Yesterday morning in the Wasatch Mountains I photographed my first juvenile of this species (or at least my first decent shot of one).
1/4000, 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
At first “he” was hidden in a dense thicket and below a small hill but soon he popped up and gave me about a dozen shots before he took off. Several of the field marks of the adult are evident including the bright greenish-yellow edging on wings and tail and that whitish spot between the upper mandible and eye. The prominent gape is evidence of a juvenile.
Some readers might wonder why I’d even post a shot like this. After all it’s far from a photo to brag about in the conventional sense because a significant portion of the bird is hidden by annoying branches and twigs in the foreground. I’ll try to explain my reasoning.
I’ve often said that I’m not a traditional birder and I’m convinced that’s true. I don’t keep life lists or any other kind of list except for categorizing my photos by species on my computer and I almost never chase rarities. Birders tend to get very excited when they can tick a new species off of one or more of their several lists no matter how far away it was. I have little interest in such things.
However if I can photograph a new species in at least pretty good detail or a different plumage variant (including juveniles), or even one of the sexes that has eluded my camera – now that gets my juices flowing. A “sighting” doesn’t really matter to me, it must be a decent photo. If categorizing birds by species on my computer makes me a birder then so be it but I don’t think so.
Thus this post.
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This is what he’ll ‘grow up’ to look like – an adult Green-tailed Towhee singing its heart out in the Bountiful Peak area of Skyline Drive.
I’ll admit, the flashiness of the adult all perked up during breeding season is hard to beat but that juvie still made my day, despite any shortcomings of the image. Maybe it’s the biologist/zoologist in me that likes documenting things like life stages, interesting behaviors and even unusual physical anomalies in my subjects.
I dunno but I don’t necessarily need ‘pretty bird photos’ to still enjoy them.
Ron
Beautiful photo of a precious bird.
Thanks, Jean.
Pretty, shmitty. I am fascinated by birds. All birds. And love this subtle charmer even before he morphs into a dazzler.
And, while I am a list maker I don’t keep lists of the wonders (avian or otherwise) I see. Sadly my lists are to-do lists to beat myself up with.
I keep lists too, EC – just not of birds.
“Shmitty” now I like that!
“To Do” lists….is there another kind???
What EC said!! And sorry to be late to the party. But I’m meandering my way out of computer hell with this back/hip thing going on.
I will probably never see this bird (Spotted Towhees here) but your description of the finer features to look for reminds me to do the same, which is a slowly acquired skill for me. Thanks for the lesson.
It’s slowly acquired for me too, Lyle – usually requiring repeated examples. Some folks just take to it more easily than others.
That little juvie is quite beautiful/handsome–and the adult looks like a punk rocker. 😁 I’d be happy to see either of them to add to the list I keep on my iBird Pro app! Thanks for the lovely images.
Agreed, Chris. That youngster has its own strong appeal. Thanks.
Having just seen Betsy’s comment below, I feel the need to defend myself and others I know who track the birds they’ve seen. I can’t speak for all, of course, but the sheer excitement of seeing a new bird–or even a bird I’ve seen before but that shows up only occasionally–is hard for me to contain or explain, and I have to keep my list to help retain the memory since I’m not a photographer. It’s most definitely NOT about me, it’s about this amazing feathered thing that has chosen to appear in my backyard, or soar above me as I’m walking in my neighborhood. My friends may think I’m a little crazy, but they DO appreciate when I share with them the beauty that is all around us, if we just look up! And I have to add that while I was reading your post & the comments this morning, Ron, a beautiful Western Tanager and a handsome young Black-headed Grosbeak showed up in my fountain within minutes of each other (both for the first time in two months)! Yes, those are now noted in my list.
Thanks for speaking up, Chris.
As I said to Dick Harlow below I appreciate everyone who loves birds – they definitely need more support than they get. We all do it in our own way – nothing wrong with that.
The “life listers” are collectors – they maybe be good people, but I think it’s all about themselves with their lists. But with you, it’s all about the birds. One of the many things I appreciate about you and your blog.
Interesting point, Betsy. Thank you.
I agree 100% with you. A bird out of range is not nearly as interesting to me as a Song Sparrow showing me a new behavior or hearing a Townsend’s Warbler vocalizing in a way not yet recorded (several unsuccessful attempts were made, however). Birds are fascinating, but I come to birding as a biologist. I was on the faculty of the Biology Department at the University of Oregon for over 30 years and taught ornithology there. I still give many public lectures and they are focused on the many fascinating behaviors about birds that many of the general public don’t know about but love to learn about when the opportunity is there.
Your photos are wonderful and a pleasure to see each day. Part of what makes them great is that they capture a moment of a bird’s life doing what it naturally does. It makes it easier and more exciting to understand the bird for what it is, not just a bright spot of color on a page with no connection to nature. Thanks for sharing your passion with us.
Your comment means a lot to me, Dan. Thank you.
Great shots, love em both!! The adult is exceptional!
Reading your blog I have put myself somewhere in between those excited birders that list everything they see, to you! Rarely do I chase rarities, but I list everything I see, either new or old for a particular day of birding. When the camera is the primary focus I’m like you. One of my pet peeves are birders trespassing on private property without permission, irregardless of what country they are in. Some just don’t want to take the time to go to the house and ask permission. I’m as much at fault as others in putting people in specific groups, but their are shades of gray (no reflection on the movie).
To each his own, Dick. We all have our preference and I applaud everyone who loves birds.
I like both pictures ,but prefer the first, with its bigger, gnarly-bark perch and the open arms of the smaller branch framing the bird…both, nice shots…
Thank you. Don’t know why I had to approve your first comment, Patty. WordPress has been doing that once in a while lately.
It knows I”m dsngerous….
You may be right…
Birder or not I appreciate the pictures much more than I would a list no matter how long. I love most things that fly and am not patient or skilled enough to take their pictures. I live in an urban environment and don’t often get the chance to spend extended time in the wild. Your pictures and blogs are extremely enjoyable. Thank you for sharing.
I agree, Betty. Lists like that leave me cold.
I especially like the first shot…with the bigger, gnarly, peeling-bark branch perch and the smaller “v-branch” framing the bird…
Thanks, Patty.
Ron,
Beautiful as usual. I haven’t commented for a long time but still enjoy your blog, photos and stories daily. I just spent a few days in your beloved Montana. I went to a medical meeting in Missoula. The meeting isn’t that great but the surrounding outdoor opportunities are tremendous as you already well know. I spent each evening and two full days in bird refuges and mostly the National Bison Refuge north of Missoula. I have to admit to significant frustration with that opportunity spoiled with out of focus shots, digital noise at high ISO, etc. Could you give us tips on focus, SS, ISO and mostly sharpening your shots?
Best,
Stephen
Stephen, that’s a tall order. I’m afraid it would wear out my keyboard (and me) just to type it all.
Try using the search box at the top right of my blog and typing in some of those topics. Sharpening and a few others should give you some results when I’ve covered those topics.
Ron: We saw our first green tailed towhee at the Grand Canyon this April. Beautiful bird! But we never had the opportunity for a gorgeous shot like that. Thank you for posting every day.
You say you are fortunate to have your finger heal so swiftly – so are we.
Thanks, Richard. I don’t even have a bandage on it while typing this morning.
Thanks for the post. I never thought to critique the photo, since I am a birder, not a photographer, and love seeing a juvenile bird of a species I rarely get to see! I didn,t know about the white spot between the mandible and eye.
Love the photo of the adult too. A real treat.
Glad you’re back in the field. Stay healthy.
I didn’t know the juvie had that white spot either, Susan.
I like the shot because that’s where you found him. 🙂 He looks a little scruffy too, as if he’s saying, “Growing up is hard work!”
So glad you’re feeling well enough to be out there among ’em!
Thanks, Marty. We’ll see how long it lasts.
I love the photo of the juvie. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be a great photo. I see the adults on occasion, but have never seen the young ones. Having been on one birding walk at our park, I think I am also not a birder in the traditional sense. I do tend to check off new birds on the list in my field guide, and I’m excited to see them, but mostly I just enjoy whatever I happen to see. And photograph them if I’m not too slow or too stupid to realize I should have my camera out…
By the way, on a totally different topic, I’ve noticed in the last 3-4 days that your blog has been showing up differently on my screen – tiny print and part of the “post comment” button is half cut off.
That’s weird, Susan. I have no idea what could cause it. It looks fine on my end – if anyone else sees something similar please let me know.
Ron, I decided to see what would happen with another browser, and on Firefox your blog is normal. I have no idea what’s going on with Safari, because yours is the only page I open that this has happened to. At least I know it’s my computer and not anything you’re doing. Sorry to have bothered you with it.
Thanks for letting me know, Susan. Both times.
Me too. Until this year, I have been able to use Safari to access Ron’s blog. Several month ago, with Ron and Mia’s help I went to Firefox, but receive all my answers in Safari. But, have to write all my comments in Firefox. I haven’t a clue why or what Safari did, so I just deal with it.
Hello Ron,
First of all glad to see you posting again! I missed your posts when you were out of commission. I hope you can keep shooting!
Also, I just want to say that I am very similar to you in the “birder vs photographer” classification. A great photo, even of a common bird, is always more my goal than laying eyes on a previously unseen species and adding them to the list. Of course, a great photo of an uncommon species is wonderful as well!
Best and God Bless,
Rick Alvarnaz
I think there are a lot of us bird photographers like that, Richard. And then there are some that rightly belong in both groups. Thank you.
Very nice pictures Ron. The adult photo is so colorful. I’m like you, I love birds and taking their photos, and I am pleased when I do get a photo of a bird I never before have, but I keep no lists such as what a true birder would.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
PS: I envy you your biology/zoology knowledge and background – I think I came close to flunking 10th grade biology. No interest back then, but now much interest.
Ha, I wasn’t really into biology back in high school either, Everett. It was a college comparative anatomy class that sparked my interest. Thank you.
How interesting! 🙂 I would see that and never know it was a Towhee – just a “sparrow”! We have Spotted Towhee’s which I love watching. I had to go take a look at info on them and they actually ARE a sparrow. 😉 Always something to learn with your posts, Ron – love it!
Yup, they’re a type of sparrow, Judy. We have Spotted Towhees too but I’ve had very limited luck with them.
A real cutie…the eyes have it for me on this bird. That adult is beautiful…it’s one I’ve never seen and I’m not sure if we have them around here. Wow…have to love that ‘crown’ on him! I’ve always been the same type of birder; I prefer the ‘action or documenting behavior’ type of photo not that I would turn down a pretty picture though. 🙂
I love pretty pictures too, Kathy. But for me they’re not necessary for me to enjoy the photo or even post it.
Yes, that certainly is a glorious crown on the adults.