Sage Thrashers, spiders and… giant drones?
This is the time of year I call the ‘bird doldrums’ around here and this year the doldrums are exacerbated by the drought and the rapidly disappearing Great Salt Lake. Yesterday morning on Antelope Island was just about like I expected.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The one and only bird I had in my viewfinder all morning was this immature Sage Thrasher that, out of the corner of my eye, I saw dive into a greasewood as I approached. Birds were so scarce I decided to stop and see if it would eventually pop up again. Usually they don’t but this one did, probably because it was a young bird. I’ve photographed very few thrashers on the island this year so getting this one in warm, early morning light was an unexpected and welcome surprise.
The rest of the morning was almost birdless. Yes, I saw a few Loggerhead Shrikes, Barn Swallows, a fair number of Western Meadowlarks (they’re flocking up already) and at least one American Kestrel but not a single one of those birds cooperated. Of the other birds I might expect to see on the island this time of year, like Black-billed Magpies, Chukars, Horned Larks and even Say’s Phoebes, I didn’t see or even hear a single one. I heard a couple of coyotes howling but didn’t see any.
My other photographic goal yesterday morning was… spiders.
This is the time of year that Western Spotted Orb Weaver spiders on the island proliferate in numbers and grow to impressive size as they gorge themselves on brine flies so their large webs and large bodies become very obvious. State Parks celebrates their presence with an annual Spider Fest, this year to be held on August 6. Take your kiddos and go, they have a lot of educational and fun events planned.
If you go before or after the festival, check out the general area of the marina for spiders.
1/320, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
But yesterday wasn’t a very good day to photograph spiders because soon after I reached the island a stiff breeze came up. Trying to get sharp photos of spiders while they’re bouncing around on their webs in the breeze is an exercise in frustration. This is one of the better photos I managed to get. The dark mass in front of her head is the remnants of an insect she was feeding on.
I ended the morning with a short but very enjoyable visit with Assistant Park Manager Wendy Williams. I spotted Wendy and another park employee at the marina parking lot and what they were doing piqued my curiosity to such a degree I had to stop and be nosy. I swear, it looked like they were trying to assemble some kind of giant drone on the parking lot. But it turned out to be something else that they were preparing for Spider Fest.
I’m going to be cagey about what it was. If you’re curious like I was, go to Spider Fest. Or ask me later.
Ron
Speaking of ” bird doldrums”, do you see Swainsons Hawks during the summer or during migration ?
Both, John. They nest here.
I am glad that your visit wasn’t a total bust – and love the Sage Thrasher and the spider. If I was in the area I would certainly check out the spider fest. I am waiting (more or less patiently) to learn more/see more.
Thank you, EC.
“The rest of the morning was almost birdless.” Even without photos of them all, I’d call five species and a nice sharp photo a of young’un a decent day. I understand your concern about Antelope Island/GSL, though.
My favorite is the tiny jumping spiders because I get to save them when my wife says “You either put that outside or I’ll get it.” Hard little buggers to catch.
Lyle, generally I leave the jumping spiders in my house. I like having them around. Right now I have one that tells me hello in the bathroom every morning…
Great photo of the thrasher. They are a secretive and elusive sort.
Thanks, Michael. They sure are.
Beautiful Sage Thrasher and exceptional Spotted Orb Weaver spider photo.
Maybe last year or the year before you introduced us to someone who was involved in the spider fest. Not sure if it was Wendy or someone else, but you had said that she was interested in receiving spider photos for the event. I contacted her and sent her photos of a Green Lynx Spider that she really liked, but I had taken the photo a year prior and she said the photo had to have been taken that year.
Everett, that someone was my friend Justina Bernstein. She manages the Spider Fest for State Parks.
That’s it Ron – Justina – thanks ……….very nice woman and very interesting to chat with via e-mail
I think that Orb Weavers are BEAUTIFUL ! They weave a zig-zag line into
their webs– I wonder if Melanie’s “zipper spider” is an orb weaver ?
I don’t know, Kris. I’ve never heard of a Zipper Spider.
I love, love, Love the juvie Sage Thrasher! NC has Brown Thrashers and they are also very shy. I wish I had a pair in the bushes around my home. And I love the spider. I occasionally have Yellow Garden Spiders that I call Zipper Spiders. I always feel blessed when one weaves her web near my front door. The Spider Fest sounds like fun so I hope you share photos from the event and fill us in on what I can only guess is a drone that looks like a spider.
Thanks, Melanie. Good guess but that’s not what it was.
Sounds fun and educational….. 🙂 I can appreciate spiders now but as a kid I was terrified of them…. 😉 Glad the thrasher cooperated a bit anyway.
Doing the heat thing – of course, it’s State Fair time! Haven’t been in years as it’s “changed” over time.
“Crick” holding so far…….. 😉
Thanks, Judy. I don’t think I ever attended the MT State Fair but as kids we usually attended the County Fair in Shelby. Some of it was pretty weird stuff…
EWWWW spiders. Boo!
C’mon, Suzie. Broaden your horizons a little! 🙂
AAARGH! You tease! 😂😈 I hope you’ll fill us in post-Spider-Fest. (And that is one gorgeous orb weaver — I love it when they’re out and about in my yard!)
I had some trepidation opening up today’s blog post. I imagined something even worse than you described, which is pretty sad.
Thanks, Marty. And sorry about the tease. I’ll fill everyone in later.
Yes, do please tell us later. OK is too far from UT.
I will, Cheryl.