American Pipits have been having a field day with midges at Farmington this week.
1/2500, f/6.3. ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I only see pipits during migration in my area and right now they’re here in large numbers as they gorge on midges around the Great Salt Lake and they usually don’t have to work very hard to catch them. The midges buzz around in the air and land on rocks and vegetation and the birds pick them off at their leisure.
1/2500, f/6.3. ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Here the pipit is tracking the midge in front of it, anticipating that it will fly closer.
1/2500, f/6.3. ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When it didn’t the bird took a single step forward, snagged it out of the air…
1/2000, f/6.3. ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
and gobbled it down.
Midges are very small (roughly the size of a mosquito) and difficult for us to see so…
1/2500, 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
I decided to include this highly cropped image taken the next day, also at Farmington. The image was taken at dawn with light on the bird and a deeply shaded background. This bird seemed to savor the snack for just a moment before gulping it down which allowed me a fairly good look at the tiny insect.
I usually can’t get this close to pipits but on this early morning it was still cold and the bird must have been hungry after a long night so it didn’t want to abandon a good foraging spot.
Ron
You need to invest in a ‘squito lure’. Which is one of the things my partner uses me for. If I am with him the rotten bloodsuckers leave him alone.
Yet another incredible series. The pipit poised for action and the cropped evidence of its success in particular. Thank you.
I usually have Mia along as a lure, EC, but in the end it isn’t very effective because it just attracts twice as many skeeters into my pickup.
She obviously isn’t as effective a lure as I am. My partner doesn’t get bitten (at all) when I am with him. I, on the other hand…
Lovely sequence. Can you convince them to eat a few mosquitoes too?
April, there were plenty of skeeters there but they were all inside my pickup feasting on me. And I’m not kidding…
We also only see pipits during migration. Usually they’re foraging about 3 miles away and even through a spotting scope appear to be the size of the midges they love to eat. Sigh. One day I’ll surprise one up close and think I’ve found a new species.
Superb photographs, Ron!
“even through a spotting scope appear to be the size of the midges”
Ahh, one of the many frustrations of bird photography, Wally. I know it well…
Thank you.
Amazing behavioral shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
WOW! WOW! WOW! What an absolutely amazing series to capture!!! The second and last two are incredible!!! I’m especially impressed by the bird’s focus and the implied action in the second frame…winderful!!!
“I’m especially impressed by the bird’s focus and the implied action in the second frame”
Well said, Patty. That’s exactly what I liked so much about that image. Thank you.
GD evil iPad strikes again! “Winderful”, right!
WOW, great shots, and I have to admit I really like the last one!!
Unfortunately I take my shots when I can get them, or when the subject is available, not always in morning or late afternoon light. I am envious that you live in an area where you can go to capture your subjects in great and exacting light. Kudo’s, one of the reasons why your blog is so enjoyable!!
Dick, my area does have some advantages but there’s one caveat. The Wasatch Mountains to the east are so close to the places I typically shoot that I probably miss at least a half hour of the earliest sweet light waiting for the sun to come up over the mtns. That can be frustrating at times. Thank you.
Ron – Your first shot is just gorgeous. What great lighting.
Morning and afternoon light – we love both. Why do you prefer the AM light?
So give it a one-day try. Wouldn’t you love to see the pipits catching midges on HD video?
Thank you again for your daily posts. My wife and I consider it a daily tip and help for our own photography.
“Why do you prefer the AM light?”
Thanks, Richard. I answered that question here – https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2015/10/16/pied-billed-grebe-because-i-love-the-light/
Yeah, I’d love to get them foraging insects on video. But the tradeoff is that I’d miss the still shots – a big price to pay…
Nice sequence! 🙂 Crop worked very well to pull the tiny insect.
Thank you, Judy.