A medley of birds from yesterday morning on Antelope Island and elsewhere.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I kind of like the “starburst effect” from dried grasses behind this female Horned Lark as she paused from her foraging for a moment to look up at me.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The Long-billed Curlews have now arrived on the island in pretty good numbers. This is one of two birds that were feeding together on the north end of the island. It was fun to watch them react and display toward other curlews in the air but on this morning they were usually facing away from me when they did it.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 320, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I find it difficult to get clean shots of Sage Thrashers but this one was perched high on a broken stem of last year’s moth mullein so I was able to get an uncluttered background. One of my goals this spring is to photograph Sage Thrashers performing their distinctive wing displays but so far I’ve struck out.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
In late afternoon (after arriving home again) I did some “bird prospecting” at a couple of local ponds to see if I could find “my” female kingfisher again and although she was a no-show I was able to capture this Double-crested Cormorant as it came in for a landing on the water. I cropped this image as I did because for some reason I liked the shadow of the bird on the water.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
In the very next frame the cormorant was turning slightly away from me which gave me an interesting angle and some nice light on the left wing in the down position.
It was oh so nice to be “out there” again after being stuck at home for five days because of our recent winter storm. Birds are still fairly scarce but they’re filtering in daily so bird photography can only get better. I look forward to Swainson’s Hawks, Snowy Egrets, Willets, kingbirds and so many others.
Ron
What a joy that you’re back out there with some decent weather (your most recent weather is here now…DARGH!)
And what glorious diversity in this group of photos. The differing plumages, beak shapes, lengths and capabilities, along with the differing places in the world where they make their livings and raise their families. What a wonderful world we have before us. I don’t understand why we think we can improve it with concrete.
Wish I were there. Just drove from New Jersey back to southern upstate New York today. Way too many humans, but that said, I’m glad they’re here and not there!
Thank you for sharing your peace and beauty.
Hi Ron! I know your not fond of flying! But you enjoy so much the birds that do. I said in 1961 I’ll never fly or go on a long ship cruise? Well I have done both! Love your photo’s! Keep up your great shooting! Have a great day!
Beautiful shots!
I am almost always enjoying my cup of tea with your posts. And sometimes forgetting it (briefly) as I scroll up and down.
The starburst effect is lovely but it is the curl of the wings in the second cormorant shot today which had me oohing and ahhing. And wishing and hoping.
Thank you. So very much.
You REALLY would like to be able to fly, wouldn’t you, EC?
I’m with EC!! Of COURSE we’d really like to be able to fly! It’s GOT to be so much fun! Watching the hawks, crows and vultures turn the winds into their own personal roller coaster was a special joy. I could do that if only I had really cool feathers and wings!
I , too, loved the soft fan of the grasses behind the Horned Lark—it’s nice that you pay attention to the esthetics of your compositions, as well as the technical perfection.
Interesting, but not surprising, that so many of us (of your addicted “fan club” and followers) apparently start each day by viewing your blog…THEN comes coffee or tea, and all the rest….
I think I’d have my coffee WITH the blog post, Patty. I’m sure slugging it down every morning while I’m writing it!
Great shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
As the sun shines in on me as I try to sleep in I think, aww a sunny day. I wonder where Ron is and what will his beautiful photos be of. You never disappoint even on the overcast days.
April, This morning has been hard on me – a gorgeous morning but it’s Saturday and I just get frustrated with gobs of people and traffic on Saturdays so I generally don’t go. I prefer week days but I’ll go on Sunday mornings because so many people around here are in church (one of the “blessings” of living in Utah…)
I agree. I will be working in the yard today for the very same reason. I might explore tomorrow too. I think I will load up my bike and my camera and see where the road my lead.
Yep, also around here until noon.
Nice one of the Sage Thrasher, Ron. Good luck with the behavior shots you are looking for. I look forward to seeing them!
Justine, I’ve seen thrashers displaying from a distance this spring but not close enough for decent photos. I hope it happens soon because the behavior doesn’t last long.
These are all wonderful shots! Particularly like the fanned water sprinkler or fountain effect of the fanned grasses behind the Horned lark in the first, the gracefiulness and camoflage of spotted curlew, the beauty of the wing position and the curled primaries of the cormorant in the last,..the soft colors contrasting so subtlely in the image of the thrasher…and the crispness and intensity of the cormorant’s focus as It came in to land…the last is definitely my favorite, though…Beautiful!!!
You always look so carefully at my images, Patty. I like that.
Am making a list of birds to watch for on my n cat ride out to AI! Thanks! Kitty Watson
Good luck, Kitty. I hope you find some of them!
I am glad you were able to get out and take some more bird photos yesterday, it is always a treat to see your work. Just a quick cormorant story. When I was a kid growing up, when we got all of the farm work caught up we would grab the boat and float the South Fork of the Snake river. On one trip a group of cormorants few over us about 50 feet high, and just as passed they passed bye one regurgitated a fish and it fell about 20 feet from our boat, so we rowed over to have a look at it. The fish turned out to be a foot long white fish, not quite in pristine condition, but good enough for another meal for some critter.
Very interesting story, Marvin – thanks for relating it.
I have to make a comment on the Cormorants. In my opinion only, I think these shots are exceptional. Black to me is very difficult to show differences in feather definition. You have defined the shades of black on these birds beautifully. It is so difficult not to have the color black all run together or maybe slightly different shade, but you did a fantastic job with these two images. The nuances from the dorsal side of the wing to the ventral side of the wing and the shades on the body are terrific!
Interesting observation, Dick. That’s exactly the reason I liked these images, particularly the second one. You’re spot on about the difficulties of exposing the blacks.
I was lucky to get those shots. I was concentrating on birds on the water when I (barely) noticed this cormorant coming in out of the corner of my eye. I just lifted my lens and fired away – most shots of the bird were soft except for these two.
You got some good shots yesterday, Ron! Great Job!
I like them all, but particularly the DC Cormorant, because it reminds me when I lived next to the ocean, and the Long-billed Curlew, because it brought back, memories of when I got my life bird in Texas.
Thanks for sharing!
Tree Swallows came back yesterday, same time now for three years in a row. Now they will have to survive freezing temps this weekend! Wacky weather all over the nation!
Thanks,Dick. A few Cliff Swallows are about the only swallows I’ve noticed around here so far this spring but I suspect there’s more of them than I’ve seen. Good luck with your cold temps!
Looks like a very productive day for you Ron. The starburst effect with the lark is great and love the cormorant with the reflections. Nice detail through out. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I didn’t get anything spectacular yesterday but I thought some of these images turned out pretty well.
Ron: I just wanted to thank you. I look forward to getting your email with pictures each and every morning. I am an avid bird lover and watcher; although I don’t photograph them. Your photos are amazing and make me smile every day.
What a very nice comment, Karen. Thank you.