Birds – Page 266 – Feathered Photography

Red-tailed Take Off From Farmington Canyon Complex Rocks

I’ve said before how much I prefer the very dark Farmington Canyon Complex rocks on Antelope Island as perches, over the bright white Tintic Quartzite rocks found on the northern part of the island. This juvenile Red-tailed Hawk made my morning last month when it chose just such a rock to hunt from. I always enjoy it when I can get multiple shots of some interesting behavior or action in sequence. To me it’s almost like a very slow motion video and though it may include a few images that aren’t perfect individually I think that collectively the photos gain value as a group for what they illustrate – the whole can be greater than its parts. 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window, natural light, not baited, set up or called in Photographing take-offs is always a challenge. The bird may just sit there for a half hour or longer but when it happens it’s quick and easy to miss. 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window, natural light, not baited, set up or called in You also need to be concerned about what direction it will go and if you’re too close (it’s easy to clip wings if you are) or too far away (which shows less detail). Those with zoom lenses have an advantage over me because they can quickly adjust their focal length to whatever they want within their zoom range, while the only option I have is to attach or detach my teleconverter, which is cumbersome and takes time. …

Banking Barn Owl

I have just a single image for this Friday night post. This morning was my first frosty cold morning at Farmington Bay this season and it reminded me of all the very cold mornings I spent with Barn Owls out there a few years ago – an opportunity I haven’t had with the species since. Hopefully, it’ll happen again some year soon. 1/2500, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in This owl was making a banking turn in front of me so I was able to get a good look at the topside of the bird from my ground level position – something that very few of my Barn Owl flight shots show. I was slightly further away from the bird than I prefer to be but I still thought the detail held up quite well. In order to anchor the bird in the frame and show habitat, I cropped this one to include as much of the frosty Phragmites at bottom as possible, Ron

Falconry – A Detriment To The Birds?

As some of you will remember, I’ve recently made two posts calling into question some of the ethics of the “sport” (some don’t like that term) of falconry. This was the bird that prompted my most recent post – an “escaped” female Peregrine Falcon that I photographed along the Antelope Island causeway a few weeks ago. You’ll notice that she still has her leather falconry anklets above her feet (only one can be seen in this photo). And last year, this escaped male American Kestrel was loose near Farmington Bay WMA and it still had not only its anklets but its jesses. The extreme danger to the bird of having those long, dangling jesses engangle and kill the kestrel is obvious. In both posts I questioned the ethics of falconry in general, but admitting my relative ignorance of the subject I asked (on the second post) for more information from my readers to “enlighten” me on the subject. For those who haven’t seen those posts and have the interest, here’s the links: Escaped Falconry Bird – Peregrine Falcon Escaped Falconry Bird – Peregrine Falcon, Again Mark Runnels, a master falconer from Oklahoma, responded to the second post with a series of very detailed, knowledgeable and thoughtful comments on falconry – responding to each of my concerns dispassionately and eloquently. However, that post was made on September 17 and Mark didn’t begin to comment until October 23, which means that his valuable information likely went under the radar for most of my readers (very few folks come back to a…

Frosty Northern Harrier

This is a shot that I like, partly due to the somewhat unusual effects of the light and the resulting colors. 1/1250, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window, not baited, set up or called in It was taken on a very cold January morning (notice the frosty perch) just as the sun was coming up over the Wasatch mountains and the warm colors from the very low sun, combined with the light bouncing off all of the Phragmites in the area, gave the overall image a bit of a slightly unusual color that appeals to me (as usual, I made no color adjustments during processing). After my last post on composition it seems that I’m fretting about cropping options even more than I usually do. I often try several versions, make a decision, then use (or post) just the one I think I like best. But in this instance I just wasn’t sure, so I decided to post two versions. Typically, my gut instinct is to go for the tighter crop (the vertical in this case) because of the better detail on the bird, but I’m trying to expand my horizons a little and become more flexible with the options I consider. If you have a preference between these two images I’d love to hear about it, but please don’t think you need to choose one over the other if you decide to comment on the image. And this will be the last time (at least for a good long…

Compositional Mind Games

There are times when I really struggle with composition when I’m cropping an image. To a degree, composition is a matter of taste and personal preference, though most folks would agree on a few major principles. Some of those might be: avoid clipping body parts or cropping too tight on the subject the subject usually (though not always) should not be centered in the frame leave plenty of room in the frame in the direction the subject is facing, looking or flying (in the case of birds) Where I sometimes run into difficulty making a composition decision is when there are other compositional elements in the image that I might like to include in the final version of the photo. Thanks largely to the influence of Richard Ditch, I’ve become fond of strong graphic lines in some of my images, as long as those lines come from natural or rustic elements (power poles or wires just won’t cut it with me). This summer I photographed a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk on an old, rustic pole fence in Beaverhead County, Montana and I’m having a very difficult time making cropping decisions on some of those images. My natural tendency is to crop fairly tightly on the bird to get good detail on the subject but I also like the graphic lines provided by the fence with different cropping choices. Several times I’ve thought I’d finally figured out which version I prefer, but when I came back to the computer a few hours later and looked at them one more time I was again undecided. Compositional mind…

Perched Coyotes

A perch (when it’s not a fish) is defined as “a roost for a bird” or “a prominent resting place”. Most of the perched critters I photograph have feathers, but not all of them. Many mammals like to perch up high on rocks, small hills or other natural or man-made structures in order to have a better view of their surroundings. In the case of predators, like coyotes, they often do so while looking for prey. Some small mammals (prairie dogs and ground squirrels, for example) often elevate their position in order to watch for predators. 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc Getting a clear, relatively unobstructed shot of a coyote can be very difficult because of the types of habitat they tend to prefer. But sometimes I don’t think it’s necessary to get them in the clear. This coyote was hunting voles just as the sun was coming up. It deliberately placed itself in the shade of the sunflowers to be less easily seen as it watched and listened for rodents. Even though only about half of the coyote is visible, I still like the shot because it shows behavior and I think the sunflowers add a nice touch. There’s just enough light in the right eye to make this work for me. 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc But when the coyote alone is the primary subject of the image, a relatively clear view of the entire animal is often preferred. That’s when the photographer can take advantage of the…

The Regal Ring-necked Pheasant

The Ring-necked Pheasant is a species I’ve always enjoyed (something I can’t say about many other introduced species). The colors of the males are spectacular and their mating antics in springtime are a lot of fun to watch and to attempt to photograph. Fighting males really go at each other. 1/640, f/9, ISO 400, 500 5/4, 1.4 tc, natural light One of the biggest problems with photographing them is composition – that ridiculously long tail is just so difficult to fit into the frame and still get a composition that works well if you’re close enough to get nice detail. The other issue is catching them in the clear – these birds prefer habitat that usually has lots of obstructing vegetation in front of the bird. But when you find one of them in the open and have nice light on the bird, their colors certainly catch the eye. 1/400, f/8, ISO 400, 500 5/4, 1.4 tc, natural light Males like to crow at the sun as it rises, which is exactly what this bird was doing. He’s sidelit and facing slightly away from me but this angle gave me light in the eye and I like the strutting pose. 1/800, f/8, ISO 500, 500 5/4, 1.4 tc, natural light Occasionally, especially on cold mornings, these pheasants will perch in trees in order to make best use of the warming rays of the sun. This is one of the few times I’ve photographed this species in a tree where there weren’t a lot of obstructing branches…

The Delightfully Disgusting Turkey Vulture

Some folks think of Turkey Vultures as pretty revolting birds. Personally, I find that to be an unfair characterization but perhaps some of the following facts will explain the reaction some have toward these vultures. (warning – I suggest that you not be eating as you read this…) Turkey Vultures: are carrion eaters prefer fresh carrion but they can’t open the carcass of thick-skinned animals so they often wait until it is putrid and soft before they dine. typically enter the carcass through the genitals, anus, nostrils or mouth and consume the tongue and eyes first will eat almost anything that is dead, including skunks. But even Turkey Vultures have limits and they will often eat around skunk scent glands and leave them behind. deliberately defecate on their own legs and feet, possibly as a cooling mechanism. 1/1000, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light They also often assume poses similar to this one when in direct sunlight. This behavior is thought to be a form of thermoregulation or a way of utilizing the sterilizing effect of ultraviolet on their plumage. Or both. Yes, some of the behaviors of this species tend to put some of us off a bit but it’s nice that there’s someone “out there” to clean up all of those nasty carcasses. In fact, the genus name for this bird, Cathartes, means “purifier”. Quite appropriate, I think. Ron Note: I’m on a camping/photo trip for a few days and will be largely out of touch until my return. I’ll catch up on answering comments and any questions when I…

Red-tailed Hawk With Blooming Rabbitbrush

I love the fall colors of the blooming rabbitbrush on Antelope Island. I’m always looking to photograph songbirds perched on it because it can make such an attractive setting but for some reason they don’t often use it for a perch. But about two weeks ago I was able to get some images of this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk with blooming rabbitbrush in the setting and even though, in many of those photos, the rabbitbrush is a little “busy” and takes attention away from the bird, I still liked the shots for a change of pace from the soft, unidentified bokeh that is often preferred in avian photography. Some of these shots show habitat well and sometimes that’s a good thing… 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light, not baited, set up or called in This bird had been “sit and wait” hunting as it was perched very low and close to me on a rusty, metal gate when it spotted something at the base of this rabbitbrush and flew in for the capture. At first I thought it had been successful because the hawk was “mantling” (spreading wings and tail over prey to hide it from potential competitors) but in the end it came up empty-taloned. 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light, not baited, set up or called in So it soon flew off and I was able to get some shots as it did so. I like the dynamic take-off posture in this image, though some may find that the relative sharpness and bright…

Escaped Falconry Bird – Peregrine Falcon, Again

This morning, just as the sun was peeking over the mountains, we found this Peregrine Falcon along the Antelope Island Causeway. 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in It was feeding on a bird of some kind, possibly prey stolen from another falcon, as we saw two of them as we approached but one flew off. The falcon was intent on its meal and allowed me to photograph it for 22 minutes. The lighting was low and difficult, with the light hitting the bright breast of the bird and leaving its darker parts in shade for much of that time. Photographers will note from my techs that I fiddled with my settings quite a bit – adjusting for the quickly changing light and the removal of my tc in anticipation of take-off. It was a challenging situation for me. 1/640, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in It kept wanting/trying to eat the feet and legs of the bird but as far as I could tell the falcon never actually swallowed them. 1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in This falcon is obviously an escaped Falconry bird – notice the leather falconry anklets just above the feet. Here the falcon turned broadside to the light for just a few moments. 1/3200, f/5, ISO 640, 500 f/4, natural light, not baited, set up…

Yellow-headed Blackbirds Displaying

Recently we spent a few days touring some of our local birding hotspots with Jim and Nancy DeWitt, friends from Alaska who were visiting our area. One of Jim’s goals was to see and photograph Yellow-headed Blackbirds, a species not found in Alaska. We felt sure we could find some for him but sadly we failed, even though we had seen them recently. Apparently they have skedaddled south for warmer climes. But the experience made me realize that I’ve neglected the species in my posts so I decided to rectify the situation. Males are real acrobats in their springtime territorial displays and they have two types of “song spreads” when they’re singing – each accompanied by a distinct song type. Both of these photos are of a male displaying one of those two spreads – the Symmetrical Song Spread. I prefer to photograph these birds doing this spread because during the Asymmetrical Song Spread they arch their necks sharply to the left (yes, always to the left and never the right) which exposes the neck skin and often makes for a decidedly unattractive photo. 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light During the Symmetrical Song Spread, the bird spreads its wings to reveal the white patches and the tail is splayed out and lowered. If you can get the right light and exposure on the bird, this posture will often give you an interesting and rather dramatic image. The Symmetrical Song Spread is most often displayed when competing males fly over their territory. 1/100, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc,…

The Shy And Secretive Virginia Rail

The Virginia Rail is the epitome of elusiveness. Though their populations are relatively stable, they’re so very secretive that birders seldom see them and when they do they typically only get a fleeting glimpse of the bird through the reeds. Their laterally compressed bodies allow them to squeeze through extremely narrow gaps in vegetation so they usually seem to disappear as if by magic. Relatively little is known about these fresh water game birds (hunting them is permitted) because of their extremely shy habits and the fact that hunters show virtually no interest in them. 1/800, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc In my years of bird photography, this particular bird is the only Virginia Rail I have ever seen out in the open (and one of the very few I’ve seen at all) so it was a double delight when it looked back at me as it scurried away. I got four shots of it and only this one was sharp, partly due to my relatively slow shutter speed. Not a terribly attractive setting but if it had been in its preferred habitat I’d have never seen it at all. I’ll take it. Ron

A Northern Harrier Kind Of Morning

Normally I avoid doing back to back posts on the same species but I went out shooting immediately after I published that last post and surprisingly it turned out to be a heckuva harrier morning. I’ve mentioned before that I usually have my best luck with harriers in the middle of winter, but yesterday I found two cooperative birds. 1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in This beauty was hunkered down for a break from hunting and let me get surprisingly close. It was early morning, the light was warm, and the bird posed for me for a long time. I chose to post this almost direct look from the hawk for a reason – because out of all those images, this one shows the unique harrier facial disc best. A facial disc is a concave arrangement of feathers on the face of some birds (most notably owls) that forms a circular parabaloid that collects sound waves and redirects them toward the ears. In harriers the disc is less prominent than in owls, but larger in relative size because it extends to the neck, so it is commonly referred to as a facial ruff, rather than a disc. The large ear openings of harriers are buried in the feathers of the head and can’t be seen. The angle of the disc or ruff feathers can be adjusted to alter the focal length of the sound waves they’re collecting, which allows the bird to “focus” at different distances – a…

Northern Harrier Basking In The Rising Sun

Just a single image this morning. Normally I can never get close to a harrier perched in a tree but this one made an exception for me. 1/800, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in As I approached this juvenile male (solid rufous breast, light iris) on a cold morning, the rising sun was still behind the mountains so it felt secure in the shade as I positioned my pickup for the best angle I could get. When the sunlight finally hit the bird he was determined to soak in the warmth (rather than fly off) so he spread his tail, fluffed up and posed for me for several minutes. The light was directional but I liked its effect. I’ve added no saturation to the image. Ron

The Challenges Of Photographing Falcons On Antelope Island

There are three species of Falcons that reside on Antelope Island through much of the year – the American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon and Peregrine Falcon. A fourth, the Merlin, is mostly a winter resident. For many of us there’s something almost mystical about falcons and most bird photographers I know ache to get quality shots of them. But doing so isn’t easy anywhere and Antelope Island is no exception. In my experience there are three reasons why falcons on the island are so difficult to photograph well: The falcons are there but, with the exception of the kestrel, they’re difficult to find. For most of the year Peregrines and Prairies hang out in the remotest parts of the island that are inaccessible to us due to park rules and difficulties of negotiating such steep terrain. However, all three species hunt the causeway during winter so that’s the best chance for the photographer. Generally you just can’t get close to them. Kestrels are notorious for that trait, probably because they’re so common that lots of folks try with them. But common certainly doesn’t mean approachable. It’s not unusual to see a Peregrine perched far out on the mud flats but there’s no way to get close and if you tried they’d fly off. Prairie Falcons can often be spotted high up on the rocks around the central part of the island but they’re invariably much too far away and seldom perch near the road. Peregrines and Prairies are much easier to approach in very low light, especially just before sunup. But low light makes for crappy images. I’ve…

Category: Birds