Shrike Take-off Against A Smoky Background (plus an Antelope Island raptor report)

Birds were generally slow on Antelope Island yesterday morning but this Loggerhead Shrike saved the day.

 

loggerhead shrike 4632 ron dudley1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc. not baited, set up or called in

Most of the island is beautiful and well maintained but there’s a junk pile hidden away near a side road that has been fairly productive for me the last couple of years. Birds like it so I do too. This adult shrike and several juveniles were hanging around on some of the old wood in the pile and I was able to catch it in a pose I like as it took off.

Smoke from out-of-state fires poured into northern Utah during the night so the background is gray due to the smoky skies. I actually think it works pretty well with this mostly gray and black bird – gray on gray with a little color from the wood that very nearly matches the rump of the bird.

 

Island raptor report:

It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen any raptors on the island with the exception of the occasional Northern Harrier and American Kestrel but yesterday morning held a couple of pleasant surprises even though I didn’t get any great shots to document the occasion.

 

red-tailed hawk 4679 ron dudley

1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc. not baited, set up or called in

Red-tailed Hawks used to be a semi-regular feature on the island but it’s been way too long since I’ve seen one there. This juvenile popped up unexpectedly on a large Tintic Quartzite rock near the main island road and I was thrilled to see it. Red-tails have been common just off the island to the east this summer but this one was a pleasant surprise.

 

 

ferruginous hawk 4703 ron dudley

1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc. not baited, set up or called in

Ferruginous Hawks have never been common on the island that I know of but this one also made an appearance yesterday. I could never get close to it…

 

 

ferruginous hawk 4714 ron dudley

1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc. not baited, set up or called in

but this Common Raven made a point of doing just that. The raven obviously wasn’t as happy about the presence of the hawk as I was.

Anyway, I just thought that local birders and bird photographers might be interested in a possible (and likely fleeting) uptick in the island raptor population.

Ron

13 Comments

  1. Fantastic photo of the Shrike! I also love the Red-tailed Hawk. I live in Massachusetts, and the Red-taileds we get out here are very different, so this provided a great comparison.

  2. Charlotte Norton

    Wonderful shots all Ron! Great hope and hawk shots!

    Charlotte

  3. I hope the fires are under control.
    Scary, destructive things. Here at least they are all too often deliberately lit. Hiss and spit.
    Love that take-off. And the raptors.

  4. Hi Ron, I saw you out there yesterday…wondered what you were shooting at the little rubbish dump. Great shot..I love launch shots anyway. The Red Tail on the rock was very special too…wish more raptors were out there! Jer

    • Jerry, I really enjoyed talking to you out there yesterday. And it was nice to find out the “rest of the story” about your juvenile Osprey. Yes, it was mostly shrikes that I was shooting at the “dump” where we met up.

  5. Love the coloring in the Shrike photo – the way everything in the background picks up colors on the bird. The feet are really great, too – I can feel them stretching. And I’m glad you got to see a couple of not-so-usual raptors, as well. There are definitely certain birds that can make my day when I see them.

    • “There are definitely certain birds that can make my day when I see them.”

      And these two raptors did just that for me, Susan. I was beginning to think that red-tails in particular had decided they didn’t like the island :).

  6. Glad to see all three birds, but the shrike’s take-off is really beautiful…the subtlety and harmony colors and the detail of the fanned wings are especially beautiful. Once again, I’m reminded that the RTH is “little brother to the eagle” and, I’m assuming, the golden eagle….

    • I’m pretty sure that reference would be to the Golden Eagle, Patty (as you say) – for reasons of physical similarity and similar food preferences. Thank you.

  7. Jorge H. Oliveira

    I always learn something watching your photos and today is no exception, even being as you call it documentary.
    Too bad you did not put the camera settings. That DOF intrigues me.
    Thanks for sharing.

    • “Too bad you did not put the camera settings. That DOF intrigues me.”

      Sorry, Jorge. In my haste to go shooting this morning I just got lazy. The settings are there now.

  8. That Shrike launch is really amazing. I love the energy of that. And the Raven does seem to have a differing opinion on that hawk. LOL

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