I’m home.
Yesterday morning the weather in southwest Montana near the Idaho border began to deteriorate and the forecast called for more of the same, so I just packed up and came home. Like most camping trips, this one had its ups and downs and some of the “downs” will affect what you will and won’t be seeing on Feathered Photography in the near future.
So sometime soon I intend to post a trip report to fill you in. Some of it’s embarrassing but it has to be told.
By 6:25 AM I was packed up and almost ready to leave – all I had left to do was to hook the camping trailer up to my pickup and skedaddle. But then these two Sandhill Cranes on a faraway mountaintop began their rattling call that reverberated across the valley below.
It was the cranes and their calls that inspired me to make one last, short trip of about a quarter mile to a line of trees in good light that might have some birds in it.
1/3200. f/5.6, ISO 1600, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
That’s where I found what turned out to be a female Chipping Sparrow. She was pretty far away and she had needles in front of her so I couldn’t get her in sharp focus. But I took a few photos to help me ID her later.
1/3200. f/5.6, ISO 1600, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Suddenly she wasn’t alone. Without any preliminaries, none at all, her mate flew in, landed on her back, and they began to copulate.
1/3200. f/5.6, ISO 1600, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
It all happened so fast I wasn’t even sure if they were mating or fighting.
1/3200. f/5.6, ISO 1600, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
A flurry of activity, a few wing flaps from the male, and then…
1/3200. f/5.6, ISO 1600, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
he exited stage left. Notice that the feathers surrounding his cloacal opening are still flared to facilitate sperm transfer. That’s something I’ve never captured this well before, in any species.
When I saw him fly in I instinctively laid on the shutter button and fired a quick burst. I got 11 shots of them mating, which means the entire process took almost exactly one second (my R5 is set to take 12 frames/sec.)
Talk about wham, bam, thank you ma’am.
Ron
Note:
I can’t tell you how many opportunities like this one I missed during the first several years I was photographing birds. Back then I hadn’t yet learned that it’s best to take photos first, before you even know what’s going on. Now, when “stuff” begins to happen, I instinctively lay on the shutter button and ask questions later.
As they say, pixels are cheap. I’m sure glad I’m not still shooting film.
Glad you are home safely. All the gigantic RVs, towing huge boats and ATVs, etc. were heading towards I-90 this AM when we went out for breakfast. How they maneuver on mountain roads is mystifying. Hope your campsite was peaceful!
The pine trees look healthy. As do the birds. And the giraffes! 😊
Carolyn, it’s getting close enough to July 4th I suppose the rush has begun to begin.
The giraffes…. 🙂
You were ready, but not as ready as he was. Ready enough though.
Looking forward to learning more/seeing more from your trip.
“You were ready, but not as ready as he was.”
Ha, good point, EC. If there ever was a Ready Freddy, it was him.
As soon as I saw the first shot, the theme from Jurassic Park started playing in my head. 🦕🦕
And I won’t even get started with all the smarty-pants comments that came up over the “quickie” series. 😉😂
Glad you got back home safely and am looking to your spilling the tea about your trip.
That should be “looking FORWARD to” — this is what I get for typing on my phone.
Marty, some of that spilled “tea” leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Oh well, it’s over and done with. Except for a few delayed repercussions.
Fun post and the wry humor is ever present. Now, about that quickie, there are many clever, ok snarky, ok smart ass comments I want to make but I won’t.
Ha, Susan – I’ll bet I thought of at least as many of those smart-ass comments as you did. In that department I’m rarely bested.
😉
Wow, Ron, I have never seen that flare. Terrific capture. This is not the first time that I have thought that your educational posts could be added to some Cornell account or another. You really add to the scientific background on a lot of these birds and behaviors. Thanks.
Much appreciated, Ellen. Thanks.
Wham bam thank you ma’mm for sure. An X rated post 🙂
Really funny though – as the post loaded and I first saw the top photo I thought it was a pair of giraffes coming over the hill.
Hope you are having a fun and enjoyable journey and that the back is good.
” I thought it was a pair of giraffes coming over the hill.”
I got a big kick out of that, Everett. I definitely see what you mean.
Beautiful shots of the sparrows, Ron. Pixel’s ARE cheap relative to film for sure. 🙂 Look forward to the “saga” and rewards of the trip.
Weather got rather ugly with flash flood warning around last evening – may get a little more today. Most went S of us but did pick up a half inch so we aren’t complaining…….. 😉
Judy, your storm was the one I was trying to avoid. The preliminary winds were really nasty during part of the drive home, especially since I was pulling a trailer.
That kind of wind and trailers are NOT amusing……glad you “made it”.
To this day I am amazed that given all the apparent physical and mechanical improbabilities that avian copulation results in reproduction. To me, it is one of (if not the most) awkward looking acts in nature.
“Now, when “stuff” begins to happen, I instinctively lay on the shutter button and ask questions later.” So true. This is something I’m aware of, but still trying to train myself to do. Definitely an behavior that must be learned.
Love the photo series.
“This is something I’m aware of, but still trying to train myself to do.”
Michael, I’m embarrassed to admit how long it took me to learn that basic lesson. It’s something that you don’t have time to think about in the field, it has to happen automatically and very, very quickly.
It always amazes me how the birds can do it in just seconds and even be accurate with just a cloaca. Also amazes me that Sage grouse males can mate with a whole harem in a span of a few hours. Nature is amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Me too, Karl. It doesn’t sound like much fun but it gets the job done and that’s what really matters.
You are so FUNny, Ron!!
Can’t help myself, Marcia…
Exactly my thoughts before I got to your last sentence 🙂
In this situation, those thoughts are almost inevitable.
Exactly mine too Terri! It may be “trite” but it’s so, so true!