My first takeoff or flight shot of this little ground-skulker.
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 don’t have many opportunities with Vesper Sparrows so I was happy to get this one in my viewfinder two days ago on Antelope Island. Even though “he” allowed me quite a few shots I was lucky to get any of them sharp because those damned biting gnats have come out in full force on the island so I spent at least as much time swatting and cursing them as I did concentrating on the sparrow. Even now, two days later, the top of my poor bald head in particular is sore as hell when I touch it and I don’t react to their bites nearly as severely as many people do.
I have a soft spot for sage as a perch for birds in my photos but my real goal was to get takeoff or flight shots as the sparrow took off. These little sparrows are extremely fast when they launch so I knew I had to get lucky. This time I succeeded, but only partially.
1/5000, 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 caught him just as he was leaving his perch. Amazingly he was still in the frame when my shutter clicked, I didn’t clip any body parts and I even had enough room for composition in the direction he was flying but his wing position isn’t one of my favorites. For my tastes the only positive resulting from this wing position is the interesting shadows his flight feathers threw on his body.
I think they look a little like ribs…
Ron
These are really nice shots and it can be easy to overlook a few simple components coming into near perfect harmony that we see right here. They are really such elegant compositions and that bokeh-ed background is just too good, love the colors and the patterns and the shadings.
No-see-ums: Ive heard about ‘um and read about ‘um, and I sure haven’t seen ‘um and certainly have never been assaulted by ‘um and am pretty sure I never want to be exposed to “um.
Anyway, nothing beats your photos except perhaps Ron Chernow’s delivery at the correspondent’s dinner just now, I stopped typing this message to take in his wise words and am very glad I did.
Thanks, Dave.
I used to watch that dinner almost reliably for years but haven’t recently. But I still have delightful memories of Trump squirming in the audience during Obama’s presentation several years ago…
What a sweet little guy! The shadows are so interesting in the takeoff shot.
Thank you for braving the noseeums for us. I’m one of those who is very sensitive to any insect bite, so I totally get it. (I’m thinking poor Mia too!) I don’t think I could be out there in the field with them, even for a Golden Eagle. OK, maybe for a Golden… 😉
Thanks, Marty. It isn’t bad at all while you’re driving but the instant you stop for a bird they’re swarming all over you. You can barely see them but just a few minutes later you sure as hell can feel them!
Another rare one for western Washington so thanks for the close-up detail. Would have puzzled over the ribs if you hadn’t explained. As for the gnats, just know that you are feeding them and they are probably feeding the birds. So they are keeping you in “business” and your “customers” in a perverse state of schaudenfreude.
Lyle, I don’t think they feed the birds directly. They’re too small, even for little birds to waste time and effort on. They’re called no-see-um’s for good reason. But I’m sure they’re food for larger insects and other invertebrates that birds feed on so I still reap the benefits.
Cute little bird. I like both shots, and like you, enjoy the “little ribs”.
Thank you, Jean.
They do look like ribs. The small birds move faster and less predictably than greased lightening so I am very, very impressed at this capture.
As someone who does react badly to many insect fangings I am grateful we don’t have no seeums. Very grateful.
And grateful you should be, EC. As far as I’m concerned the only good thing about them is that they keep the traffic to the island down this time of year. Thank you.
Ron, a special thanks for enduring the ‘no-see-ums’ to capture these photos. I like the sage as a perch, as well. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Vespel Sparrow. The rib cage comment is ‘catchy’. Hope your head recovers soon!
Alice, at this point my head is far from recovered. The bites got much worse the second day and today they’re no better.
I like the take off shot because it shows the “J” on the side of the sparrow’s face really well, which is a good field mark for me. I can also see a hit of the white outer tail feathers.
Pam, all the time he was perched his tail was sort of caught in the sage so it was cocked at a weird angle.
Cool! 🙂 The shadows on the bird REALLY add to the photo! The sage does make a wonderful perch and adds to the photos. Glad we don’t experience the “no see ums” 🙁
Count your gnat-less blessings, Judy. And I’m serious…
Thanks for sharing Ron. Love the rib-cage shadows. Very nice photos of a cute sparrow. I have never seen a Vesper Sparrow – not sure if they are common here.
I don’t see them very often either, Everett. Or if I do I don’t notice them.
Love it, Ron! I have a fondness for sparrows and a sharp Vesper taking off is a real treat!
Thank you, Diane.
I agree–great shadows!!!
Thanks, Nancy.
Really like these photos! These little brown birds come in such a variety; I find it enjoyable getting their photos for the subtle differences They have. I agree with your ‘soft spot’ for sage…it is such a soothing color…gives a richness for the background. On another note…biting gnats! Are these ‘no-see-ums’? I really don’t know their scientific name but that is what I’ve had experience with, not here but in Michigan. Painful, red, lasting for a long time. Makes one wonder at the purpose for the little buggars! I applaud you having the stamina to endure fighting them off to get these photos!
Yup, no-see-um’s, Kathy. Truly nasty and tiny. If you wear a hat they’re so small they crawl underneath it and neither netting or bug juice does much good. I don’t hate many critters but I do hate biting gnats. Mosquitoes are good guys compared to them.