Plus a surprising reacquisition of focus on the shrike by the 7D Mark II after it took off directly at me.
1/6400, f/5.6, 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
When the water’s a beautiful blue (it often isn’t) I try to get the Great Salt Lake in the background of my photos whenever I can. That preference of mine is a little ironic because homogenous, featureless backgrounds like blue sky generally aren’t my favorite but the color of the water is often subtly but distinctively different from that of plain blue sky and that difference appeals to me.
Three days ago on Antelope Island I deliberately tried to maneuver my pickup to get the lake in the background for this Loggerhead Shrike perched on sagebrush. Doing so can be a huge gamble because I take the chance of flushing the bird but this time it worked out reasonably well even though the shrike’s catch light is a little funky, as if it’s nictitating membrane was closed. I’m not convinced that it was but it may have been.
1/4000, f/5.6, 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
When the shrike took off it launched almost directly at me and I was very pleasantly surprised to get the front part of its body and his feet sharp in this situation. This is actually the second shot after launch and the first one was dreadfully soft but somehow my camera reacquired focus on this one. With the bird coming directly at me with great speed that’s a pretty nifty trick, especially since the 7D Mark II is now almost four years old and it’s far from Canon’s most sophisticated autofocus technology. The older I get the more I’m a fan of “old stuff”…
This bird took off after prey on the ground close to my pickup. I couldn’t photograph it on the ground when it snatched up the prey because my side mirror was in the way but…
1/4000, f/5.6, 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
when it landed with the prey on another nearby sagebrush I recognized it as some kind of larval insect. He quickly gobbled it down and then…
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in
took off to my right. I quite like this takeoff shot because the bird is sharp with good detail, I still have the lake in the background, I love the leg and foot positions and we get a good look at the fierce, hooked beak of this “wannabe raptor” (including, if you look closely, the tomial tooth or falcon tooth).
I do wish I hadn’t had to add canvas for composition though.
Ron
That second shot is pretty intense — looks like he’s going to fly right through the computer screen and into my living room! Amazing1
Your 7D isn’t old, it is tried and true! 😉
Thanks, Marty. My 7D Mark II thanks you too!
I’ve decided to try this on: We’re not old; we’re tried and true. Hmmmm….FITS! 😉
I too am a fan of ‘old stuff’. Perhaps because I often understand it better.
And a huge fan of yet another of the birds you have introduced me to, which seem like old friends (despite the fact I may never see them for myself). Thank you.
EC, I like old stuff because it represents survivorship over the long haul. Kinda like me…
Beautiful (and sharp!) shots Ron!
Thank you, D.
I think the reason you like the lake as a background but not sky, is that the lake is shaded in a way the sky isn’t, so there is interest. My favorite of these shots is the one where the bird is coming right at you. It reminds me of at least one SEO you’ve photographed. Loggerhead Shrikes are both beautiful and photogenic, IMO.
I may know the SEO shot you’re talking about, Susan. If so it has a vole in its talons.
Fantastic shots!! Great close up views of this bird!1
Thanks, Joanne.
WOW! Beautiful shots, love the contrast between the blue background and the gray/white/black colors of the Shrike. Well done!
Since I have only seen Northern Shrikes, I have to live vicariously through your shots. Many Thanks!
And I see Loggerheads almost exclusively, Dick. Occasionally a Northern but not often at all.
Tomial tooth. Hooray! I learned something new. 😀
Good!
Another wonderful series!!! I think it’s because of their large heads that they look so cute…can’t understand why they aren’t considered birds of prey…the lack of tslons did you say?
Once again, amazing shots. Been waiting to get out and try my hand at photographing shrikes as well, so this does raise my spirits that I’ll be able to do something similar soon. I also like the leg position in the last photo, if it weren’t for the bird already having lifted off and being above the sagebrush, I’d assume it was just sprinting on the equivalent of a runway. Lovely shots, as per usual!
Yes, those legs do look like they’re sprinting, Xavier.
Is the tomial tooth on the bottom?
I think it’s always on top…not really a tooth, more of a notch…
It’s on the top, Pam. It isn’t a notch, it’s a projection. You can get a good look at it here:
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2013/04/28/loggerhead-shrike-the-bill-of-a-killer/
Almost every day I learn a new concept and word ( “tomial” ) from your blog, as well as getting to enjoy the pictures ; it’s a great way to start the day–thanks !
Learning’s a good think, Kris…
Spectacular series, Ron! Your photos of this little gem seem to “jump off the page!”
Thanks very much, Diane.
Wow Ron, great coming at you photo. Beautiful bird and nice photos. And yes, the background coloring is perfect.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett.
Great capture, Ron! 🙂 I was wondering about the nictitating membrane also since the eye wasn’t clear. Amazing the camera reaquired the focus when it flew towards you. I know there are times my Nikon D90 does a better job than the D7200 – simpler is sometimes better it seems 😉 Wonderful shot with it’s grub.
Judy, It’s most likely caused by the membrane but somehow it just looks a little bit different than that.
These are terrific, but I especially like that head on shot! I do wonder about the membrane with that ever so slight clouding appearance. The lake is certainly a nice variant of blue…softly muted like the sage colors. I’ve only seen two of these birds but neither time was able to get decent shots…keeps me looking. 🙂
Kathy, For me there’s just something about the blue of the lake in the background of my shots…