An effective disappearing act.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning on Antelope Island I found several Willets perched on sagebrush but, fairly unusual for this time of year, none of them were doing anything interesting. Often in springtime they’re calling from elevated perches and flying from perch to perch and flashing the almost shockingly black and white undersides of their wings as they land.
The Willets I found just stood there and stared at me. At least this one had the layered background that I enjoy so much that includes sky, Great Salt Lake and sandy beach.
But then a big camping van drove by and gave me some action to photograph.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The van spooked the Willet but instead of taking off and flying away as I expected, ‘he’ dived to the ground for cover amongst the other sagebrush.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I managed to keep him in frame for…
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
three photos before I started cutting off body parts. I didn’t get light in his eye in any of the photos but hopefully those eye-catching wings make up for it. What may look like a catch light at the top of his left eye is just a bright spot on his eye ring.
It wasn’t until I was processing this last photo that I realized that he didn’t fly to the ground, instead he ran down the side of the sagebrush to get there. Here we see that his feet and legs are beneath him, not behind him, and his right foot is on top of the sagebrush in preparation for pushing off against it.
Once he was on the ground, I never saw him again.
Ron
PS – For those who may be curious, ‘my’ six migrating Evening Grosbeaks (five males and one female) have flown the coop. I never saw a single one of them at my feeders yesterday. But I had them for five days which is longer than I expected, so I’m grateful for that. And it’s gratifying to know that my feeders fueled them up for the rest of their journey.
sensational series!
The Willet does have some pretty colored wings that it hides. Also the Yellow color of the Grosebeaks is a new one to me. Ours are mostly red. Thanks for all your lovely pictures you post.
The grosbeaks were indeed a treat! Hopefully, they’ll tell their buddies where to good grub is and you’ll get a bunch of them on the return trip!
Fun to see those Willet wings even if it’s while he’s trying to fake you out.
Thanks, Marty.
Wonderful images.
Well done.
Thanks, Gary.
I did not get any good willet movement the last two trips to the island, they just stood on a rock calling a few times. I was hoping for some chasing and mating.
At least you got them calling. I didn’t.
You are so right to be chuffed that your seed fueled the grosbeaks journey – and it is a lovely thought.
Those wings are definitely eyecatching. And it must be nice not to curse the heavy vehicle going by for a change.
Not to worry, EC. I have plenty of curse words save up for any appropriate occasion.
“Chuffed” – now that’s a word I rarely hear. Enjoyed it.
The photos really bring out the beauty in these birds. And I’m with you on the layered background in the first picture – that would make any picture look better.
I wonder if the relative inactivity was fear of some lurking predator or surrounding activity, or they just weren’t yet feelin the call of springtime?
Bill, I’m thinking my timing just wasn’t good. I’d been hearing Willets calling all morning but by the time I got a couple of them in my viewfinder I think the majority of their displaying activity was over for the morning.
“I didn’t get light in his eye in any of the photos but hopefully those eye-catching wings make up for it.” YES 🙂
Am headed to my local Wild Birds Unlimited to up my seed game today. Hope my credit card doesn’t catch on fire.
“Am headed to my local Wild Birds Unlimited to up my seed game today.”
Good, Kathleen. If your bank account can take the hit you certainly won’t be disappointed with the quality of the seed. Or with the results it should bring.
Interesting and beautiful! The under side of the wings IS a striking contrast to the well camouflaged rest of the bird. 🙂
Hopefully you’ll have some more feeder activity. Mine has been pretty boring for a week or so though Chickadee continues to attack his reflection in both picture windows.
Magpies look like their going to have another tough year with the Grackles whose numbers have increased as well as their proximity to the Magpie nest.
Thanks, Judy. I had a grackle at my feeder yesterday. First time for that. It was probably after the mealworms in my seed cylinder but it didn’t stay long and I haven’t seen it since.
Sorry about your departing Grosbeaks, but that had to be a special bonus to have had them there for as long as you did. Excellent action photos of the Willets. I am sure you hate to have some big camper driving by while you are photographing, but in this case a sure bonus.
” I am sure you hate to have some big camper driving by while you are photographing”
Everett, I always dread it but sometimes there are unexpected collateral advantages.
Nice. The black and white of those wings are really striking. Seeing them along the Pacific shore these days.
Neighborhood sightings have improved. Yesterday a Wilson’s and a Yellow Warbler showed up in the backyard fountain, and spotted a migrating group of Western Tanagers moving through the treetops.
Thanks, Michael. I hope to get some more interesting birds at my feeders soon. I’ve been spoiled by the grosbeaks.