Seven photos of six species from this past week.
For one reason or another these photos didn’t quite pass muster as stand alones but I think each one has something to offer and collectively they’re a reasonably accurate cross section of the birds I’ve been photographing recently.
A male American Kestrel at Farmington Bay WMA. The side light is a little strong for my tastes but I don’t get this close to a kestrel every day and I like the detail.
A Marsh Wren at Bear River MBR. Normally I don’t appreciate shadows on ‘my’ birds but I think this circular shadow is interesting if not particularly aesthetic. The sidelight coming from the left caused the linear shadow of the perch to be transformed into an arc when it struck the bulging breast of the wren. The effect of the circle was completed by the curved shadow on the bird’s left side.
Besides, that shadow reminds me of the chocolate donut I had for breakfast within minutes of when the photo was taken.
An injured Green-winged Teal at Bear River MBR. Almost certainly this drake was a casualty of the current hunting season (I could hear shotguns all morning). There was a dead drake teal floating in the water nearby and also a hen teal with an injured right wing.
It was apparent to me that this drake couldn’t fly. Instead of taking off he flattened all his feathers to make himself much less buoyant in the water as he quickly swam to hide in the vegetation. Notice how low in the water he’s swimming.
It isn’t my intention to turn this photo into a hunter-bashing fest but I thought all the mayhem I witnessed in such a short time should be documented, even though I didn’t include photos of the dead and injured teals.
An American Kestrel near Farmington Bay WMA making a Red-tailed Hawk pay a price for just existing. The little falcon wasn’t quite as gutsy as the kestrel I photographed recently as it attacked what was very possibly this same hawk so it didn’t come nearly as close. But its point was made.
A female Belted Kingfisher at Farmington Bay WMA. I’d been hearing her chattering call all week but this was the first time she allowed me anywhere near her, probably because she’d been in the pre-sunrise shadows until a couple of minutes before this photo was taken.
Generally I like the extremely warm light at sunrise but I’m less fond of it on very dark birds like kingfishers.
When she dived on a fish I managed a single photo of her in flight but there was a damn twig in front of her bill.
An immature Great Blue Heron in a goofy pose at Farmington Bay WMA. It was probably watching a bird flying by overhead but the pose was a pretty good imitation of an American Bittern.
So there you have it, a cross section of my week in the field. For what it’s worth.
Ron
Great photos, as usual. I’ve been to Farmington Bay a couple of times recently but haven’t succeeded in seeing a Kingfisher or Marsh Wren. I keep studying the perches in your photos trying to figure where you were. 🙂
I did get to see and photograph a Bald Eagle on Monday, but too far for my little camera to get a really good photo. Love tryin though. I like accessing your blog on Facebook.
Looks like a good week, except for the Teal.
1. You lookin’ at me?
2. Let’s see you do this.
3. Nothing to say, except hunters who leave the wounded to suffer deserve a
special place, know what I mean?
4. Kestrel: Your perch or your life. Hawk: I’m thinking about it. (Apologies to J.B.).
5. This beak is made for fishin’…
6. And that’s just what I’ll do.
7. Beak to the sky, feet apart,
I’m no Bittern, but it’s a pretty good start.
I post late so I won’t embarrass myself in front of too many people.
I always appreciate your comments no matter when you post them, Lyle.
Oh how I LOVE potpourri days–well, I love (LOVE) most every day, but potpourri days are a joy to unfold each and every surprise! Each and every one of these images makes me feel like it’s Christmas morning when I was six, back when the world made more sense than now!! I am so very grateful for your work!
My guess is that the redtail is giving the Kestrel that withering “Make my day!” stare. 😉
If you hadn’t mentioned it, I NEVER would have seen the stick coming out of the Kingfisher’s beak. But like life, Nature is messy.
As for the Green-winged teal, that scenario almost never happens in falconry. The hawks, falcons and eagles almost never miss a prey critter they’ve wounded. And even in Bambi, we don’t KNOW that the hunter left Bambi’s dad in the woods!
That’s an interesting point about falconry as compared to traditional hunting, Laura. I’d never thought of it.
Nice to see such a wide selection. I will see if I can get out to photograph next week. I have been taking advantage of the mild weather to hike and bike while it lasts. I was hoping to get out to Antelope Island this morning for a hike or ride, but I have a recovering cat I was concerned about and stayed home. I might still go this afternoon and stay for the sunset.
I hope you can get out sometime today.
That GBH is demonstrating “don’t stick your neck out.”
🙂
This is (mostly) a truly delightful selection.
Sadly I saw a bullseye in the shadows on the Marsh Wren – even before I saw the teal.
You had a very rich week. A week I am grateful to share.
I never thought of the bullseye but you’re right, EC.
Fun to see all the different species you’ve spent time with lately. The teal shot is my favorite because of the reflections in the water, but definitely NOT the circumstances. Count me as another victim of Bambi. I just don’t understand hunting/fishing unless you’re going to be eating the animal (and even then…), which means you don’t leave injured, dying, or dead animals (or their innards) behind. And I certainly don’t understand hunting being allowed in a refuge! I hope that the teal can heal from its injuries or at least goes quickly without suffering too much and provides a good meal for another animal.
Echoing Marty. Again.
Marty, I couldn’t tell what injuries the drake teal had so I don’t know his chances of surviving. I have higher hopes for the hen teal with a wing injury.
I’d have never guesses it was an immature Great Blue! DOES look like a Bittern……😳 Fun “miscellaneous collection” of birds all with redeeming features even if not “perfect”….😀 Hunters that are too lazy to retrieve/ finish off wounded animals/birds jack my jaws! 😡 Give ethical hunters a bad name.
“Give ethical hunters a bad name”
Exactly, Judy. I know ethical hunters who would ring the necks of “hunters” who did this.
Wonderful series Ron!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Your potpourri this morning was a real treat, minus one–like Everett, seeing
“Bambi” as child was a life-changing experience for me………leaving injured
animals in one’s wake is unforgivable.
Bambi left a strong impression with me also, Kris.
My first thought…’An American Bittern wannabe!’…and a pretty good one at that. A day in the life… The Kestrel is so darn cute you wish they were more accommodating for the camera. Thanks for sharing the potpourri of your week!
Thanks, Kathy. I had another pretty good chance with a male kestrel this morning but I don’t think I got any light in his eye. I should know soon, one way or the other.
Fun series Ron. Super diving shot of the Kingfisher, but of course when a shot is that good there has to be a twig or a branch. Murphy again. I don’t know anything about Photoshop, but just curious – can something like that be removed?
I’ve never understood the thrill of shooting down ducks from a blind and then having your dogs retrieve them. My mom took me to see Bambi in 1947 when I was 9 years old. Guess that pretty much did in hunting for me.
Everett, yes it could be removed in Photoshop. It might be slightly tricky to do it well where the twig passes in front of the bill but it could be done. But it won’t be done by me, that’s for sure.
Ron, loved your variety of birds with this post. I had to chuckle when you said the immature Great Blue Heron’s stance reminded you of an American Bittern. When you said that, I agreed having seen American Bitterns at Green Cay standing just so!! Also saw the catch light in the Belted Kingfisher!! Great catch!!
That pose from bitterns is quite distinctive isn’t it, Jo Ann. Thanks.
Your green-winged teal photo is remarkable – as is your description of the context. I keep looking at that photo-story,
Thank you, Mary.