”. Maybe I’m not lazy, just picky about what I choose to spend my time on…
WOW!! You take THE best shots of Weasels that I’ve seen!!
That is not meant to take anything away from the Rail, which are super as well, but I really like your weasel shots when you get the opportunity!!
This fellow is obviously enjoying you as much as you enjoyed him/her!
Great job!
Thanks, Dick. I don’t know if it was “enjoying me” but it sure was curious about my pickup and those critters inside.
Two fine specimens to cross paths with! Love it!
Thank you, Nancy.
What do you mean you didn’t get any great shots??? The shots of the rail are wonderful! So lucky to be able to see it so well! Too bad about the chicks, though. That would have been great to see.
“What do you mean you didn’t get any great shots???”
Marya, to me a great shot is truly a great shot. These weasel images could be sharper (my shooting angle was just too precarious to use good long lens technique), the lighting angle could have been better and I don’t particularly like my steep shooting angle on the rail.
I do think they’re pretty good shots given the situation and I do like them (or I wouldn’t be posting them). I just don’t think they’re “great”…
Both shots worth waiting for…that weasel is one cute little killer. They can be faster than lightning and just as elusive, so you were lucky to catch him/her. Love the tail’s coloring…and learning that the baby rails are black…a great color for instant invisiblity…
That’s supposed to be “rail’s coloring”, but you know who is at work….Damn!
Not to worry, Patty. I fixed it.
“cute little killer”
Perfect description, Patty. Speaking of cute I got one shot of the weasel wiping its nose with its tongue as it ran toward me. Sure wish it had been closer…
Ron, just observing either of these species would truly make my day! Getting images would be icing on the cake! Enjoy your icing!
“Enjoy your icing!”
I will, Wally, as long as it’s chocolate. Thank you.
Fantastic shots Ron, in spite of the frustration. Sounds like someone was late to work. Wonder if the supervisor is aware of the problem? I would think they should have a backup plan if the assigned employee is unable to open the gate. If that happened to me, I would email the Park Director to make sure she was aware of the problem and that there was a backup plan in place.
Charlotte
Charlotte, the gate is supposed to be “automatic”.
Yes, the supervisor should be aware of the problem by now because several of us photographers stopped by the visitor’s center (10 miles from the gate) and told them about it.
Awesome images Ron. I had not realized the long-tailed weasels have that two-tone coloring on their heads. How much time did you have to get these great photos? I am assuming they do not stay in one place very long.
My wife, Melinda, always sees them around our place, I have yet too see one at home. When I photographing the Coopers Hawk attacking the roadrunner last week, she called me at said “you should come over here now, I am watching a mountain lion”… argh 🙂 My time will come… all part of the fun of wildlife photography.
How do the weasels change color so fast? White in the winter then change to brown seems pretty fast. Is it a “molting” like process ?
Ed, I had a little over 2 minutes with the weasel (there were also at least two juvenile weasels nearby but I didn’t get any photos of them) but for most of that time this adult was either too far away, or running toward or away from me, or I couldn’t twist far enough back in my truck to get my lens on it.
Yes, the color change is a molting process and there’s also an intermediate stage between these colors and the pure white of winter. They have the black-tipped tail in both color phases.
IMO both the photos of the Weasel and the Rail are great. Reading about the dozen little black chicks reminds me of an encounter we had the last time we were at the Great Barrier Reef, on a little island out there. The bird was a Buff-banded Rail – first time I’d ever seen a Rail – and it had those cute little black chicks. But there was no grass for the chicks to hide in so I did get a couple of snapshots. The chicks did tend to move fast, though the adults were pretty tame.
Susan, I believe I read somewhere that all rail species have black chicks – very different from the adults. Thank you.
Wow. Or better yet, wow-squared! Wonderful images, Ron.
Thanks very much, Dick.
Have you or are you going to publish a book with these pictures. They are something else, and just wonder what you do with the pictures besides this websight.
Steven, No, I’m afraid there’s no book in the works and likely won’t be. As I’ve said before when others have asked the same question I’m retired and enjoying the lazy life and a book just sounds like too much work, especially when I can barely keep up with my daily blogging schedule.
I photograph birds and wildlife because I enjoy being in the field with them and observing and documenting their behaviors and because I get a lot of satisfaction from doing something well. That’s enough for me…
I am retired and like you enjoy the lazy life or the freedom I now enjoy. A couple of years ago I published a book on covered bridges here in Oregon, more of a request by friends and family. Can see your point a lot of work and so will enjoy what you post.