Most magpies I photograph are on Antelope Island but on those unusual occasions when I photograph one in the Wasatch Mountains I call it a “mountain magpie”. But no matter where I photograph it, or what I call it, it’s really a Black-billed Magpie.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I found this one in a mountain pasture four days ago. Unlike magpies on the island, up there magpies are pretty spooky so I was surprised when this one stayed on its fence post perch as I got close. I didn’t much like any of the perched shots I got but when ‘he’ took off I got a series of three flight shots I like so I’m presenting them today.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This time I had a light angle that lit up much of his iridescence in all three photos. Far more often than not I don’t get any iridescence at all in my magpie photos. They’re just a black and white bird.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is my favorite of the three photos. I actually got 17 more shots of him in flight before he landed in the grassy pasture but not one of them was quite sharp enough to see the light of day.
Oh well, he was mostly gliding so his wing positions weren’t very interesting anyway.
Ron
Ron,
You say your mountain magpies are pretty spooky. Could it be that they have good reason to be? That they are shot at or poisoned by land owners? A friend of mine who studied the behavior of yellow-billed magpies told me that if a nesting tree was ever seriously disturbed by poisoning or gunfire, the magpies would abandon it completely.
‘Our’ magpies are just black and white birds. And while I love ours, yours delight me too. I wonder what makes the mountain magpies flightier?
“I wonder what makes the mountain magpies flightier?”
It’s a matter of acclimation, EC. The best magpie habitat on the island is on the north end and that’s where most of the people hang out too. So magpies just get used to having humans and their vehicles around. Mountain magpies generally don’t see as many people. Or vehicles. And they have more room to get away from us.
Beautiful photos Ron! (especially #3)
Thank you, Mark.
Beautiful bird. Team 3 for sure! You captured all his glorious coloring and light in his eye. There’s a lot to admire in this photo.
Sounds like at least a consensus for #3, Kathleen. Thanks.
Once again #3 is my favorite. Love these Magpies and wish we had them. I have only see them in person at Taos NM. In Wales they are held in high esteem.
Thank you, Everett. I’d say that any place or situation where birds are held in high esteem is a good thing.
Beautiful birds!! The last photo is stunning!
Thank you, Joanne.
Number 3 IS a beautiful shot…… 🙂
Been quiet here magpie wise but then Grackles are dealing with feeding scraming kit…. 😉 Will be VERY happy when that stops! 😉
Thanks, Judy. That racket can get old real fast, can’t it. In my yard, starling fledglings have finally stopped screaming to be fed. For a while it was driving me crazy.
I like these shots, particularly for the clear view of the “U” -shaped
cape marking on their dorsal aspect. I first stumbled over “Feathered Photography” when I was searching online years ago for shots of magpie feathers, subscribed to your blog, and ever since, it has brought me a LOT of beauty, education and more than a few chuckles !
I’m sure glad you found “us”, Kris. Things wouldn’t be the same around here without you.
Of all the North American Corvids, this one is certainly in the running for best dressed.
In California we have the Heckle and Jeckle variety (Yellow-billed), which are equally well dressed apart from what is described in the name.
You caught a nice pose on that last one. Catch light in the eye and all. Striking a pose for the camera.
Michael, I’ve never seen a Yellow-billed, which is as expected given where I live and hang out.
Loved your Heckle and Jeckel reference.
Don’t see how you could do much better than these three perfect shots!
Thanks, Burrdoo. I don’t know about “perfect” but at least one of them is close enough for me.