Eight photos of five species plus a short video clip.
On Tuesday of this week I spent the morning on Antelope Island. I had some frustrations with my camera that morning (the Canon R5 often struggles with sharpness in low light) but I got some photos I thought were interesting enough to share. Following are eight of them.
Several of the male Northern Mockingbirds were engaged in their well known “flight displays”. I found this guy displaying right after sunrise so the light was low and to complicate matters he was sidelit. So it was a difficult shooting situation but I got several shots that documented part of the display.
Following is how Cornell’s Birds of the World describes the behavior:
“A “flight display” is given from a high singing perch. A singing male jumps upward, flaps his wings once or several times, ascends a meter or two above the perch, and then parachutes down, wings open, onto the same or a nearby perch. White wing patches are conspicuous during the display, and the bird sings continuously.”
Here he had just launched himself upward but I didn’t catch him singing in flight.
This photo was taken a couple of minutes later as he vaulted into the air from the same perch and this time I did get him singing. He would sing on his way up and on his way down.
Another strongly side-lit bird, this time a Chukar. I’m not fond of the grass stem at the tip of the tail or the out-of-focus rock in the foreground but I seldom see Chukars anymore so getting this one in my viewfinder and close was a somewhat momentous occasion.
I’m on a side-lit roll. This Loggerhead Shrike perched on greasewood simply refused to turn on its perch and give me a broadside view. But I got Great Salt Lake in the background, which I’m a sucker for.
A Burrowing Owl greeting the rising sun on the dirt mound next to its burrow. This bird is a near-celebrity on the island because its burrow is so close to one of the roads. I’m pleasantly surprised that it hasn’t abandoned the burrow in favor of a more isolated location.
There’s blood on its bill so maybe it’s fond of this location because it’s eating well.
A singing Western Meadowlark, once again with the lake in the background. This bird was quite cooperative, giving me a variety of poses including…
a mini wing stretch.
I couldn’t help laughing when it performed this stiff-legged double leg stretch. Silly bird.
If you’re interested, I took a short (10 second) video of this bird as it was rousing and singing. Yes, the video is tilted so it looks like the lake in the lower background is about to spill out of frame to the left.
I’ve got to learn to pay more attention to keeping my camera level, especially when taking video.
Ron
Your photos are always great for a clear view of the bird and the captured behavior. I’m glad to see chuckers and burrowing owls have not abandoned the Island!
Oh man, that stretching Meadowlark is BEGGING to be a meme. But that would mean it would be on the web so no bueno!
“that stretching Meadowlark is BEGGING to be a meme”
I see what you mean, Arwen. Let’s not give folks any ideas… 🙂
Thank you, thank you, thank you. A potpourri that doesn’t cause my eyes to water and an almost instant headache. And nausea.
I love them all (including the video) but the chukar and the wol warm my heart in particular.
EC, I agree with you completely about aromatic potpourris. They’re not for me.
Excellent series Ron!
Thanks, Charlotte.
Lovely photos. I’ve had mostly side lit and back lit days on the island lately. I have liked some of them a lot. I hope the owls raise young. I worry they might not. Both owls are out together every time I see them. I have some photos of them but have not wanted to post them until later in the year. I have also noticed a photographer must have cut down the old sunflower stalk that was in the way. If you look the remaining nub has a very clean cut.
April, I’ve never seen two owls at that burrow but I’ve only visited it twice.
I also noticed the cut sunflower stalks – there used to be several of them. Pisses me off.
How cool, Ron! And catchlights everywhere. Especially like the one in the Chukar, with all the layers of colors. So glad you’re seeing more birds. Thanks.
“So glad you’re seeing more birds.”
So am I, Ellen. Things were getting pretty depressing around here. Hope it lasts.
Thank you for a lovely mix today. Even though it’s got its back to you, I love the Shrike. And you’ve got a little theme of black eye-liner going, with the Chukar right before the Shrike. Both very interesting birds!
“you’ve got a little theme of black eye-liner going”
You’re right Carolyn, I hadn’t noticed. I like the way you put that.
A very colorful and entertaining Antelope island potpourri. All good shots Ron and the video was very cute. Love to watch and hear those Meadowlarks this time of the year.
Thank you, Everett. Who doesn’t like meadowlarks…
What a treat your potpourri is this morning! That first mockingbird
photo made me think “launch” before I even read your text as to what Is going on–I loved the first meadowlark image as elegantly classic–and the last one made me laugh out loud ! Thanks.
Thanks very much, Kris. “Launch” – we think alike.
How’s the lake doing Ron ? Is the water level rising ? The last time I was at Antelope Island there were weeds growing in the Marina where I used to see boats !!
Gary, the lake is doing much better than it has been in recent years. The entire marina now has water in it but I don’t think it’s very deep yet, although there is one decent sized boat in one of the slips.
I saw an article yesterday that said if we get the runoff we expect this spring, the lake will be as high as it was ten years ago. Although that still won’t put the lake in the “healthy” category.
The good and the bad: Great for the lake and it’s surrounding Flora and Fauna. The bad news is probably MMM will get their request to withdraw more water from the lake and increase their usage.
Lovely photos, video and audio! Thanks, Ron.
Thank you, Brett.
Fun! Lots of variety this time of year. 🙂 Like them all tho the Meadowlark does take the cake! Burrowing Owl and Chucker are always favorites with me. 🙂
Mainly doing “black birds” at present – Grackles/Red-Winged Blackbirds, Starlings – hoping more colorful and pleasant sounding birds are yet to come! 😉
I’m getting a lot of those “black birds” at my feeders too, Judy. Pretty much the same mix as you, although I’ve only seen one grackle.
The leucistic Red-winged Blackbird showed up again yesterday but only for a few seconds. I was outside and my camera was inside, sitting on the kitchen table – wouldn’t you know.
Well, good morning! Thanks for the Antelope Island wakeup photos.
Like them all. That last one of the Western Meadowlark is amusing.
The Burrowing Owl photo is my favorite. Seems pretty relaxed, on one foot, and what looks like a remnant of his breakfast on his cere.
Michael, that owl definitely was relaxed. It was early in the morning and I was the only one there so that helped. I take it as a sign that folks have been giving the owl the respect it deserves. If so, I hope it continues.
Thank you, Ron. For the laugh at the stretching meadowlark, and the smile for his morning song.
Glad you enjoyed that stretch, Kate. It really did make me laugh, resulting in several blurry photos.