Plus, by request, some Black-billed Magpie “mate-feeding” photos related to yesterday’s post. Today’s post is kind of like two posts crammed into one. I blame it on Stephen C. And Chris Sanborn. And Marty K.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago I spent some time with this male Long-billed Curlew on Antelope Island after I finally located him in the cheat grass after hearing him calling from some distance away. The thick cheat grass hid his long legs and I’m not a fan of that invasive grass anyway so I was hoping for flight shots if he lifted off while I was there. He continued to call to another curlew I could hear far away but couldn’t see and he showed no indication of imminent takeoff. So eventually I left him, stowed my lens in my lens caddy, and started driving slowly down the road to look for other birds.
It was at that point that I could tell from the sound of his calling through my open window that he had taken off and might be flying in my direction. A quick glance behind me confirmed my suspicion but what was I going to do about it? I didn’t have time to stop my pickup and wait for it to rock back after applying the brakes because by then he would be past me.
My only chance for flight shots was a Hail Mary attempt while I was still driving forward at slightly more than 10 mph. At that hour of the morning the roads were deserted so I knew it was completely safe to grab my lens, aim it out the window and fire off a quick burst. So that’s exactly what I did.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Surprisingly it paid off with about a half dozen sharp shots of the curlew with the Great Salt Lake in the background. I’ll include two of them in today’s post. At first glance, photos like these may look like they have blue sky in the background but the strong horizontal banding suggests otherwise (in a way it actually is blue sky because the sky is reflected in the water).
I love the color of the lake in my backgrounds in the early morning when blue sky is reflected from its surface.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
And yes, the curlew continued to call to the second curlew as he flew in the direction of the other bird.
I want to stress that I wouldn’t have made this attempt if I didn’t know I could do it safely while driving. I only had my eyes off the road for about four seconds, I was only traveling about 10 mph and the road was completely deserted.
Ron
Playing catch up:
In yesterday’s Black-billed Magpie post I mentioned that the male magpie feeds the female during the entire time of incubation. The female comes out of the nest to be fed. I also mentioned that I had photos of the behavior but didn’t include any. I should have.
In a comment Stephen C asked “Are you going to post pics of the feeding?” I answered by saying no, my photos of the behavior aren’t very good. But then Chris Sanborn and Marty K persisted in asking to see some photos so I relented and said that I’d tack a photo of the behavior onto the end of tomorrow’s post “if I can find one that’s worth seeing.”
I found three of them.
This is a photo of the same magpie pair taken a few days earlier. The female had come out of the nest and was begging to be fed atop a sagebrush adjacent to the nest bush. Here the male is flying in to feed her. Often times I couldn’t actually see the food item he presumably had so I wonder if it was small and he had it inside his bill.
As soon as he landed she mobbed him – all we see is a jumble of feathers during the frenetic food exchange.
This photo of the same pair was taken on the same day as the photos of the female I posted yesterday. The magpies were far away and partially hidden by branches but here the female, on the right, has rushed her mate in an attempt to be fed. She actually appears to be pulling his bill inside hers, which I think is reminiscent of hungry chicks trying to get food from a parent.
Thank you Stephen C, Chris and Marty for persisting. If I’d been thinking I’d have included these magpie photos in yesterday’s post.
Wow! For behaviour shots like that I would almost be tempted to trade in my right arm. How “good” the shots are is far less important to me in situations like that, then how well it documents the behaviour. Thanks for reconsidering and posting them.
Ron – very late in the day 7 pm – back from granddaughter’s ASU graduation in Tempe.
Those two Curlew photos with the blue sky are keepers – especially the 2nd with the open beak.
The crazy Magpies look like a bunch of drunk college kids out partying after graduation.
I feel like I’m in good company with Chris and Stephen! The Three Nudges! 😂
I’m marveling at your off-the-cuff Curlew shots — especially the calling one. And I’m even more delighted and amazed than I thought I would be by your shots of the magpie feeding frenzy. I pictured her “mobbing” him, but what I imagined wasn’t even close to what you’ve shown. These are excellent behavioral shots. 🙂
“what I imagined wasn’t even close to what you’ve shown”
That makes me wonder what you imagined, Marty.
The Three Nudges – I like that.
I didn’t imagine her trying to rip his beak off to get at the food. She is hungry and determined! “Hangry Birds” — a new video game.
Hangry Birds – I like that too. You’re on a roll, Marty.
You nailed the Curlew image – superb!
The magpies series were certainly worth posting – thank you
Glad you enjoyed both, Gary. Thanks.
HUGE thanks. To everyone who contributed to this post.
And a big wow on the mobbing behaviour. Incubating is obviously hungry work. Very, very hungry work.
Yup, she gets hungry and she eats often, EC. But usually all she gets is small snacks.
Well, golllll-leeee — I have been accused of much worse, so I’m happy to take “persistent” as a compliment! 😎
Those Curlew shots are amazing — if you hadn’t told us of the circumstances, I’m sure none of us would be the wiser, there are so many great elements in the photos, even a catchlight in the eye! But I especially love the open bill on the fly — he’s probably snagging a few snacks along the way to find his mate. I’m sure you’re more convinced than ever that the R5 was worth the price after this kind of success.
And the Magpie feeding frenzy — that is something to behold! That first with her bright red mouth and wings wide open made me LOL. And then mobbing her mate just like a hungry chick, but there’s actually some real elegance to the melding of all the wings and feathers in that image. Though I’m guessing Mr. Magpie didn’t see it. I have no doubt she’s grabbing his bill to get every last morsel in the third shot. So thanks for reconsidering, Mr. D! And thanks to my “partners” for offering their encouragement to you!
It was definitely meant as a compliment, Chris.
And yes, I’m becoming convinced that the R5 was a good move for me, even though there are tradeoffs.
Wow the curlew in flight are gorgeous. Behavior shots are always fun, sharp or not.
Thanks, April.
Beautiful photos! I love learning about birds I’ve never seen. I think I’ve narrowed down my choices for a print. I’m getting closer at least. I’ve been living life at warp speed and haven’t had much time this week to look at them again but am hoping to this weekend. Hope you’re doing well! Do you have surgery scheduled?
Hi Bobbi, Let me know when you decide.
The latest is that I may not get insurance approval for surgery before May 20. Disappointing.
Wow – impressive that you could get those shots of the curlew while moving! I can’t even get that good when I’m standing still. LOL
Thanks, Kent.
Mobile wing shot. Bravo!
Interesting how the adult female feeding behavior does seems somehow related to young feeding behavior.
Thanks, Michael. Yes, they seem very similar – perhaps remembered behavior from when she was young.
Ron,
I must say “Thanks.” It is interesting and I wouldn’t know what was happening without your experience and explanation. And a “mention” in your blog! What a great day!!
And a “shoot and pray” out the window of a moving vehicle. Come on!? Who is that good? RD! It is better to be lucky AND good. And the R5 looks like it performed like a champ.
Thanks again,
Stephen
I can’t believe I miss-typed my own name!! ARGH!!!
Stephen, there’s no question that the R5 played a role in my success with the curlew flight shots. Shooting full frame gave me oodles of room to keep the bird in the frame, I had plenty of pixels for cropping and animal/eye detection kept my focus point on the bird.
And don’t fret about the typo in your name. You’re far from the first one to do that and you won’t be the last.
Your flight shots of the Curlew while you are driving remind me of the scene in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” where Robert Redford can only shoot a coin when he’s moving. You’re aim is dead on at 10 MPH.
Your “jumble of feathers” photo is a hoot. Strikes me as a sort of a Picasso version of a Magpie: makes no sense but one tries anyway.
I’d forgotten about that scene in the movie, Lyle. Thanks for the reminder, as I’m a fan of the movie, of Newman and especially of Redford (who incidentally lives not too far south of me).
“Picasso version of a magpie” made me smile.
Nice! Amazing to you catch the curlew again! 🙂 Obviously incubating is hard work! May be bored to distraction too…. 😉 Certainly looks like chicks begging to me.
Judy, incubating must be hard work and extremely boring work. I sure wouldn’t want to be doing it.
You’ve been hanging around birds for so long that now you can photograph
them “on the wing”– or at least “on the road” ! A great post today; the female
magpie seemed desperately so hungry ( yes– like a very large chick )– that it must be unnerving for her faithful mate to approach her with food…..thanks
for a surprising peek into their lives……
I agree, Kris – it almost looks dangerous for him when he approaches her (or she approaches him) for a food exchange. But the two of them seem quite devoted to each other.
Thank you for all these shots. I really appreciate a chance to get to know the birds better, not just from guide books or life lists.
You’re very welcome, Cheryl.
You must have been grinning all day after catching that Curlew photo! Thanks for the twofer this morning, Ron. Great way to start my day!
I was pretty happy about it, Diane. I don’t think I could have got those curlew shots sharp if I’d been using my previous camera.