Though none of these photos may be truly spectacular I like each of them for their behavior, charm or uniqueness.
- All images were taken in the last week with the exception of the harrier which was taken 12 days ago.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This grooming American Coot seemed absolutely transfixed by one of its own feathers as it slowly floated by. Birds often seem perplexed by the sudden appearance of a feather on the water when they’re preening and they don’t seem to make the connection between their grooming activities and a suddenly detached feather. If this had been a grebe it probably would have eaten the feather.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 340mm, not baited, set up or called in
A Black-billed Magpie on Antelope Island. I like the contrast between the warm light and colors in the background and the cool tones of the bird. I also enjoy the way several of the curved twigs mimic the curves of the bird’s body.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 250, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This image makes me smile because of the unusual takeoff angle – it almost looks like the Ferruginous Hawk is about to crash into the insulator. In reality the bird was after prey very close to the power pole and it launched behind the wooden beam and downward at about the same angle as the wires.
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
I sometimes feel guilty for mostly ignoring Great-tailed Grackles. They don’t get a lot of attention from photographers and that just doesn’t seem fair so when I found this one near a local pond and in a natural setting I like I popped off a few shots. This one’s my favorite of the bunch. A few minutes later…
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
this muskrat cruised by. It’s funny how little things in an image sometimes make such a difference for me. For some reason I really like the reflections of those whiskers in the mirror-like water.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
On early winter mornings at Farmington there’s often so much moisture in the air that it’s similar to thin fog. Its effect can be to take away some of the crispness and detail in an image but it has a slightly ethereal quality on a photo that I like on occasion.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This Pied-billed Grebe was in a big hurry to swallow the fish because there’s a coot just out of frame to the right that tried to steal it. Many people are surprised to learn that coots do catch and eat fish occasionally (and steal them if they can). In fact I photographed a coot eating a fish just a couple of days ago at Farmington but I was too far away for decent images.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 250, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Here’s another look at that spectacular leucistic Red-tailed Hawk I posted some images of earlier this week. The bird is small in the frame because I’d removed my extender (tc) in anticipation of takeoff. But this hawk isn’t taking off – it was simply startled by an unexpected sound made by a vehicle passing below.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I always get a kick out of it when I see Western Grebes doing this with a foot. Usually they shake the foot to dry it off before “shipping” the foot and leg under a wing while they’re resting. But immediately after this shot was taken the bird dipped its foot slightly into the water and paddled with it (the other foot and leg were already stored under a wing).
Anyway, this has been quite a mishmash of images but I thought some readers might be interested in seeing some of the variety of subjects I shoot in a typical week this time of year. I hope to add to that variety later this morning but it’s looking like the weather may not cooperate. We’ll see…
Ron
I think this may be one of my favorites of your posts, Ron, because of the variety. The magpie shot is exquisite! I think I’m falling for those Western Grebes and their comic antics!
Wow Ron, delightful series! You outdo yourself with every new shot! Great to know what typically goes on in your week rather than bits of isolated occurrences. I read your blog every day and love it, though I don’t normally comment.
Levi
Commenting certainly isn’t a prerequisite, Levi – though I enjoy it when you do. Feel free to go either way.
What a bonanza!!! Too many great shots to pick a favorite, but that Western Grebe made me laugh out loud! Thank you!
Thanks, Diane.
I REALLY enjoyed the variety you offered in today’s posting. Do it more often!!
Easier said than done, Linda! In order to do that I’d have to find and photography a lot more birds than I’ve been able to find lately…
Great images Ron. I really love the forward take-off lean of the Ferruginous Hawk!
Thanks, Ed. I enjoyed that one too because it’s something we don’t see very often.
Love the potpourri.
And it didn’t make my nose itch as so many potpourris do.
Thank you.
EC, I’ve never smelled it but muskrats get their name partly from the musk they use to mark their territory (their old common name is musk-beaver). Perhaps THAT smell would make your nose itch!
Thank you for the Wonderful potpourri. I love the grebe with the extended foot and the whimsical coot with it’s feather. It made me smile since I was unable to get out today, clouds or not. I started my car at 6am and the check engine light was on. Oh well maybe another day!
Dang, I’d hoped you could make it to Bear River as you planned, April. I went to Promontory though I didn’t have a lot of luck. Did see about 5 Bald Eagles though (far away). And a tame Prairie Falcon on a power pole.
Just FYI, unless there are sounds like nuts and bolts in a blender happening and/or a pool of oil or other necessary fluids underneath your car, the check engine light can be ignored for a LITTLE while. It’s generally nothing serious–something that needs to be checked soon, but not necessarily immediately. If you’ve got bad noises and the pool of oil underneath, then NO. Otherwise, you’re good to go for a little while.
Wow! What wonderful shots Ron!! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Charlotte.
Love love your photos, Ron!
Thanks very much, Judy.
You sure have a great variety of subjects in your vicinity.
The muskrat is the one I prefer mainly because we don’t have it here (this is the first one I see).
We name it “rato-almiscarado”.
Interesting name in Portuguese, Jorge. Thanks.
Don’t know how to say it differently…I just love your photography. OH WOW! 🙂 Each and every one–even the grackle (aka hawk food and the primary reason falconers are employed for abatement)–is glorious. Just love the collection of critters, especially the muskrat, but that’s a story for another day.
I’d like to hear that muskrat story one day, Laura.
It involves a varmit (muskrat) and a hunting redtail hawk in January in Wyoming and doing those things we falconers do for our birds that to normal people seem impossible, even stupid. And we do them anyway. 😉
Very interesting series. It’s always fun seeing a Muskrat. And the Grebe foot – that’s just plain weird. I actually didn’t recognize it as a foot when I first saw the picture, and can’t figure out their anatomy at all. I know you’ve shown photos of Grebe feet before, but they still get me every time.
Grebe feet and grebe legs are both a little strange, Susan. That often makes them fun to photograph.
Snowing here, quite heavy at the moment!
Wish we had some of it!
I agree with all, love all the shots!
As much as birds are in my forefront, I really liked the muskrat. All the pictures I’ve taken of our pond Muskrat, the head is very low and practically, just his nose and eyes are above water. So, to see this fellow with its head out of water and the whisker reflection is pretty special!
Thanks for sharing!!
Dick I’ve caught muskrats completely out of the water three times I think but it sure doesn’t happen often.
All are good but my faves are the Coot looking at the feather and the grebe extending its leg.Gave me reason to pause and smile.
I’m glad you liked those two shots, Jane. Thanks.
Entertaining indeed! A great way to kick off my day. The muskrat was a great shot. I’m off to get this week’s Tarotscopes done. Have a lovely day. 🙂
Arwen, Muskrats are always fun whenever you can get enough of their body above the surface of the water to know what you’re looking at!
What a fine smorgasbord ! I especially enjoyed the Grebe’s foot–it looked like a great big seedpod or flower head about to open . I’m so happy for you that you are able to see such a variety of critters !
Smorgasbord – I like that, Kris. Made me hungry too!
Ron.
Thank you. Really nice. A pleasure to view.
Thanks, Richard.
Great shots all, but I like the Magpie the best. Great coloration. And the Harrier ain’t bad either, only because I am jealous. Got a similar shot last summer, but yours is much sharper than mine.
Thanks for the feedback on the magpie, Frank. I almost didn’t post that one…
Love them all. My first view of a muskrat! Thanks…
Alison, this muskrat had its head raised slightly higher in the water than is typical when they’re swimming so we can see a little more of the face than usual.
Delightful potpourri of birds/critters – each photo charming in it’s own right! 🙂 The variety of birds you capture is fun knowing the challenges each presents. 🙂 The Grebe is definitely a chuckle.
Judy, those grebe legs are attached so far back on their body that it exaggerates the strange look of the behavior. It always makes me chuckle.