Plus some unexpected excitement on Antelope Island yesterday morning.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
For me it’s close to obligatory to post a photo of a meadowlark singing every early spring. But this year, even when they’re singing on territory with hormones gushing, the seem spookier than usual so most of my attempts at photographing them have been in vain.
Until yesterday morning on Antelope Island when this meadowlark decided ‘he’ would rather continue singing than fly away from me. It took some creative driving to get a good shooting angle on him but I got a few reasonably good shots.
His impulse to sing was so strong he…
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
continued with his serenade, even after he took off. He launched toward me, he was side lit and there’s no light in his eye but it isn’t every day that I photograph a bird singing in flight.
After I photographed the meadowlark, birds on the island seemed unusually quiet for a while, which might have been partially related to…
the incredible racket made by this helicopter from the Utah Department of Public Safety as it flew low over the north end of the island. It took off from the Administration Building right in front of me and then flew fairly low over and around the back of Buffalo Point, and then came back and flew over the north end of the island before disappearing from my view.
I’d be a little surprised if it was there for a run-of-the-mill law enforcement issue so I had to wonder if it was somehow related to the mysterious, unidentified balloon that was spotted flying over Utah yesterday. The balloon raised enough concern that fighter jets were scrambled to check it out, NORAD was involved and the incident made national news. That seems unlikely to be the reason for the chopper on the island because I believe the balloon was spotted a little later in the day but, who knows.
There were a couple of other photographers closer to Buffalo Point than I was so maybe they know what was going on. I wish I did. But then sometimes I tend to be nosier than I should be.
Ron
I think you are just the right amount of ‘nosy’ Ron. I’d be even be even happier with nosier.
I’ll work on it, Janet. Knowing me, it should be easy…
Make a joyful noise, indeed! I really love these guys. I used to walk at a park when I lived in Clovis, NM (far eastern edge…8 miles from the Texas border.) I had never heard a meadowlark until then.
Arwen, once heard, most folks don’t forget their song.
Referring to your reply– yes, it was in the late 40’s/early 50’s–
the highest street on that part of the bench was 19th East–there
were even sego lilies growing wild there–but it all changed within
the “blink of an eye”.- I’m glad I got to see and hear it…..
” I’m glad I got to see and hear it”
I wish I had. Especially so close to “town”.
I was out there yesterday morning also, surprised I did not see you. I did see a helicopter and notice jets flying in directions from the base in a more south west route usually they stay to the north west.
I had a hard time getting photos of anything. Everything was very flighty or far away. Even the GHO at Garr Ranch was not visible. I did see a few great things but no photos. Mating and fighting kestrels at Garr Ranch. Boxing jackrabbits in the road, and a bison having too much fun with a pile of dirt. I also found three magpies and a nesting pair. I have some photos, not quality, too far away, back lit and heat waves. I will post them.
April, I saw a few jackrabbits too. Maybe they’re making a comeback on the island. I also saw one magpie and heard two others that I couldn’t see. At least there’s still a few magpies left on the island..
Such joy in flying/singing meadowlark! Thank you!
Thanks, Carolyn.
Beautiful! 🙂 Singing in flight is a new one for me…..
Nothing like a chopper to mess up bird photo options….. 🙁
Yeh, they don’t think the balloon is another China thing – much smaller and wind driven – they brought it down it sounds like. Who knows!
Montana Outdoors mag had an article this month on birding around Westby – part of theMissouri Coteau and picks up the edge of the Mississippi flyway along with the Central Flyway.
I’ll have to look for that article, Judy. I hope to get back to MT this spring and/or summer.
By Sneed B Collare III if that’s helpful…..MT Outdoors March-April
Collard……….
Thanks.
Many fruit orchards and a huge alfalfa field stood less than a block
from my house in Salt Lake City, and every spring, the air simply
RANG with Meadowlark song–my best memories of growing up
very near to the old stomping grounds where Highland High was
built and you taught so many years……loved seeing this little
golden troubadour!
Kris, fruit orchards near Highland must be going way back. I don’t remember ever seeing any in that area but then I didn’t start teaching at Highland until ’87 and before that I was rarely in that part of town. I was teaching at South High from ’70 to ’86.
Very interesting about the balloon Ron. Maybe another Chinese spy balloon. Love the Meadowlarks and their spring songs. One of my favorite birds and we generally have quite a few here this time of the year. Super take off photo coming right at you. He is not singing there he is just exclaiming, “Great to see you again Ron – hope you get some great shots out here.”
Thanks, Everett. I was out shooting again this morning and I could hear meadowlarks, lots of them, all morning. But not a one of them let me get close.
Got to admire this early bird’s enthusiasm. Love hearing Meadowlarks singing in the field. Like the way they hold their head back and belt it out. That second one is an unusual shot. Thanks for sharing.
The world is a funny place. Who could have imagined that in the jet age that balloons would come back again as a security threat.
“Who could have imagined that in the jet age that balloons would come back again as a security threat.”
Good point, Michael. I never thought of it that way but you’re right.