Occasionally a photo with obvious and significant flaws grabs me and won’t let go. This is one of them.
1/2500, 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
Yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA these two Killdeer were feeding close to each other in this puddle and on the adjacent mud. Several times, when they got too close too each other for comfort, one of them would turn its back to the other one and raise its flared tail in an apparent threat or intimidation display. But this one time, as they approached each other, they both squared off as they tried to intimidate each other. They held these poses for several seconds before the killdeer on the left rushed the other one without apparent or at least significant contact. And then they continued to feed as if nothing had happened.
I love the behavior and of course the double reflection. This may be the only time I’ve ever documented an interesting behavior from multiple birds, including their reflections, without clipping any body parts in the birds or their reflections. I’m sure that’s why the image grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.
But then there’s the flaws – two of them in particular. I didn’t have enough depth of field to get both birds sharp so the killdeer on the right is soft. But most of all it’s that fence post reflection sticking up the butt of the reflection of the bird on the right that distracts me from what I perceive as the strengths of the photo. The birds are also strongly side lit but because there’s good light on the faces of both birds that doesn’t bother me so much.
So, I’m posting this photo because I think the behavior is interesting and the double reflections of the Killdeer are close to unique. The fence post reflection be damned.
Ron
Love the standoff posture of having both in frame, love the flared tail and reflection. Hate that pole and it won’t therefore win any awards but as a best of day shot and interesting behaviour I still like this shot a lot. Glad you decided to share it for the story.
In terms of composition, I think the post reflection might actually help. There is substantial heaviness at the top of the image because of the dark terrain. The posts reflection brings that down to the bottom which in my eye helps ground the image. The more I look at it, the more I like having the reflection there.
Super capture Ron!!!!
Thank you, Lois.
Nice capture. Usually it happens so fast I miss it all.
Thanks, April. This time it lasted long enough that I got about a half dozen shots of it.
Any time you come across someone with a “stick up their butt,” all you have to do is whip out this photo! 😉 Seriously though, this is a pretty spectacular shot — fence post or no fence post. Just the fellow on the left would make the shot for me and you have his reflection, the other Killdeer squaring off, and that bird’s reflection. Pretty slick photography! 🙂
I’m glad you see some of the same strengths in the photo I do, Marty. I’m pretty sure I don’t have another one like it.
Like EC, I was immediately aware of at least the one “flaw” to bug you … the pole. On my iPad Mini I have to work really hard to find the less obvious objectionables and I don’t often bother, I just enjoy the subject(s) and the composition. Especially true today, with two — no, four — cute Kildeer to exhibit an apparently unusual behavior. And then they just let bygones be bygones!
Thanks, Chris. Yes, on small screens many of the details of image quality aren’t very apparent. Sharpness included.
You have trained me well. I knew as soon as I saw your image just what flaw(s) were sticking in your craw.
And was fascinated just the same. I love the different perspectives I get focusing on the birds, and then on their reflections…
And would have loved to have been with you seeing the fun.
“I love the different perspectives I get focusing on the birds, and then on their reflections”
EC, I spent quite a bit of time comparing the birds to their reflections. They’re different from each other in subtle but interesting ways.
Really cool. Makes me want to get out there.
It would be fun to see you out there again, DeeDee. It’s been a while…
Really interesting post. I see Killdeer here all the time and have taken many photos of them, but I have never witnessed this behavior. I often see them scurry away from one another, but never aggressive or intimidating behavior. From now I will spend more time observing them. Maybe because they are so common here I don’t pay them enough attention.
“Maybe because they are so common here I don’t pay them enough attention.”
That’s an easy rut to get in, isn’t it Everett. I have to be careful to avoid it myself and I’m not always successful.
Great shot. Of course, now I will be looking for this behavior. I can’t decide if this is a double-double-dare or quadruple-dare😊
Thanks, Lyle.
I love that you captured this behavior! And I appreciate how difficult it is…A few weeks ago on a warm afternoon at low tide I was sitting in a tidal mudflat surrounded by shore birds. For some reason that day the birds totally ignored me and came quite close offering many wonderful photo opportunities. I was like a kid in a candy shop and didn’t know who to photograph first. The most entertaining birds by far were the dozens of Semipalmated Plovers who were doing just like your Killdeers! I had never seen this before so I thought it very exciting. But out of the hundred or so photos I took of this behavior only a few had both birds in focus! Luckily there wasn’t a telephone pole around to make things even more difficult. It makes me appreciate your efforts even more.
By the way, I went back to the same place the next day, at the same time and sat in same spot to try my luck again. But by then the little Plovers were long gone and the new crew of birds were having none of it. They gave me a very wide berth. It’s funny because many were the same species that had, just the day before, payed me no heed and gone about their business a few feet away.
Joanne, what you describe about your plovers is very similar to what happened with the Snowy Egrets I photographed recently. On one day there were many egrets in the same area and they were fighting often. Two days later only two or three egrets were present and there was no fighting.
didn’t notice the fence post til you pointed it out.
My exact thought too! I was too immersed in their posturing 🙂
Jo and Terri, I wish I could say I didn’t notice it. After the double reflections of the birds that post reflection was the first thing that jumped out at me.
Phooey on the flaws! Just a neat photo with both birds being a bit aggressive and the reflections! Luv it!
Phooey! Love those old-time words. Thanks, Judy.
I love this photo. Even the fence post reflection adds something to the composition, as it’s perpencidular to the horizontal shadow just above the water line and together they make a frame within the frame.
I’m glad you like it that much. Thanks, Stephanie.