Yet another bird that takes advantage of the Great Salt Lake’s brine flies and brine shrimp as a food source and they do so in huge numbers.
Two days ago one of my goals on a visit to Antelope Island was to see and photograph the Wilson’s Phalaropes that use the Great Salt Lake as a migratory staging area.
They’re a small species and most of them are far out on the lake so photographing them well is a challenge but when they take flight it can be fun to take photos of their murmurations as they whiz by.
Their ventral whites really flash in the morning light when the flock suddenly turns in concert to present their bellies to the photographer.
Generally phalaropes are skittish birds so even though there’s thousands of them out there on the lake it’s hard to find any close enough to the causeway for decent photos. But on this day some of them were closer than usual and I wondered if it was because of reduced traffic and activity on the causeway because of the pandemic.
These two were performing the patented ‘spinning’ behavior of phalaropes where they swim rapidly in tight circles to create a slight whirlpool current that brings up food from the bottom. In many cases they’re feeding on brine shrimp but they also pick off brine flies from the water’s surface. There are two brine flies in flight in front of the bird on the left.
I was slightly surprised to find a few phalaropes fairly close on the rocky shore. Some were simply sunning themselves but others like this one were feeding on brine flies on the rocks.
Wilson’s Phalaropes are nonterritorial although they will occasionally defend feeding sites. I was lucky enough to witness that behavior when this bird suddenly turned on the rocks and…
chased off another phalarope just out of frame to the right.
I was actually pretty happy to get this shot. It’s one of my more interesting photos of a species that I usually have considerable difficulty getting close to.
Ron
Note: On this day I was remiss in not taking any photos of the phalaropes far out on the lake.
So I decided to include this photo taken three years ago along the same area of the causeway. This huge murmuration of phalaropes was a living, churning mass that turned from dark to light and back again as the birds cavorted in the morning sun.
Watching them was literally hypnotizing.
Ron, thank you for the beautiful photos and insight.
I’ve been out of commission and appreciate you helping me focus. It is a struggle.
Wow! Beautiful shots all!
Thanks, Joanne.
They are beautiful birds. Love all of your shots, especially the last shot. Almost reminded me of a Starlings when they fly in masses.
Yes, starlings are famous for their murmurations, Jean.
I like the Phalarope loping shot. 😉 Fascinating to learn about the spinning behavior — behavioral adaptations are at least as interesting as physiological ones, IMO. I’m also gobsmacked at the “swarm” photographs. I ask myself every time I see that behavior: How in the hell do they keep from crashing into each other!?!
That’s the obvious question isn’t it, Marty. Same goes for schooling fish.
Very nice. Your photos show a sense of elegance and peacefulness about this bird.
Such an interesting variety of images, although I think you might have clipped a wing or two in some.😉
Clipped a wing or two? Hell Lyle, I butchered some of those poor birds!
Wonderful photos. One of my favorite bird sounds, a murmuration flying over me and if the breeze from a thousand flapping wings brushed my skin it is ecstasy!
Agreed, April – the sound really adds to the experience!
Echoing everyone else about the last shot. Awe and wonder.
I am also fascinated by the ‘spinning’ technique.
I do love to start my day learning things and, as always, thank you.
That spinning is fun to watch, EC. I think of them as ‘whirling dervish’ birds…
WOW on that last image. It really is stunning. The bird defending its place looks like a juvenile but that may be because of the ruffled neck. 😀
I’m not sure if it’s a juvenile or not, Arwen. My guess is that it isn’t, due to all the color on the back of the neck.
WOW! That last shot was one fantastic sight!
Many thanks for the images.
No kidding Dick!!! Can imagine the movement in person – spectacular shot.
Thank you, Dick.
Great series, Ron. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Phalarope toes! Just another reminder that I need to visit Antelope Island some day!
I hope you make it to the island one day, Diane. In my experience it’s pretty unique, mostly in good ways.
Ron, that last photo is indeed hypnotizing. I think it would be hard to leave. Just looking at your photo makes me think I would stand there and take many a hundred photos before leaving. I don’t think I have seen one here, but not positive. Our local bird expert shows that a few of them will show up here during spring and fall migrations. I will have to remember to look for them this coming fall.
Oh, and have to join Kris in admitting that murmuration is a new word to me too.
Glad to introduce you to a new word, Everett!
I’m so glad that you included that last photograph—I would call it “thrilling”,
and the word “murmuration” is lovely, and a new one to me !
Kris, starlings are famous for large murmurations. Some of the videos of them are fantastic.
I really appreciate seeing your photos of this beautiful bird. Here in Ottawa Canada, phalaropes are quite rare and I’ve yet to be lucky enough to see one. To see THOUSANDS flocking would be awe inspiring for sure! What an experience that must have been! Your series of birds feasting on brine flies is really cool altogether!
Yes, once you experience a murmuration that large you don’t forget it. Thanks, Sheila.
That last photo is amazing. What lens did you use for that?
“What lens did you use for that?”
I’ll check and get back to you, Elmer. I’m betting it was my 500.
Yup, it was my 500 f/4 + 1.4 tc.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 800.
@500mm + 1.4TC…that means they were really a great distance away. Wow, thanks for sharing.
That’s right, they were. As I said most of them are usually far out on the lake.
Neat and WOW on the Murmuration from 3 years ago! It is mesmerizing to watch. Different feeding tactic than the gulls it appears. The one running one of “it’s” piece of turf is fun…….. 🙂
68 and spitting this morning – so much for cooling the house off – no, we don’t have central AC…….. 🙁
“Different feeding tactic than the gulls it appears”
Absolutely, Judy. I’ve never seen a phalarope use either of the two brine fly feeding tactics that the gulls use.