One of two shorebird species I think of as “Cinderella birds”. Here’s why.
This time of year both Long-billed Curlews and Willets are found in good numbers on Antelope Island so yesterday morning I was hoping to get lucky and photograph both species taking off. When their wings are folded, Willets and curlews are statuesque but rather plain-looking birds.
But when they raise those same wings, their transformation is instantaneous and I think, quite remarkable – curlews suddenly become much more colorful and Willets reveal an almost shocking broad white wing stripe bordered in black. Cinderallas indeed.
1/2500, f/6,3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I found this male (based on bill length and shape) curlew foraging in short grass on a slope on the north end of the island. When he eventually struck this pose his erect and alert posture suggested to me that he was thinking of taking off so I prepared myself for exactly that.
1/2500, f/6,3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
It took him a few seconds to make his decision but this time I was right. When he began running just prior to liftoff and opened his wings, the cinnamon colors on their wings that I adore were revealed. I got quite a few shots of him in flight but this photo taken early in his takeoff showed the cinnamon colors as well as any flight shots I got.
So, did I get my twofer yesterday morning? Did I get a similar takeoff shot of a Willet?
1/3200, f/6,3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Nope.
I did have high hopes for this Willet perched on sagebrush but ‘he’ was sleepy and damn-near comatose so he barely moved for the entire time I was with him. Eventually he was making me sleepy, so I moved on to look for other birds.
Maybe next time I visit the island I’ll get my twofer, but it didn’t happen yesterday.
Ron
Fair warning:
If you’re local and planning on visiting the island anytime soon, be prepared for a daunting gauntlet of road construction. Yesterday morning I ran into construction on I-15, most of Antelope Drive is a construction mess and will be for a long time and then there’s the ongoing construction fiasco along the causeway to the island. Even though it was before 7 AM when I got to the island I almost wished I had a stiff drink to settle my nerves. Almost…
In addition, there were signs up saying that Antelope Drive will be completely closed to traffic at night from May 1-6. Who knows what UDOT’s definition of “night” is.
I think I hear that Willett humming Brahm’s Lullaby. 😀
I wouldn’t be surprised.
Beautiful shot of that Curlew!! I have never seen one in person but I have met quite a few Willets and I love their personalities and their beautiful open wings! Thanks.
Thank you, Joanne.
I’m loving your posts!
Very good to know, Marcia. Thank you.
The curlew leaves Cinderella for dead (in my eyes anyway). I do hope you find a cooperative Willet soon. Sadly I fear that closed overnight could well mean closed until seven or eight in the morning.
EC, thankfully a friend found out that it’ll ‘only’ be closed each night until 6 AM. That won’t give me a lot of wiggle room but it should suffice.
Pretty birds with long legs and long bills, and other well-hidden attributes that are occasionally (beautifully) revealed to the lucky viewer. I’m glad at least the curlew cooperated after your miserable drive out to the island.
I remember some causeway construction when I was there last May, hard to believe they’re still “constructing” and it’s even worse! 🫤
Chris, yesterday they were laying that big pipe right next to the entrance station. So when I was leaving, traffic trying to get onto the causeway was backed way up.
Ron,
Your posts are always a positive point in my day. I may postpone going to Antelope Island with your warning. But, I should heed your example and battle the elements to get some shots, I guess.
Speaking of back surgery (were we?) my wife had her fourth yesterday with disc resection and fusion and is recovering well at IMC. So, we feel your pain but that also means I actually may not get out anywhere for a while.
Love your stuff!!
Stephen
Thanks very much, Stephen. And my very best wishes to your wife. Tell her to take it easy for a very long time post-op. I think I’ve overdone it lately with yardwork, even with two of my neighbors doing some of it for me. And that’s 7 months post surgery as of three days ago.
Thanks, agreed!
Wonderful look at the curlew’s color. For me, Willets are often equally spectacular upon landing. So often it seems that just as they land the wings point straight up just before folding. One more look at that showy white stripe I see the curlew’s color much less often so thanks for sharing it. Hope there will be a day soon to get cooperation from both birds.
Thanks, Dan. Willets very often hold their wings vertically for a couple of seconds after landing, especially during the breeding season.
Getting around ain’t easy should be Utah’s new state motto. I tried for similar shots but mostly found the birds in tall grass where it’s hard to get a clear shot and keep focus between the blades of foreground grass stems.I found my self laughing at “Will It” give me a wing stretch, the few times I did get wings outstretched the birds back was always to me. I think I have a photo of the same willet on sage. The bird never did move. I will post it and we can compare the sage shape to see. About tall grass why are the park’s management mowing so much of the island? What part of strategy is that for “natural habitat”?
April, I’m fairly sure it isn’t the same sage but I can’t be positive, even when I look at my uncropped image. This one was less than a quarter mile east of the turnoff to Bridger Bay Campground, on the south side of the road.
Such an elegant bird in the first photo. And then that flash of cinnamon gold. That just puts it over the top.
Mr. Willet was on to your game. To paraphrase the Soup Nazi: “No takeoff shots for you”.
““No takeoff shots for you””
That’s probably exactly what he was thinking, Lyle. Not today anyway.
I have only seen Long-billed Curlews here twice and always just standing erect or wadding in shallow water. I have never seen a wing spread or take off and this one is especially beautiful and so colorful. What a neat shot. Thanks for showing this one Ron. Much appreciated.
Thanks, Everett. I didn’t notice their underwing colors until I started focusing on takeoff and flight shots.
Beautiful! The Curlews are a contrast between standing and wings open/in flight……appears they’re a “maybe” here plus being rather “plain” I probably just haven’t noticed…..;)
“Construction season” sucks even knowing it needs doing….. 🙁
Grackles are back in large numbers. Sucked it up and ordered a feeder with cage that will, in theory, exclude them…….
“ordered a feeder with cage that will, in theory, exclude them”
Good luck with that, Judy. I’ve tried every practical strategy I can think of to exclude starlings and House Sparrows from my feeder, with no luck at all.
Ha ! Got us all primed to see that willet with its “shocking white black-rimmed
stripe” and then–well, not this time.!…what a tease. But the curlew’s under-
wing coloration IS beautiful, amplified by dawn’s early glow…..
Believe me, Kris – if I get that Willet shot anytime soon, you’ll see it.
In the meantime, these will have to do:
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2013/05/22/willet-take-off/