Some near-misses sting more than others.
Most bird photographers have at least one type of photo that eludes them despite trying for it for years. For me it’s quality photos of Northern Flickers in flight that show off the spectacular salmon-red shafts of the dorsal surface of their flight feathers. Those colors can’t be seen unless the wings are open.
But in my area at least Northern Flickers are unusually nervous birds that seldom allow a close approach and on those few occasions when I have been able to get within range something always seems to go wrong to stymie my attempt.
Yesterday morning in the mountains that unfortunate trend continued.
1/5000, f/7.1, 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
While it was perched on top of this juniper the bird was a little too far away for good detail and the shooting angle was pretty steep anyway. But I had hopes for a takeoff or flight shot so I kept my lens trained on the flicker and waited. Eventually it took off toward me and dipped down to mitigate some of the effects of the steep angle. The timing of my shutter was perfect to catch the wings in a position that showed off the salmon colored flight feather shafts and I think most of the bird is “sharp enough” or nearly so.
But, and it’s a big “but”, the flicker was looking straight at me so we don’t have a good look at either eye, there’s no catch light and the head and neck threw a deep shadow on the left side of the bird. If the flicker had only turned its head to our right all of those problems would likely have been solved.
In bird photography “almost” just doesn’t cut it so my quest will continue.
Ron
I like to think he’s looking at you as if saying, “Hey, Ron! Are you catching these wings?” Those feather shafts are something else! I wonder what the evolutionary advantage is — both males and females have colored shafts, right?
I dunno, Marty. Yes, both sexes. And they have the same thing on their ventral tail surfaces.
They are hard for me to catch in flight. I have them in my back yard especially in the fall and spring. I usually get butt shots.
It’s somewhat comforting to know I’m not the only one.
In the pre-dawn darkness I entered a very large home I had just about completed constructing. I turned on some lights and was greeted by a flicker slowly flying down the long, high ceilinged hallway. He wanted out but was very calm and flew at an evenly slow and cautious pace as he navigated the interior space. The brilliant colors in the wings were on full display and really something to see indoors.
I calmly tried to direct him towards a large door I had just opened and finally after opening several other large sliding doors he found his way out.
Several years later I still am very impressed at his calm, controlled hovering flight that he used to safely work his way out of a sticky situation.
The only time I’ve I gotten a flicker photo was of one eating ants in my backyard weeds.
Neat story, Dave!
So close and yet…
And huge thanks for showing me something that I would never have seen without your near miss.
As a question, how many nemesis birds/shots do you have? And how long on average does it take to tick them off?
EC, It’s kind of like a sliding scale on a continuum, it depends on where I draw the line.
And then there’s the selfish factor too. I used to say that one very important nemesis of mine was an excellent flight shot of a Golden Eagle but a few years ago I finally got one and it only whetted my appetite. I want more! So truth be told, maybe I never “tick them off…”. 🙂
Any shot of a Flicker in the wild is an accomplishment. I see them at the feeder regularly but otherwise only hear them in the woods or see them dashing through the air. I used to see them on the lawn all the time in Colorado but never here in NW Washington.
Lyle, I see them occasionally in my neighborhood in certain times of the year but I’ve yet to get a shot of one of them around here that I like very much.
Ah the pursuit of perfection! I GET that. Look on the bright side…the ongoing quest will likely keep you busy for a couple more decades 😉
Probably half a dozen of them, Laura. By then I’ll only be 120+ years old…
Your persistence is honorable. Hope it pays off for you soon. Great picture as it is and I always enjoy your work.
Thank you, Betty.
Fabulous photograph!
My Flicker shots highlight the incredible beauty of their fluffy white rump as they depart the area at warp speed. I have quite an impressive collection.
I’ve taken some of those shots too, Wally.
For me this is a great image. You have to understand, we only see the Northern Flicker, otherwise known as Yellow-shafted Flicker in our neck of the woods. Your image is of a Northern Flicker, Red-shafted Flicker that I never see unless I go west. In your image the red shafts are so apparent along with a mixture of yellow that suggests that your flicker is in the Yellow-shafted & Red-shafted intergrade zone as outlined in Field Guides. Therefore, your picture besides being a neat image, is proof of an intergrade. That is really super, at least to me! Many thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Dick. I’m aware that they interbreed often where their ranges overlap but I’m sure no expert at recognizing the hybrids.
Know the feeling! Here they would be close enough when they’re working ant hills in the lane and they are “in the open” BUT spooky is the operative word and they generally take off away from you into the trees…… 😉 I REALLY like the photo despite the shade issue on the head…. 🙂 Those orange shafts are wonderful……. Interesting notches in the feathers on both sides – are they how the feathers are shaped or damage?
I noticed those feather too, Judy. I suspect it’s just where the hooks have pulled apart separating parts of the vanes but since it’s on both sides in about the same place it makes me wonder…
The feather display of this bird is to die for so I know exactly how you feel about it. This display is very nice! It is on my ‘wish list’ and been there since I started birding. They really don’t allow a close approach no matter how slowly one tries…which makes for a very frustrating time. I have them fly into my yard and are very nonchalant about their movements, wander about digging at the ground until I get my camera…seems like they sense it and off they go and I never get the shot.
“They really don’t allow a close approach”
I think they take lessons from kingfishers!
We have a company here in Northern Arizona whose slogan is, “Good enough just isn’t.” I still like the photo – colorful wing spread and beautiful blue sky background etc, but as you say – it was not what you were looking and hoping for. We have an abundance of Northern Flickers here, but I don’t think I have ever gotten or even attempted an in-flight shot. Mostly where I am with them is in forest areas where they are just going from one tree or shrub to another and not much open space between.
I like the slogan, Everett.
I’m surprised that flickers seem to be such Nervous-Nellies around here. I get the impression that in some areas of the country they tend to be quite tame.
How many frames per second are you shooting?
Ten.