Plus a national embarrassment for Utah.
1/4000, 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
Yesterday I had more fun with coot chases. This was my first shot of the day and I got lucky with it. When these chases happen it’s very difficult to get both birds in the frame, especially when they’re running at right angles to you. This shot is full frame (uncropped) so I had no wiggle room at all but I caught them both in frame, in interesting poses and both birds are sharp enough.
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
I was closer to this bird as it chased its intended victim (whose water trail we see at left).
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
In the next shot in the series the water splashes of the leading coot are continuing to expand and get larger.
1/4000, 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
Three frames later the antagonist coot is giving up the chase as it settles back down into the water.
1/3200, 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
Almost all of the birds on the pond yesterday were coots except for this handsome male Lesser Scaup in breeding plumage who approached quite closely for a short period (until a couple of ladies with a small dog showed up and scared it off).
1/2500, 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
Like many diving ducks scaups close their nictitating membranes just before their heads plunge into the water during a dive.
1/3200, 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
Unlike many other birds their membrane is almost completely clear and transparent so they can see well underwater with it closed. Here we can still see the color of his eye clearly (with the membrane closed) even though we’re looking through water at it.
Bad weather and poor light has mostly kept me home and chomping at the bit for weeks now but this morning it’s looking like we’re going to have a clear bright day so I’m hoping to head north in a quest for birds. Wish me luck because I need a breath of fresh air, in more ways than one…
Prepare yourself for a rant. If you don’t have the stomach for it you might want to stop reading here.
Utah State Representative Mike Noel, R-Kanab (Kanab is a beautiful little town in a spectacular setting but it produces more than its fair share of right-wing crazies), has proposed a bill that would rename the National Parks Highway in southern Utah the Donald J. Trump Utah National Parks Highway in “recognition of Trump’s impact on rural Utah and public lands”. Yesterday that bill (HB481) cleared committee on a vote of 9-2 and appears to be on a fast track to passing.
Typically I’m slow to anger but this bill (and the Utah State Legislature in general) really pisses me off! It’s divisive and an affront to any reasonable person for a variety of reasons that I won’t even get into here.
I predict a resurgence of “monkey-wrenching”. Just repairing vandalism (perhaps in this case more appropriately called highway improvement) to the hundreds of expensive highway signs bearing Trump’s name in such glorious natural areas will cost the state a fortune and many folks will refuse to visit the area because of them. George Hayduke, Seldom-Seen Smith, Doc Jarvis and Bonnie Abzug will likely make a comeback (if you don’t know my reference here see Edward Abbey’s “Monkey Wrench Gang). Personally and for a variety of reasons I want to be Hayduke and later today I plan on digging out my two old “Hayduke Lives” T-shirts.
Living in conservative Utah drives me nuts but Senate Democrat Jim Dabakis has vowed to propose an amendment to name the highway’s frontage road the “Stormy Daniels Rampway”.
Dabakis helps to keep me (relatively) sane. I just wish he weren’t retiring at the end of this legislative session.
Ron
Notes:
- More about this embarrassing bill can be found here if you have the interest.
- Normally on Feathered Photography I’m fully receptive to opposing views when presented reasonably and politely but this “Trump Highway” bill is an exception. If you support the bill you might want to keep that opinion to yourself in this forum. Believe me, you don’t want to go there…
Hey! Trump Highway signs would give me something meaningful to shoot at wuth my AK-15!!! And my other guns (with the bump stocks)!!!!
Yup, they’ll be targets in so many ways…
I think I would drive 100 miles out of my way to avoid a highway named after Trump. Between the highway naming and what he wants to do with Bears Ears and Grand Staircase, I feel very sorry for Utah. The Interior Secretary is such an awful threat to our environment and all of the creatures who can’t defend themselves. Let’s hope the Democrats have a big resurgence in the next few years and then can reverse all of the environmental travesties the Trump team is backing. I’m glad Minnesota is a blue state, but we are in the crosshairs, also, with the administration backing the plan by a Chilean billionaire to mine next to our wild and beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area. They don’t care if they pollute the watershed – – they’ll just pay the fine and continue to reap their profits. I’m counting the days till the next presidential election so that we can, hopefully, get rid of Trump’s blight on our country.
“I think I would drive 100 miles out of my way to avoid a highway named after Trump”
I know the feeling, Bonnie.
Title of your blog is “devoted primarily to bird photography and bird behavior.” Today you got away from you primary purpose; that of course is your option. I guess I am not surprised that you like many on the left don’t want any dissenting opinion as stated in your last statement. I live on the east coast and don’t know much about Utah but it used to be in America that free speech and dissent was welcomed. Now the position of the left is if you don’t agree with me you are a hater. a bigot and/or a racist. I have been following your blog for over a year but I’ll be voting with my feet so as to know bother you with any dissent. Differing opinions, of course, never make anything better.
Sayonara, John. Thanks so much for allowing me the option of straying from my primary purpose on my own blog – so very generous of you. I hope you’ll enjoy your absence from Feathered Photography as much as I will.
More insult to injury. I was watching Gunsmoke (don’t judge! 😉 ) and a commercial for “Trumpy Bear” came on. Yes, it is a real product https://www.snopes.com/trumpy-bear/
The irony is thick with this one as the Teddy Bear was named after Theodore Roosevelt, the President who was the most proactive in ecological conservation! Sigh…
In my view watching Gunsmoke is a positive…
Rant on! If only there was a way to make the Utah legislature listen to their constituents before doing utterly stupid stuff like this. I agree that it’s sad to see Dabakis leaving. He was one of the very few voices of reason in our current legislature. I emailed him with my concerns about the Class 5 landfill that was proposed for the southern tip of the Promontories within spitting distance of the Great Salt Lake. Only after a meeting of protesters at WSU did they withdraw their request for a permit. But, it may come up again. Never did find out who is left holding the $16 million bag (Federal funds) that the legislature gave the developer for the 80% completed landfill.
Larry, as you can imagine I feel as strongly about that landfill as I do about the proposed Trump Highway. I hadn’t heard that they’d withdrawn their request. I hope that stands.
These Trumpets are so brainwashed, can’t stand to even see him on TV, change channel at once. Pictures were excellent, thanks Ron.
Thank you, Sarah.
For what it’s worth…my 9 year old Grandson refers to a certain Bloviating, Misogynist Liar-in-Chief as “Cheeto Trash Fire”. Which, I suppose, one could take as an insult to Cheetos?
Rock On Hayduke!
I think I like your grandson a lot, James!
The FOTHERMUCKER! AAARGH! This harshes my coot chase buzz as much as the DJT butt-kisser who sat in the booth behind me this morning and ruined some of the best corned beef hash I’ve ever had. Sometimes I just don’t want to live on this planet anymore. 🙁
(BTW, these are fantastic, shots, Ron! I should have heeded your warning!) 😉
Whoops! Got a litte “comma happy” there — fantastic shots, not fantastic, shots (unless you want to pretend William Shatner is reading my comment to you). 😉
Seeing the creative skills you demonstrated in your comment you should be one of those redecorating those signs, Marty!
yeah, if they pass that bill and put up those ridiculous signs, they won’t last a day before they
are ‘redecorated’, shall we say….and they will finally give up after replacing countless signs
and have to introduce another bill to rename it again! ha!
and as usual, love the photos. they always put a bright spot in my day..thank you, Ron.
Karen, when those signs go up one of the major draws for folks like me to visit the area will then be to be amused by the creativity of the “vandals” that redecorate them. I can just imagine some of the possibilities…
(EXPLETIVE beginning with an F!) Yes, it’s time to resurrect the “Monkey Wrench Gang!” I’m in! Every damn day the little smarmy (Another EXPLETIVE beginning with M, then F!) challenges my ability to keep focused on my joy! Every damn day, and often many times a day. ENOUGH!! Thankfully, I’ve already had my coffee, but my iced tea nearly went into the keyboard.
On a brighter note, I love the photos of the coots and scaup. With the coots, I wonder if the battle ends when the coot’s forward inertia gives into the force of the water when s/he can no longer overcome or maintain the forces of the chase? Beautiful images…thank you for restoring my daily joy!
Laura, Sometimes these chases go a very long distance and other times they’re very short. I suspect it depends on how serious the aggressor is about causing mayhem.
Almost as big an abomination as the upcoming military parade. Great use for 20 million dollars.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Bernie.
A two part post.
Love the first. And the second makes me sick to my stomach.
I assume all the signs would be painted in gold too.
Probably, EC. Or possibly orange…
Fabulous series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
George Washington Hayduke is already stockpiling supplies !
Go Hayduke!
Great rant. I am a resident of Utah and would love to see Mike run out of state or even the country. He and his hero (?) the POTUS. I gag every time I hear both their names and wonder at the support each gets. Your photography is wonderful. Hope you have a great day.
I’d provide the rail for riding them both off the planet, Betty…
Wish I could concentrate on your wonderful photography–but THIS morning, I just can’t…….I live near Zion National Park, which, like all national parks is struggling for decent operation, a situation
made much more critical due to this person’s policies . Yesterday morning at coffee in the area, the revival of monkey-wrenching was raised with enthusiasm…….imagine the cost of replacing all the
signage after the impeachment/resignation in disgrace which is very likely to happen . The spirit of Hayduke will ride again !
“Yesterday morning at coffee in the area, the revival of monkey-wrenching was raised with enthusiasm”
I imagine that’s happening in many places, Kris. I’ve heard a lot of talk about it already.
Great series as usual love the coots and scaup images.
Rant all you want! I’m with Judy, almost lost my coffee when I read the end of your post!
One of my big concerns, unfortunately, is that JUSTICE, is so slow and that members in our government seem to be oblivious (I’d use another term) to how and why our democracy is being attacked.
Real justice in the big picture may never come, Dick. Just the thought of that is so depressing…
Yes, I’ve been pessimistic, but at our age we shouldn’t say never. I think a great deal will depend if we all can help to save our democracy.
Oh, little Don with his golf pants on
Had a Kanab highwayman to sing along his song
Then the dabchicks and the Dabakis scauped the singer’s bill
And all the birds and better folks declared they’d had their fill
Of little bitty Don and his singers and their song.
NO, sorry, you may not copy, spread around publicly.
Thanks for the smile, Martha.
Thank goodness the birds don’t have to read the new highway signs. First time i’ve heard of “Scaups”, but i’m grateful for the education.
Elmer, we have both Lesser and Greater Scaups but around here at least the Lesser are much more common.
Just about spit my coffee over the rant! 🙂 Will have to remember not to have a mouth full when reading those! 🙂 Like these fools don’t have enough “real” legislation/issues to deal with……:( Where do they come from?! Wonderful series on the coots – as chunky as they appear it’s amazing they can run on the water that way! 🙂 The lesser scaup is a beautiful bird. I would not know the nictitating membrane was closed being so clear!
They’re doing it largely just to be “in your face” about it, Judy – rubbing salt into the wounds. Sickening….
I’d like to be in their face but it wouldn’t be socially acceptable……………… 😉