Bathing Wilson’s Phalarope

Yesterday morning at Bear River MBR I had several ‘firsts’ with Wilson’s Phalaropes. Bathing was one of them.

 

1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

I’ve had better luck getting close to Wilson’s Phalaropes this year than I’ve ever had in the past. This female (I believe) acted like she thought I couldn’t see her because she was right next to the shore below me and mostly hidden by vegetation at the shoreline. But by moving my lens to my right a few inches I found a narrow window through the grasses where I had a mostly clear view of her. Besides, by then she was so involved with her bath she didn’t seem to care that I was so close.

It was hard to catch her with her head out of the water and her eye open but I succeeded a few times.

 

 

1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

At one point a drop of water landed on top of her head. It beaded up and stayed there, just like a drop of water on a freshly waxed car. In both cases, “beading up” is all about low adhesive forces, surface tension, cohesion and polarity.

I know, this is bird photography, not a science class.

 

 

1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

She stopped shimmying and shaking for a moment and seemed to contemplate the water drop on her head. And perhaps the other water drop, in the air above her head. Then she went back about her bathing business, usually with her head underwater.

I also got a few photos of phalarope chicks that I hope to post soon but I’m having computer problems so I’m not sure when that will be. You wouldn’t believe what I had to go through just to get these three photos identified, processed and posted. It’s looking like my ‘puter might end up in the shop.

Ron

 

20 Comments

  1. A big sigh on the ‘puter issues. I hope a quick and easy solution can be found.
    Thank you teach – I learn such a lot from you – and remember some of it too.
    Bathing birds are always a delight aren’t they?

    • “Bathing birds are always a delight aren’t they?

      They sure are. And because of the vegetation in front of her I almost missed seeing her, even though she was very close. If I hadn’t heard her splashing I’d never have noticed her.

  2. Once a scientist… always happy to be tutored!

  3. Super series! I am excited to see the chicks, I have not seen one. sorry about the computer, I am lucky and have a live in Tech. I hope to get back to BRMBR soon. I am kinda driven out. My trip to see Tana was a 12-13 hour drive on one day by the time we did Cathedral Valley. (4 hours to get there and 9 hours in the valley)

    • April, that was the first time I’ve ever seen phalarope chicks. There were four of them. Thay were so damn tiny!

      Based on the photos I saw on FB from you and Tana, and on the company you had, it must have been a wonderful trip.

  4. Charlotte Norton

    Super series!

  5. Everett F Sanborn

    Beautiful series. Always enjoy seeing them when they show up here. I have an old computer and always have that fear that today might be the day it breaks down. Good luck with yours.

    • Thanks, Everett. I have so many photos my computers are always “stressed”. Resulting in me being stressed.

      • Have you considered getting an external hard drive? You can get one with 1T storage for a reasonable price. This may relieve the stress on your computer if they aren’t all housed there. You may want to ask your computer repair person about this option.

        • Yuriko, I’ve been using externals for years. The main one I’m using now is 4 T. But my photo organizer is on my C drive and it has to manage many thousands of images on the externals. As a result, unfortunate things happen.

  6. ELLEN BLACKSTONE

    Yup, always love the science classes! Thanks, Ron.

  7. Michael McNamara

    Likening the photos. Always fascinated to see the water formation frozen in time.

    I’m with Judy and Kris, bring on the science.

    “It’s looking like my ‘puter might end up in the shop.” Again?!

  8. Cool! She was REALLY getting into it! Your posts are always a “science class” for me in one way or another – luv it! 🙂

    It’s “miller time” tho not obscene at the moment. 😉

    • “It’s “miller time” tho not obscene at the moment.”

      Made me chuckle, Judy.

      We don’t get millers very often but yesterday I found one in my kitchen. My sister Sheila, in New Mexico, hates them so much I had to ask her if she wanted me to send her the miller’s “remains”. She turned me down.

  9. I’m glad to have your “science classes”– they’re always interesting to
    me, and I’ll bet other members of the posse feel the same. Keep the lessons coming ! If I’d had a few science teachers like YOU in
    high school and college, my life probably would’ve taken another
    direction, entirely…..you make it relevant and interesting !

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