Yep, another blackbird.
This is my third blackbird post in a row, including photos of two male Yellow-headed Blackbirds and one post about recognizing female Red-winged Blackbirds. Sorry if you’re growing tired of blackbirds but I can only post what I shoot.
1/1250, f/6.3, 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
I photographed this male four days ago at Bear River MBR as he was displaying on a phragmites plume. It was soon after sunrise so the light was very warm and there’s a lot of contrast between the black bird and the fully lit, light colored phrags. But in most of these shots I still managed to get a pretty decent exposure with good detail in most of the blacks without the phrags being too bright, even though it took some creative processing to accomplish it.
All four photos are presented in the order they were taken.
1/1250, f/6.3, 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
With his back to me getting light in his eye and on his face was problematic but occasionally I succeeded. This time I caught him performing his raspy call.
1/1250, f/6.3, 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
Thirteen frames later when he raised his wings I was quite pleased by how much detail I got in most of his plumage. For me that rarely happens with blackbirds.
1/1250, f/6.3, 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
This last shot is very similar to the previous one but I’m including it because of the better look at the underside of his left wing.
All in all I was quite pleased with the series, surprisingly so since he had his back to me.
Ron
Great series Ron, I finally got to see them!
Superb series Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Well done Ron – wonderful images.
Thanks, Gary.
Tired of blackbirds? No way, no how, no chance. I can however see how their call could be something that a person could tire of – particularly if you were trying to sleep.
Thankfully they don’t call at night, EC. But then as often as I take afternoon naps… 🙂
The morning light certainly makes him glow. Beautiful feather detail in all photos.
Since you posted about the female Red-winged Blackbird, I glanced through your past photos of Yellow-headed Blackbirds and couldn’t fined a female. The photo of midges from May 9, 2016 looks like a horror movie. And of course you have a spot on photo of a Yellow-headed Blackbird munching on one.
Thanks, Lyle. I may never have posted a photo of a yellow-headed female. I’ll have to work on that…
😂 “table saw,” “heavy machinery” … I was thinking a heavily rusted, creaking door hinge! The incongruity of sight and sound is remarkable. How can something so beautiful sound so … bad? (TY for the clip, BTW.)
But he is a beautiful bird, and I love the first pic for the way his head seems to glow in the sunshine, the view of white wing patches, the definition of the black feathers. Great photos, every one of them!
(Oops, I see I mixed up wing patches of 1st & 2nd photos, but I do like those little spots of white in #1.)
Chris, I think table saws and heavy machinery are accurate enough as comparisons to how this species sounds but a “rusty door hinge” is the most common comparison I see on various websites.
I like the edge of the wing on the last photo, the way the feathers are stepped.
I still need to finish going over all my photos from two photo trips to the refuge. I have some yellow headed blackbirds in there somewhere that should be nice.
Thanks, April. I sure liked that photo you posted on FB of a Black-crowned Night Heron taken that day at the refuge.
Wonderful shots on the both blackbirds, Ron. What would be our marshes without their calls at the beginning of spring? Their harsh calls are sounding to my ears so nice after the long winter. We do not have the Yellow-headed in Quebec, and we miss it very much. Have a great day!
Thanks, Laval and I agree. This time of year it just wouldn’t be the same, or nearly as good, without the cacophonous blackbirds.
I have really enjoyed all of your Yellow-heads Blackbird photos. Many years ago, in Minnesota, a flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds landed in my Sister’s yard. I was so excited and have never forgotten that experience. Unfortunately I have never seen another. Thank You.
Thank you, Laurie. They can be hard to forget, especially when you hear them calling.
And the Oscar goes to…the Yellow-Headed Blackbird in “Bird most likely to be mistaken for heavy machinery.” We’re supposedly within their migration territory, but I don’t recall ever seeing one IRL, so I’ll have to “ooh and ahh” over your fabulous photographs!
Thanks, Marty. They make quite the noise don’t they.
Having the back to you is a real nice perspective as you have shown. I like seeing the underwing detail and the tail. The yellow head really stands out in all four; especially with the nice perch. Real nice light!
Thanks very much, Bruce.
Might be even more beautiful than yesterday. All beautiful, all keepers, all qualify for framing. Great job Ron.
Oh, and kudos for the Blackbird for such excellent posing.
Thank you, Everett.
OMG–I can’t believe that anything so beautiful could sound for all the world like a table saw at work ! I’m glad you included the clip, though……shot #1 on
today’s roster is so perfect in color, contrast, and especially in composition
that it seems almost arranged– the arc of the golden bird head and the arc of the
phragmite head seem to echo each other–thanks for this post !
Kris, as one who’s intimately familiar with the sound of a table saw I wouldn’t argue with your comparison. And I appreciate your feedback on that first photo.
Beautiful! I’m in love with the 1st photo in particular…😍 The warm light on the phragmites and the detail in the black of the bird all come together – wouldn’t even believe the “call” from that photo….😉 Call is different than the red winged but still obnoxious..😖
Thanks, Judy. I wouldn’t want to live in an area where I had to listen to them for days or weeks on end, that’s for sure. But in relatively short spurts I find their calls amusing, especially when combined with their physical contortions while calling.
We have the red wing’s around most of the summer and, particularly this time of year, it gets “old” real quick…….😉 Not this morning the Grackles have showed up also……
Absolutely beautiful! I really like the second shot…those ‘bulls eyes’ on the wings really catch the eye! Also the edging of the wing in your last photo nearly resembles a deck of cards being shuffled…(strange perception I guess 🙂 ). Does their call resemble that of the Red wing? Great series!
“Does their call resemble that of the Red wing?
Not in the least, Kathy. NOTHING sounds like a Yellow-headed and that may be a good thing… 🙂