This is why I keep returning to that gnarly old stump used as a perch in yesterday’s post.
Readers will likely remember the stump because I made a pretty big deal out of it in yesterday’s post of this singing male Horned Lark. It’s in an area of Antelope Island seldom seen by most visitors but I’ve been returning to it often lately for two reasons. In the right light I thought it had the potential to be aesthetically pleasing in my photos if I could ever find a bird perched on it.
I’ll explain the second reason below.
Three days before I photographed the Horned Lark I found an apparently mated pair of Willets in the vicinity of the stump. I suspect they’re nesting in the area because I’ve seen them there twice.
On that morning one of the Willets began walking toward the stump so I got my hopes up because I think there’s potential for pretty spectacular shots if I could catch a Willet taking off from it. Because of the striking patterns and colors on their raised wings Willets transform from drab-looking birds to flashy and interesting photo-subjects and the stump is on a hill so from my shooting angle the background would be clean and have a pleasing bokeh.
Throw in the tendency of Willets during breeding season to spend significant time on elevated perches near their nests and I thought I had a pretty good chance of success as this one walked directly toward the stump.
I was almost sure it would perch there.
As it reached the stump the Willet stopped and looked at it for several seconds, long enough for me to get many shots of it in this pose.
My heart sank as it began walking forward and away from the stump but after two steps it stopped and looked back at the stump again as if it still hadn’t made up its mind about perching on it. It looked at the perch for several seconds before…
walking away and down the slope. I’m not convinced the Willet wasn’t deliberately teasing me. If so the strategy worked.
So that’s why I visited the stump again three days later. I was actually looking for Willets perched on it but I thought the singing Horned Lark was a pretty good consolation prize.
Ron
PS – Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!
that is a teaser, no offence but I was laughing out loud. Magpies do that to meal the time.
No offense taken, Jane – none at all. I hope you’re still enjoying your improved eyesight after your surgery.
He was CERTAINLY teasing you, and through you, us.
Great series. Thank you.
Thank you, EC.
Reminds me of misbehaving students, looking at you to see if you are watching what they are up to.
April, I never had any misbehaving students so I wouldn’t know… Ha, fat chance!
He KNOWS… 😉 Got some good giggles out of this post (althoughI suspect you did not).
Happy Mothers’ Day to all, whether your children have skin, scales, fur, or feathers. 🙂
I didn’t at the time but I do now, Marty. He definitely knew…
In the last shot, note that the Willet’s chest has flying bird silhouettes in dark against the light. Love it.
You’re right, Sallie. I never noticed that.
Lovely series especially like the second to last and third to last shots of the willet…BEAUTIFUL…Subject, old wood, textures and composition…
Thanks for your feedback from an artist’s perspective, Patty.
Ron: There is a lot of beauty in that willet. I happen to like what you captured in the first willet shot – not a traditional shot, but certainly beautiful to my eye. Thanks!
That first shot is my favorite, Richard – for several reasons.
That second shot of your willful willet really shows the incredible array of camouflage in the feather patterns to cloak them so well from prying eyes. Love this series- thank you.
Willets are definitely cryptic, Diane.
Very nice crisp images of both birds although the story begs the title “Willet or won’t it”. (I can hear the groans from here).
Lyle, believe it or not I actually considered using that phrase for my title. It came very, very close…
The Willet says, “I know that guy and what he’s up to, he wants me to get up on that stump and then fly off so he can get some super photos for his blog.” “I think I will tease him for a while and then dash his hopes and just walk on by.” Ron, you have made that old stump into an Antelope Island icon.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
“Ron, you have made that old stump into an Antelope Island icon.”
Ha, never thought of it that way, Everett.
It was not ready for its close-up, Mr. DeMille.
I’m convinced it’s main purpose was to yank my chain!
Just HAS to tease you! 😉 Great perspective on the stump tho and nice capture of the Willet! 🙂 Dick – Google (possibly Norton) tells me Ron’s site is “insecure” from time to time and gives me a bit of grief tho has never blocked me from it……. The “joy” of computers….. 🙁 Happy Mother’s Day to all! 🙂
Thank you, Judy.
You’ve cracked us up with this great funny story! You were truly mistreated by this devious bird.
In that last shot it looks like the Willet is wearing green underwear!
Frilly underwear at that!
Hahaha! The best laid plans and all that… This was a fun post especially appreciated by a bird photographer who is frequently foiled by her elusive subjects. Thanks for the laugh.
Similar things happen to all bird photographers, Joanne. But this one disappointed me more than most.
Sorry, but I laughed out loud reading your post. Damn, they just don’t do what we want them to do and when we want them to do it!!
Great images! Many thanks for sharing!
Note: For whatever reason, that I haven’t a clue about, I can access your blog on Firefox, but not on Safari. Yet I can access Mia with Safari, go figure.
Don’t apologize for laughing, Dick. As long as you weren’t me it was undeniably funny.
That’s very strange about your inconsistent issues accessing my blog.
Launching point or not these are all great! That little bit of new greenery is a special touch also with the muted background. I would be returning also to the site…never know who else will using that. (The first Willet photo is my favorite for sure!)
That’s my favorite too, Kathy. It used to be that I rarely visited that area but I imagine I’ll now go there every time I visit the island.