And I actually managed to get photographs of all three of them (I’ve posted photos of each of these birds in the past but all six of these images are new to my blog).
Recent events have taken some of the wind out of my sails and yesterday’s tooth extraction didn’t help. I’ve had another tooth pulled in the past and that one wasn’t bad but this extraction truly kicked my butt. Last night when I finally began to feel semi-human again I was actively trying to think of pleasant thoughts (I was willing to try anything to get those endorphins flowing!) and some memorable bird sightings came to mind and eventually helped me get through it.
So today’s post is a direct result of yesterday’s trauma, which was aggravated by the fact that it was a gloriously beautiful day and I was stuck in the dentist’s chair and later at home in my misery. Please, no sympathy. Most everyone has endured similar or worse experiences but I wanted to explain my motivation for this post.
1/1250, 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
My first true “rarity” was this juvenile gray morph Gyrfalcon along the causeway to Antelope Island on February 11, 2015. It passed me from behind on the passenger side of my vehicle while I was driving so I didn’t get a good look at it while it was close. Then it veered to the south and perched on the mudflats perhaps 1/4 mile away. This was one of the “better” shots I was able to get of it as it headed south.
1/2000, 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
After a while it took off headed northwest, passed over the causeway far in front of me and appeared to be high-tailing it toward Fremont Island.
I reported my sighting to the Utah Birds Record Committee and it was reviewed and unanimously accepted by the committee. In their confirmation to me the committee stated that “this is only the seventh Gyrfalcon record for Utah and the first in 13 years”.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500 Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Only two months later Mia and I found two Mountain Plovers on Antelope Island (eagle-eye Mia spotted them first). Though the sexes are similar I believe this to be the female of a mated pair migrating north, possibly to Montana. Both birds were cooperative, even tame which is typical of the species.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 500 Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I believe this slightly more colorful bird to be the male of the pair.
Mountain Plovers are uncommon throughout their range and extremely rare in Utah. These two birds were only the 10th confirmed sighting of the species in Utah.
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
Then on August 31 of 2016 we spent some time with this Upland Sandpiper atop a power pole in Box Elder County (once again it was Mia who spotted it). This is a fairly large, elegant species and it blew my socks off to get some quality photos of it despite the ugly perch.
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
Once in the middle of a rouse it held its wings up for several seconds which gave me some interesting shots even in this sidelight. The sandpiper spent some time calling from atop its high perch and I thought it sounded quite extraordinary. Here’s a link to the sound it was making while I was with it if you’re interested.
I’ve said before that I’m no birder – I’m a bird photographer! I don’t keep lists and I rarely chase rarities when they’re reported but I have to admit that I felt the tremendous rush and excitement of a birder when we found and photographed these three rare species.
I actually had “buck fever” each time and it was enjoyable to relive those experiences yesterday during my convalescence.
Ron
Note: I’ve also photographed another extremely rare bird in Utah – an almost pure white Gyrfalcon but that was an escaped falconry bird so I haven’t included it here.
Your rare finds [with Mia’s help], are truly amazing. I love the song of the sandpiper. My favorites are the Mountain Plovers with the black marking on the forehead and from eye to beak. Thanks for sharing in spite of your ‘condition’.
Love, love, love the Upland Sandpiper’s call.
And seeing the marvels which have crossed your camera.
And yes, add me to the looooong list of people who are healed/consoled/inspired by getting outside.
EC, being on the island this morning with a few nice birds and pleasant company took my mind off of “stuff”. I felt so crappy when I got up I almost didn’t go but I’m glad I did.
fascinating!
Thanks, Nicole.
Yikes abscesses are NO fun Ron! Glad you are on the mend tho…..just look at nature and that outta tame it down. 🙂
Isn’t it amazing how birds and critters can make you feel better with almost everything that’s happening? They have such amazing healing powers. And we get to reap the benefits! If only we could bottle that healing–we’d be multi-gazillionaires! I know I can be feeling like death warmed over, and as soon as I get out in the field, I feel much, MUCH better.
I’ve only seen one wild gyr up in Wyoming and OH what a treat! Of course, I’ve seen lots of gyrs and gyr hybrids in falconry and chased most of them over hill and down dale if they didn’t catch their intended quarry on the first try. They seem to believe that they can catch ANYTHING if given enough miles! I don’t enjoy telemetry chases much, especially if they range out 20 miles or more, so while the longwings are drop-dead gorgeous, I’ll stick with my also drop-dead gorgeous redtails and HHs since they might get lost, but they won’t be far away.
Patty your fear of running off the road is REAL! I ended up in a ditch on the road between Ranchester and Dayton, Wyoming watching a redtail successfully stoop a duck just like a longwing!! I couldn’t believe it since my information at that time in my falconry time, it was a bad thing to let your bird soar AND that they just don’t stoop like a longwing (they can’t do that…HA!). Thankfully, I put the Jeep in 4Lo and got out of the ditch after I made sure it was a redtail!
And BIG thanks for including the song of the Upland sandpiper! What a TREAT! Lovely, just OH WOW lovely!
Hope today is better.
“as soon as I get out in the field, I feel much, MUCH better”
That’s exactly what happened to me this morning, Laura. An hour after I got to Antelope Island I felt noticeably better.
Lovely birds, thank you Ron! I hope your tooth is better. I had a root canal a month ago and it took an entire month for it to tame down. Never had a tooth react like that. It surely is misery and I hope your tooth is better very soon!
Root canals aren’t any fun either, Barby. The tooth that was pulled already had one. Turns out this one was deeply cracked and abscessed.
How I wish I’d had such a good way to get through when I had my lower wisdom teeth out last July. I’m glad that thinking about these birds got you through. I remember the Mountain Plovers. Wish I could see them and the Gyrfalcon.
Tooth problems are miserable, Susan. Most all of us have had them but this one was over the top…
FABULOUS! Love all of these photographs. It’s wonderful to see the “expressions” you manage to capture in your images. Keep them coming and feel better quickly.
Thanks very much, Sibylle.
I wish the power of positive thinking on you Ron! My wife always tells me when I’m feeling low YOU WILL GET BETTER WON’T YOU!!!! LOL!
The Gyr is a tough bird. Got my life Gyr in 2000 and it stayed around for that winter drawing many birders.
Great shots! Love all the shots of the Mountain Plovers you posted a while back!
Watched the migration map of the Upland and although it doesn’t give much of an indication that it comes to Vermont, I can testify that it in fact nests here.
Thanks for sharing!
Dick, That Upland Sandpiper was way off course when it came through here. What fun to see and photograph it!
I’ll just say—congratulations on your very wholesome technique in an effort to raise your endorphin-level . just listening to the sandpiper call ( the link that you provided ) was enough
to make me breathe deeply and slowly………I surely hope that it provided a minute’s calm and relief for you , and that soon you’ll be your “old self” again.
Thanks for the good wishes, Kris. I’m finally beginning to come around…
How cool is that sandpiper call? Thank you for posting the link. Thank you for posting this morning, especially given how crappy you feel. That’s above and beyond! 🙂
It must be so exciting to not only make the rare species find, but also capture the evidence “on film” (on digital? In pixels?).
Hope you feel better soon!
That call is one of the more interesting ones I’ve heard from any bird in the field, Marty. And yes, I’m beginning to feel better.
Yay! I’m so glad to hear you’re heeling better! 😀
I hope you’re feeling a whole lot better today…you certainly havdn’t had much fun! If I’d spotted a Gyr falcon, I’de probably driven right off the road. Love the plover and sandpiper images , especially the fist of the piper…and the bubbling, joyous, liquid sound of it song…feel better! (Thanks for posting inspite of feeling so lousy)…
Thanks, Patty. I’m delighted to report that I’m finally feeling quite a bit better. This morning was still touch and go but time and gulping Advil seems to have made a big difference. Now if I can only get some sleep (only got three hours last night)I should be on the road to feeling human again.
I certainly relate to and understand being a bird photographer, not a birder. I too do not keep lists, reliably post to Ebird or keep track of the number of species I’ve seen at a certain location (all good things if that’s what you’re in to). Like you, it’s about the photo…how was it obtained, did I do my job, how does it look in regards to setting, pose, light and a dozen other concerns. I agree however that there is an extra special “wow” factor when you realize that what you are photographing is something unusual, something rare. It adds to the experience and it adds to the reflection when you look back on it. Thank you for sharing and I hope you feel better soon 🙂
Zaphir, seems to me that to be truly GOOD at both birding and bird photography would require more time and effort than any one person has. Years ago I tried traditional birding, even kept lists for a while, but my heart just wasn’t in it.
Exciting finds Ron! Speedy recovery!
Thank you, Charlotte.
I get a rush seeing these pictures. I remember once a loon came to Denver. I tried my best to see it but of course everyone rushed to the spot (the paper announced the sighting) so the poor loon had abandoned its position. 😀 Last night I was fortunate enough to spy a barn owl on a fence post. Not rare, but a sight I don’t often see. 😀
Arwen, I STILL don’t have a decent (not even close) photo of a loon of any species. I find them extremely difficult to approach.
Wonderful post! Lovely photos and Very informative – as usual! Feel better
Thank you, Joanne.
Cool! Of course, I’m not familiar enough with any of the birds to have known what they were IF I saw them! 🙂 It is a rush to see, let alone capture, something unusual. 🙂 Better day today? I hope……….
Thanks, Judy. So far it’s not much better. Hopefully that’ll change.