Predicting the behavior of this Western Meadowlark allowed me to get a boat-load of very interesting action shots.
Each of these images was taken within these camera setting parameters: 1/2500 – 1/5000, f/6.3 – f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc
Yesterday morning on Antelope Island as I was driving one of the dirt roads I noticed this bird land near a puddle in the road (it had rained the day before) and very close to the front of my slowly moving pickup. By the time I got my truck stopped I had scared the bird off but it didn’t go far. Typically when meadowlarks flush they land some distance away so I watched the bird alongside the road for a few moments. Something in its demeanor told me that it wanted to bathe in that puddle so I backed off a few feet, angled my pickup for a good shooting angle, turned off my engine and waited.
Within seconds the bird landed back at the puddle at a very good shooting distance. It hopped into the water, gave me a quick glance to make sure I was no threat…
and proceeded to bathe vigorously in the shallow water.
The action was incredibly fast so often the shapes of the feathers…
were distorted and they brought up interesting columns of water from the puddle’s surface. These images impressed on me just how fast 1/4000 sec (my shutter speed for this shot) really is.
The bird made every effort to get each feather wet in the very shallow water.
Some of the postures were so fast that I didn’t even see them as I watched through my lens.
I liked this column of water brought up from the puddle by the primaries of the left wing.
Here the bird’s beak must have hit the bottom of the puddle.
If you look closely you’ll see that I got a double catch light in the eye in this shot (and several others) – one from the sun behind me and the smaller one from the reflection of the sun on the water. This is a fairly common occurrence in these situations.
The contortions of the bird’s body and feathers were pretty incredible…
to the point that sometimes the bird twisted its head completely upside down.
I think some of these postures are pretty funny.
Eventually the bird turned in the water and presented its other side to me.
In the end (literally) the meadowlark gave me a true butt shot, as if to express its displeasure that I had allowed it no privacy during its bath. After this it flew off and landed down the road to shake off before flying away.
This was some pretty intense shooting and one of those times when I was very grateful for the 10 frames/sec burst rate of my Canon 7D Mark II. In approximately 45 seconds (a rough estimate) I fired off 185 shots of the bird bathing and after culling I had kept 65 of them. For me that’s a very high keeper rate. Every last shot was sharp where it should have been but many had no light in the eye or the bird had its back to me so those are the ones I deleted.
If I hadn’t read and anticipated the behavior of this bird I’d have missed the entire series. It does pay to know the behaviors of your subjects.
Ron
This is a really amazing series. What you have captured with your camera is something I don’t think the eye would catch all of if one were just watching the bird bathe. I really like the odd postures and contortions.
Wonderful shots. Thanks.
Beautiful series. I love watching birds bathe. It amazes me how they manage to flip water onto their back so even their scapulars are soaking wet.
Ron,
Every single photo is a “wow”, but the series is just amazing! And beautifully sharp!
LOVE!
wonderful images. I absolutely love your descriptions. It has helped me to be so much more aware and appreciative of nature and especially of course the fascinating and wonderful lives of birds. Thank you
“I absolutely love your descriptions”
That means a lot, Gillian. I work hard at them but always wonder if I’ve gone overboard with them or if all my jabbering detracts from the images. Thank you.
What a delightful series of photos. Not only do I now see the meadowlark for the first time, but watch some of his behavior. Thanks so much, Ron, for being out there showing us what a beautiful place the world can still be.
Meadowlarks are great birds in so many ways, Elizabeth. I hope you get to see (and hear) them in the flesh sometime.
What fun and exciting shots!!
I’m glad you liked them, Carol.
Ron, these images take my breath away! I find it particularly interesting the the bird submerges its head. I didn’t know Meadowlarks did that!
Your blog makes me much more attentive to what is actually happening! Many thanks!
“Your blog makes me much more attentive to what is actually happening”
Good! Writing it (and taking the photos) has the same effect on me, Jane. Thank you.
These are wonderful..almost stop action movies. Love the 5th (“Don’t fiorget the ears!”) and the last especially,the butt shot, because it shows such a solid looking, healthy little body. Being rain water, the puddle would be fresh water. I wonder if they bathe in the salt water, too…and when the rains dry up, where they drink, especially if the tributaries into the lake are being hijacked…..
Patty, there are a bunch of fresh water springs along the east side of the island. The water from those springs seeps down to the old shoreline and forms shallow pools that most of the critters on the island use as a source of fresh water.
WOW!!! Wonderful shots Ron! You are the master! It pays dividends to know your subject.
I have to smile and chuckle at some of these shots, some are funny and should have captions.
Your shots certainly say a lot for the Canon 7D MK II and your 500mm lens!
“Your shots certainly say a lot for the Canon 7D MK II and your 500mm lens!”
Both performed very well yesterday, Dick. Usually that’s the case but then there are those times…
OH WOW! Yet another fantastic series!!
One of the simple joys of being a falconer is when they’ll let you watch them bathe (there are so many other joys). It’s a glorious choreography to get everything done in a short period of time–or with Jack the Harris’ hawk, a long period of up to 15 minutes (he thoroughly enjoys his bath time)! Conversely, Mariah (redtail) never lets me watch (DURGH!). When I’m allowed, I feel blessed with a very private moment, trusted to be a part of it. And that’s special. While I know raptors can’t do facial expressions, Jack gets this faraway look in his eyes as if there’s a Zen to bathing for him. I’ve never been able to catch a photo of that (primarily because I’m hopeless with a camera).
Once again, thank you!
I always enjoy hearing about your experiences with your falconry birds, Laura. That Zen look from Jack would make an interesting shot I’ll bet…
Yes, it would make an interesting shot. Alas, the chances of me getting that shot are nil. I’ve tried and tried when he was bathing in my living room within about three feet. Didn’t happen. Sigh! I’d love for you to catch that–you could do it!
And yes, the ability to anticipate behavior pays huge dividends. Luckily, they give subtle clues. The challenge is to pick up on the subtlety!
Absolutely sensational series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Terrific series and beautiful shots.
Thank you, Dave.
Thanks for the morning chuckle. Great series of images to start the day with.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Catherine. Thank you.
Wow Ron—-all your years of behavioral observation and technical expertise-building really paid off in this wonderful series ; they’re almost like watching a “movie”, but MUCH BETTER because the
viewer can see it ALL , piece by piece –and I chuckled too–we humans aren’t nearly so vigorous !
You’re right, Kris – the speed of these relatively small birds is in another dimension from our own.
WOW! Fantastic series, Ron 🙂 Those things go so fast that without the photo’s one really doesn’t see and appreciate all the action 🙂
I agree, Judy. When the action is fast good photos reveal SO much more!