Persistence finally begins to pay off.
Yesterday morning, in a remote area of Box Elder County near a ‘pond’ that wouldn’t exist without our recent wet spring, I spent some time trying to photograph a pair of Killdeer in flight. At the time I told myself I was a glutton for punishment. In the past my attempts at capturing them in flight have always, and I do mean always, ended in failure.
As a result, I’ve never once posted a photo of a Killdeer in flight to my blog.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Until today.
After repeated failures with both birds I finally got this photo that I think is sharp enough to see the light of day. The wings are soft but that’s an issue with depth of field because I was close to the bird, so I can live with the soft wings. I had a good light angle and I like the setting and the still-hanging legs and feet soon after takeoff.
I got another flight shot of this bird’s mate that was just a tad too soft, but I’ll take both photos as evidence that I’m finally making progress with Killdeer in flight. It’s only taken me 14 years of trying.
Ron
Who knew they could fly??! I’ve only ever seen them on the ground, with their lovely stripey necks and cool orange eye rings, zipping around. Wonderful photo! Congrats!
They’re some of the best flyers round, Carolyn. Fast and acrobatic when they need to, or want to.
And today there is a kildeer in total Sulk Pot Ben Nag Nag mode because you have spoiled the perfect record.
Ha, they can sulk all they want, EC.
Once again I learn something. And suspecting that I might not be the only one so ignorant, here is an explanation for the edification of others: Noel Langley wrote a childrens book, The Land of Ginger, in which one of the characters – you guessed it – is Sulkpot Ben Nagnag, a rich jewelry merchant who is a greedy coward blessed with a beautiful daughter.
Thanks for the explanation, Frances. I should have looked it up. Usually I would but at that moment I was rushed.
I love that book.And can still recite bits of it.
‘I am evil and wicked and bad.
I behave like a pig to my mother.
I’ll knock out a tooth
to prove I am uncouth.
Keep still and I’ll knock out another’.
Nice capture. Sounds like a challenging morning.
Thanks, April. It was.
Astonishing. Photographing killdeer in flight is as hard as now bending over to touch my toes.
Kent, my fingers have had their last tactile experience with my toes while I’m bending over. After the last surgery I still can’t put socks on without using my “grabber”.
On the other hand, I’ve been changing several tires this morning. Couldn’t have done that before the surgery. Not a chance.
Touching your toes is over-raged anyway
🙂
Ah, the joy of ‘firsts’ may you have a more of them! We could never have seen all the amazing colors and intricacies of wings and structure without these beautiful photos.
Janis, I’ve had several “firsts” recently. I’m on a roll.
😃
I am familiar with Killdeer. Superman has a slow takeoff compared to these guys. So congrats on getting this. The dangling legs make it look like a languorous event. Not even. I’m pretty sure the sound they make when taking off is a tiny sonic boom.
“Superman has a slow takeoff compared to these guys”
Yup, and that’s a big part of the reason I’d never photographed them in flight until yesterday. Hope I don’t have to wait another 14 years before it happens again.
NICE! They are MUCH more difficult to capture than one would imagine! 😉 They are such fun watching as they try to lead away from their nest/babies. 🙂 Then the “uneducated” babies want to rund down the center of the road in front of a vehicle…….we stop for them……..
Judy, as a young kid on the farm, Killdeer were the second bird I learned to ID, after meadowlarks. Killdeer were all over the creek behind our house and they’re noisy so I couldn’t ignore them. Even at that age.
Of course you stop for them… 🙂
Really like this photo. Maybe it will encourage me to try some myself. They take off so fast and run along the ground so fast that it is hard to follow them period. When I am walking down the shore of one of our lakes they are running ahead of me with that horrible screaming noise. They run and then take off, then run some more and take off again, and again and again. To follow them and get a good take off shot takes patience and I am very impatient.
I wish you luck, Everett. With Killdeer flight shots, luck is an essential part of the mix.
What a striking-looking bird–a DOUBLE–banded neck is a marking I don’t
remember seeing before, and the red eye is beautiful–congratulations !
Kris, those two dark neck bands are distinctive of Killdeer – one of the ways to distinguish them from most (all?) other plovers.
WOW! I love the eye close up, too.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks, Kaye.