Landscape photos aren’t standard fare from me but I had to include this one.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
My camping trip to Montana’s Centennial Valley in September of 2015 was a good one for Merlins. I found this one enjoying breakfast on an old gate post one morning. I can’t identify the prey other than the fact that it’s a small bird.
Some may not like the tip of another post poking into the frame at lower right and I’m not sure about it myself. It would be easy to remove but that’s not my style. Besides, I think the background is even more boring without it.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, 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 photographed this Merlin on the evening of the same day. I think both the background and the lighting are more appealing than in the first photo, even though there’s no prey to add visual interest.
On this trip we camped along the edge of Lower Red Rock Lake and at that location both sunrises and sunsets can be pretty spectacular. This is a sunset on one of our first days at the lake that trip. My camping trailer is just out of frame to the left. I’ve made the photo larger than usual so folks can better appreciate the sunset and perhaps even see the birds on the lake on the left. They’re tiny but they’re there.
This scene is in stark contrast to…
Cell phone photo
what it looks like out my back door right now (photo taken at 5 AM this morning).
It’s a near-blizzard out there. UDOT is advising all motorists to stay off the roads until at least 10 AM and many school districts are expected to announce closures at about 6 AM. Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are forecast to get over 2 feet of snow and some areas in the nearby mountains should get significantly more than that.
For much of the winter I’ve been bitching and moaning on my blog about our lack of snow. You’re unlikely to hear more of that bellyaching from me anytime soon.
Ron
Magnificent sunset and nothing boring about those Merlins! BTW, I have been on prednisone for over seven months for PMR but am now at 6 mg tapering down. My wife and I got the two Moderna COVID vaccine shots and I worried that my immune system might not respond. I was pleased that i had a distinct but rather mild reaction to the second shot and my blood indicators of inflammation were elevated. I hope it means that the vaccine “took.”
Beautiful Merlins and gorgeous landscape!
The snow was really coming down this morning, if that picture is any indication. I hope that your back is not feeling any ill effects from the shoveling and blowing you did. No precipitation of any kind in our forecast for the next couple of weeks. We could definitely use some rain (and snow in the mountains).
Thanks, Marty. We haven’t a snow dump like this one in a long time.
The merlins are gorgeous and the sunset to die for. As for the snow, I’m so glad it’s finally happening for you and not for me, as I live in SoCal for a reason. (Some Texans may have thought the same about their place of residence, only to be sorely tested by recent events.) Just be careful out there with that shovel!
Shhhh!!! Chris, don’t jinx it for us! 🤫😋
Yeah, Texas is in a world of hurt. Thanks for your concern about me shoveling, Chris.
I like the extra post in the first shot. It draws my eye up to the bird. 😀
Good. Thanks, Arwen.
4.47am here now. I am late this morning. And won’t see ANY of the beauties you have posted today. I am wearing my pouty face and very glad to see all of the photos from your neck of the woods.
And yes, the background to the second Merlin is much more appealing.
Assuming you ‘slept in’ you should do it more often, EC. Advice I should heed myself…
I sort of did sleep in. A very patchy night though. I was up at 12, 1, 2, 3… and can’t say I feel rested. Give us this day our daily whinge. And huge thanks for the beauty which started (as it so often does) my day.
I’m guessing those are both female Merlins? Great photos both, but agree that the background on the second is more complementary.
I can almost picture Christina (Andrew Wyeth) in the grass around the lake.
I told you I would blow our snow your way. Just took a few days.
I just finished shoveling and blowing it a few minutes ago, Lyle. I measured over 11″ of new snow in the front yard but there’s more in the back (some in the front melted after the previous storm).
Beautiful Merlin’s and LOVE the sunset – never tire of glorious sunrises and sunsets….😍 Glad you’re getting some snow.
+14 this morning and light snow – YES! “Cold” sure becomes a relative term at times like this…….😉
Thanks, Judy. 29° here right now and there looks to be about 10″ on my deck, much more than when the last photo above was taken. It has stopped snowing for now but I suspect we’ll get more on and off during the day today.
Those are two very nice Merlin photos. Looking forward to seeing one or two this coming spring. We don’t get to see very many of them, but will be on the lookout.
Beautiful sunset there. Sunrises and sunsets over a lake can often be spectacular. Great shot.
Finally you are blessed with some much needed snow. Stay safe.
Everett, as far as I know Merlins aren’t very common anywhere. I sure don’t see them very often.
I received it at 5:58 this morning in SLC. I’ll enjoy your beautiful Merlin and sunset before I go out and shovel 😱
Good to know, Dennis. I guess it’s Comcast or Gmail screwing up again on my end. I still don’t have my email.
Since I now know the emails went out I’ll remove the ‘note’ at the end of my post.
Looking good here in southeastern Indiana. We have several inches of snow and ice. There may be more on the way tonight and early tomorrow. enjoy you pics and stories.
Thanks, Jim.
You’re looking good here in Ottawa, but it’s 8:41 a.m. here. Thanks as always for your wonderful posts.
Thank you, Burrdoo.
Do like the looks of the Merlin photos…and love the ‘pantaloons’! I didn’t realize they sported those. Your second photo is perfection for him. That is a beautiful sunset; spectacular colors. Looks like you have more snow than we do at this point. We are finally getting out of the deep freeze today! By Tuesday we are projected to hit 40 degrees and maintain that range for a while…so glad! Cold is not my favorite state anymore. Second covid shot today…yea!!!
Good for you on your second vaccination today, Kathy! I’m scheduled to get my second Pfizer vaccine on Saturday.
I hope you & Kathy have heeded the warnings about NOT taking NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, etc.) before or after your vaccinations, as they may impede effectiveness. Also that second shot is likely to have more after-effects (chills being fairly common), but that means your immune response system is working. I have several medical service frens who’ve been advising me! 😎
Chris, yes I’ve been avoiding NSAIDs for the reason you mention. My biggest problem is avoiding prednisone for the same reason (it inhibits your immune system). I need to take prednisone occasionally and when I need to and can’t I pay the price.
The proverbial rock and a hard place. Oy. What Covid has done to all of us in one way or another. Sorry for your pain. 🙁