And a personal milestone.
Blog followers are aware that for years my bad back has prevented me from walking to birding locations while carrying my photo gear, including tripod. And for some strange reason, just standing in front of my tripod for any amount of time has bothered my back, hips and legs more than walking while carrying that heavy and awkward load. So I just haven’t done it, which has prevented me from taking advantage of several locations that are especially ‘birdy’ during winter.
But over two years after my third back surgery my symptoms have finally improved enough that two days ago I decided to attempt to walk to a pond that has been off limits to me for a very long time. When I got there, the only birds on the water of any interest (other than Mallards) were five Pied-billed Grebes and two of them were feeling feisty.
I’m only including the first two photos below to show the kind of behavior that precipitated the action we see in photo #3.
Here we see typical aggressive behavior between two of the grebes. The bird at left is slowly but steadily pursuing the other grebe while both birds have their white throat patches distended. The grebe at right knows what’s coming. ‘He’s’ watching carefully, prepared to explode into evasive action when the other grebe begins chasing him, which is almost inevitable.
When I saw this behavior I fired off a short burst. Less than 1/10th of a second after this photo was taken…
this happened.
It happens so fast the photographer usually has no time to react to it. You have to anticipate it and get lucky. This photo isn’t very sharp but it documents the explosive action of both birds.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is the best shot I got of one of the grebes during a chase. It isn’t tack sharp but it isn’t bad.
A nearly full frame (uncropped) version of the same photo includes the entire water splash. The water directly behind the tallest splash is calm, indicating that that spot on the water is where the grebe was when it exploded out of the water.
I didn’t get any great shots that morning, partly because there were few birds and partly because temps were in the mid-30’s with a bone-chilling breeze, so I didn’t stay long. But it was still a triumphant morning for me because the walk to and from the pond while carrying my gear, and standing in front of my tripod for about 40 minutes, didn’t bother my back or legs in the least. Typically I pay for an escapade like that for 2-3 days, but this time – nada.
I’m definitely encouraged.
Ron
Good news is particularly welcome right now. Happy for you.
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you…and all of us actually…that you had a successful venture and no ill effects afterwards! If you’ve lost something when it comes back, it’s all the sweeter.
glad to hear that you’re healing so well
Thanks, Pam.
Such great news! Happy Kermit flail! 💚 So glad that you were able to get out there with the tripod and have no ill after-effects.
Love the last shot showing the results of those afterburners on the water. Looking forward to your Mallard shots next. 😉😈
Thanks, Marty. I won’t be posting any Mallard shots from that day. But this morning I got a Mallard flight shot that looked pretty good on my camera screen. Time will tell how good it really looks.
WONDERFUL news about your back. Really wonderful.
And I love that explosion of action.
Thanks on both counts, EC.
Excellent news!
Thanks, Kathryn.
Good physical report Ron, and good for you for making the attempt.
Like those last two shots. The Grebes are always entertaining while often fighting each other and trying to steal prey from each other. And they really work hard for their meals. I have watched them dive maybe 30 or more times without coming up with anything before finally having success. I do all my photography on foot, but then I am only carrying a hand held camera. The tripod and the big lenses are a whole different story when on foot.
Thanks, Everett. The “big lens” causes more difficulty for me than the tripod does. That lens is heavy and bulky but even though my tripod isn’t small and it’s heavy-duty, it’s light because it’s made of carbon fiber. The tripod is easy to carry.
Celebration!!! This has been some journey with your back – extremely excited for you Ron 🙂
Thanks, Kathleen.
That’s wonderful news! May the trend continue.
Were the other three grebes minding their own business during the entire (short) duration of the chase?
Melanie, there were three different kerfuffles like this one, each one involving two of the five grebes. I couldn’t keep track of which bird was which but there were never more than two involved in the same fight.
Great news! May you have many pain-free years of hiking with your gear😉
Here’s hoping. Thanks, Brett.
Ron, I am so HAPPY for you. May everyday be better than the last.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
That’s great news re your back! This last surgery really seems to have fixed as much as can be fixed. You’ve tilled, carried stuff, and stood around without much, if any pain. I hope today is pain free.
I hope so too, Catherine. So far so good.
REALLY great news that there is “finally” a positive payoff for what you’ve endured with your back! Many never get any relief……….
Those Greibs are amazing with their fights! WOW! Reflexes and fast continuous shutter speed sure make a difference. 🙂
“Reflexes and fast continuous shutter speed sure make a difference.”
That’s for sure, Judy. These little buggers are fast.
Hallelujah—- You deserve this payoff ! I’m so happy that now you can anticipate even more success from your trips without enduring
the price you’d had to pay for them in the past.
Thanks, Kris. So many of my birding spots have now been ruined by urban sprawl and other forms of development, it’s nice to get some of the others back.
Fantastic Ron!! So glad your back didn’t act up and you made some nice photo!! Here’s to a continued pain free back!
Thanks, Joanne. I’ll drink to that!
Well, that’s a good morning then.
Always enjoy those shots with water caught in motion. That last shot, for example, captured a slight indentation in the surface from where the bird burst forward. It really tells how fast the bird had moved from the launch point to where it was in the shot. Blink of an eye.
Good eye, Michael. Blink of an eye indeed.
That’s really great!
Thanks, Sue. It was a long time coming. I just hope it lasts.