Yesterday morning on Antelope Island I did something I never do to get the shot. This may be more than you wanted to know but it’s the story behind the photo.
A young Loggerhead Shrike was hunting from bushes on the passenger side (the ‘wrong’ side) of my pickup. ‘He’ repeatedly landed on a bush right next to the road, hunted from there for 15-30 seconds, and then moved on to the next bush down the road. Three separate times I tried to maneuver my pickup on the very narrow road so I could get him in my viewfinder from my driver’s side window but he was having none of it. Each time he took off for the next perch before I could get him in focus.
So I tried a strategy I haven’t even attempted to use for years. I tried to photograph him through my open passenger window while sitting in the driver’s seat.
My lens is much too long and heavy for me to hand hold it while twisting my body to my right while shooting out that window. The interior of the cab is very large (it’s over 5 1/2′ wide from left door panel to right door panel) and my lens caddy is strapped down to the seat right next to me, so I can’t scooch over to get closer to the passenger window so I can rest my lens on it.
All I could do was reach way over and rest the end of my lens on the passenger window opening and then try (“try” is the operative word) to get my eye close enough to the viewfinder to see the shrike. In order to accomplish it I had to severely twist my body and vulnerable back.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When I finally managed to do it, this is what I saw through my viewfinder. Most of the time he was looking down while hunting but I got a couple of shots of him looking my way.
But you know me, I wanted the takeoff shot so I had to hold that very uncomfortable position for as long as it took. It took a while.
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
But I did get the takeoff shot. He’d spotted potential prey beneath him so he dove downward after it. In the next shot in the burst I lost focus on him and clipped his left wing.
Was it worth it? At this point I’m not sure. I like the takeoff shot but to get it I had to hold a twisted position that caused the metal rods in my back from a fairly recent surgery to poke places that have never been poked before. This morning my back is still tweaked.
It may not have been smart but I got ‘the shot’. I’d have felt much worse about it if I’d missed it.
Ron
Nice contorted takeoff shot Ron.
I’m see-sawing back and forth between “wonderful shots!” and “owowowowow!” for your back. I hope that you won’t have any lasting ill effects from getting these superbly stunning shrike shots — or from mowing your lawn after that.
Hoping the weasels show up on the driver’s side of your truck soon too. š
Loved the pictures, one of my favorite birds. Luckily I see in my narrow back yard because of pond & on my Sable Palm in the Sarasota, FL area.
Thanks, Laurie.
That first shot is my favorite. Picture perfect comes to mind. In old age deciding whether or not to “go for it” is a frequent conundrum. I know it well. “Hope going for it”, was the right choice in this instance. š
I know it well too, Pat. I just don’t always make the best decision.
Brilliant shots and I so understand the ‘necessity’ of taking that risk. But.
I do hope that the twisting (and following up by mowing the lawn) haven’t done any damage.
Sometimes we are good at cutting off our noses to spite our faces aren’t we?
We sure as hell are, EC! At least I am.
Gonna take my nap now and take a load off. I’ll be glad to get off my feet.
Sensational!
Thanks, Charlotte.
Nice shots, I like the colors too. The Island is so golden right now and the smokey skies make it even more so.
Be careful with that back, you don’t want a bunch of down time again. Those spur of the moment decisions generally get me into trouble. As I age I can’t tell if I am avoiding them more or or say damn the consequences, when will I get this chance again?
“when will I get this chance again?”
Words to live by, April. Or to die by.
I enjoyed our visit on the island yesterday. Jealous about your weasel.
Well you did say I have some unique experiences. I guess there is a reason? Yes, it was fun to chat and catch up. You know the location, the den should be near.
I don’t have your kind of luck… š
I always enjoy your Loggerhead Shrike photos – maybe because it’s just not a bird I see photos of very often, and almost never see in the wild. Thanks for the efforts to take these, and I hope your back feels better quickly.
I also got caught up on posts I had missed while I was traveling on vacation. I particularly liked the treatise on beets, and the photos of the Short-eared Owl and the Phalarope. Thanks for all the great posting you do and the wonderful photos you share.
I’m glad you enjoyed your journey back in time on FP, Bill. Thanks.
“I tried to photograph him through my open passenger window while sitting in the driverās seat.” Reading this sentence made me cringe! Thought immediately of your back and your heavy lens!
The shots are excellent – bravo!
Thank you, Kathleen. Thinking about it makes me cringe a little too.
From our point of view, these shot were definitely worth it but I sure hope that is the case for you. Great shots of an often elusive subject I find them very camera shy and when they do allow you somewhat closer, they always turn their back to you. At least thatās my luck with them. They are fascinating birds.
Thanks, Dan. I just now mowed the back lawn so I must not have caused too much damage.
Whack the back to get the Shrike. Outstanding shots and hopefully worth the effort and strain on the back. I have never seen a Loggerhead in that plumage. The ones here I have seen are strictly black and white. Very interesting.
Your first sentence made me smile, Everett. In this species the females tend to have browner primaries than males.
Great Photos… but do “take care”
I’ll try, CJ. Thanks.
I hope your back calms down soon! Lovely captures – this is one of my favorite birds and I have a difficult time photographing them!
Thanks, Mary. Shrikes tend to be difficult subjects but this time of year on the island they seem to be a little more approachable. Especially the juvies.
Wow! I love these. And you even get your catch-light in both photos! Yup, definitely worth it, Ron.
Glad you think so, Ellen. I’m still undecided.
Your description of the ordeal made me ache. Was it worth it?
Yup. Excellent series.
“Was it worth it?”
I should know by tomorrow but maybe not. Thanks, Kent.
WELP! Hope the back settles down in short order! I’m sure the surgeon knows you (and others) pretty well and what will likely happen down the line…… š Luv the shots of the Shrike tho. š They are definitely a “different” bird. Glad you didn’t bang up the lens!
“Glad you didnāt bang up the lens!”
That’s always a consideration, Judy. I have to be very careful with it.
One time I got out of my pickup to photograph a bird on “the wrong side” and when I was through I felt the call of nature so I put my camera and lens on the storage box in the back of my pickup while I completed my business. Then I forgot about it and started to drive away with my lens in such a precarious position. If a friend hadn’t noticed and told me about it I’m sure it would have fallen to my pickup bed and been seriously damaged.
WOW! You WERE lucky on that one!
David’s comment made me laugh! But cringed at your description of those metal rods twisting! Oh NO! These are beautiful shots, though, and do capture the sense of a young bird learning the ropes. You’ve had another post of a young shrike figuring out how to impale its prey on a thorn. Guess you can’t have too many shrike photos!
“Guess you canāt have too many shrike photos”
Carolyn, as far as I’m concerned you can’t. I have a soft spot for shrikes, in part because of their “raptor wannabe” reputation. Which is well deserved.
Great shots – so glad you were successful. “No pain; no gain” certainly does seem to apply in this case.
” āNo pain; no gainā”
Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. This is a perfect application. Thanks, Burrdoo.
If it helps at all, I miss seeing shrikes. I appreciate your efforts to get this shot! I hope your tweak settles down.
Thanks, Mary. This has been a good year for shrikes on the island after several years of them being mostly missing in action. The improved lake level has made a big positive difference to a variety of species on the island.
Really nice shots! Do really like that first one.
Something about the look of that bird tells me it is an immature. Yes?
I think your orthopedic surgeon would have a cardiac event if they knew about all the photographic contortion stress testing that goes on inside that truck of yours.
“Something about the look of that bird tells me it is an immature. Yes?”
Yes, Michael. I called it a “young” shrike but maybe I should have said “juvenile”,
As far as my surgeon goes, I think he’d give me that wry smile of his, implying “I told you so”.
How many shrike photos do you have? How many back surgeries do you want to have?
Valid questions, Dave. In my case, spur of the moment decisions aren’t always the best ones.