Tag: duck
Prairie Falcon Trying To Drag Heavy Prey
Dragging her next meal over all the bumpy obstacles was almost too much for the struggling falcon.
Prairie Falcon In Flight With Prey
This photo is on the short list of my favorite shots of all time, partly because of its high degree of difficulty but certainly not limited to that. But the version I’ve posted in the past needed some tweaking.
A Peregrine Falcon Enjoying Duck For Breakfast (and a faux pas on my part)
I found this Peregrine Falcon on a duck kill along the causeway to Antelope Island.
A Peregrine Falcon To Try My Patience
Persistence and dogged tenacity are often prerequisites of bird photography but even then there’s no guarantee of success.
Northern Harriers Not Seeing Eye To Eye
I’m speaking figuratively in my title of course. Literally they were doing exactly that.
Prairie Falcon In Flight With A Duck In Its Talons
I was just leaving Antelope Island when I encountered this young Prairie Falcon feeding on what I believe is a Shoveler near the marina.
Cinnamon Teal With A Strange Feather Condition
Ok, curiosity finally dictated that I post some images of this duck. Does anyone know what’s going on here?
Peregrine Falcon On A Duck Kill
Peregrine Falcon On Prey And In Flight
I don’t often have opportunities with Peregrine Falcons in flight but this bird changed my fortunes for the better.
Northern Harrier On A Mission
Typically Northern Harriers in flight studiously avoid my vehicle but occasionally (very occasionally) one will continue to circle and come in quite close. On the rare occasion when this happens I always wonder why.
The Prairie Falcon And The Northern Shoveler
Back in November I blogged about my encounter with a Prairie Falcon and its Northern Shoveler prey. I thought that some of the images I didn’t use back then were worthy of another post. This falcon struck the duck on the water, then waited for it to die and to be washed up onto shore. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in It attempted to enjoy its meal at the water’s edge but waves kept coming in and “rocking the boat”… 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in so the falcon decided to drag the shoveler further up the rocky shore and away from the annoying waves. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in It wasn’t an easy task. Average weight for Northern Shovelers is almost as much as it is for Prairie Falcons (1.3 vs 1.6 lbs) so the falcon really struggled in its attempt to drag the duck to a more suitable dining area. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in I thought this was an interesting shot with the wings up, the left foot off the ground and direct eye contact. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in Finally the falcon was satisfied with the…
Coots Don’t Like Redheads
Last spring I witnessed quite the little drama between an American Coot and a mated pair of Redheads. I’m going to be a little anthropomorphic here with my narrative (and even my title) – sorry, just can’t resist. The Redheads seemed to be minding their own business but this coot took exception when they came too close to its nest. Here the coot is apparently looking away from the ducks but the Redheads seems to know that something’s potentially up. And it was. I’m always amazed at how fast the reactions of birds are. The Redhead almost seemed to know the attack was in progress before it actually was. You’ll notice that the coot is no closer to him in this second shot than it was in the previous one. The Redhead seems to be trying to use some of the reeds to avoid the approaching coot. The attack continues… and continues… until both birds sense that it’s over and begin to settle back down into the water. The male Redhead reacts with what seems like a celebratory wing-flap that it survived the attack without any damage… and then swims off contentedly with his lady. But the coot isn’t taking any chances and lays low in the water while facing the retreating ducks with a threat pose. I was pleased to get this sequence without clipping any birds and keeping multiple subjects sharp in the frame – not easy to do…
Indecisive Coyote With A Duck
Coyotes sometimes prowl the causeway to Antelope Island early in the morning. While they’ll certainly take the occasional vole they may come across, voles aren’t really their intended quarry. There are far more voles on the island than there are along the causeway. Coyotes come onto the causeway to scavenge. 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, not baited During winter there are many ducks along the causeway and occasionally one of them dies – an easy meal for a coyote. But most often these coyotes are after falcon leftovers. Peregrine Falcons and Prairie falcons often hunt the causeway and most ducks are too large for either species to completely consume, so there’s nearly always leftovers. Three days ago I found this coyote with a duck. The bird appeared to be frozen so I suspect it was carrion. Here, the coyote couldn’t decide which way to go with its meal – left or right, because the causeway is narrow and the animal is confined by the lake in the back and the road in front, which gave me an indecisive posture that I like (despite the side light). Ron
My Recent Encounters With The Female Prairie Falcon
As regular readers of my blog know, I’ve had four close-up encounters with this female Prairie Falcon on the Antelope Island causeway over the last couple of months. I couldn’t resist posting some images of her in different poses that I haven’t published here previously. There is general agreement among folks who are much more knowledgeable about falcons than I am that it was the same bird in all four cases. 1/640, f/4.5, ISO 640, 500 f/4, natural light, not baited, set up or called in Here she is on 10/7/12. I’ll never forget that morning because she let me get closer than I had ever been to a wild Prairie Falcon (even had to remove my tc). But there was a tradeoff (isn’t there always?) because the reason she felt so secure was that she was in deep shade, which isn’t the best situation for photography. Still, I’m happy to have the images of her that morning. 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in A little over a month later (11/11/12) she killed a Northern Shoveler in the water about 50 yards out and waited for it to drift to shore. Here she has just claimed her prize and seemed to raise her wings in celebration. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in She attempted to enjoy her meal on the shore edge but waves kept coming in and sloshing the duck around so she decided to drag it further away…
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Prairie Falcon Trying To Drag Heavy Prey
Dragging her next meal over all the bumpy obstacles was almost too much for the struggling falcon.
Prairie Falcon In Flight With Prey
This photo is on the short list of my favorite shots of all time, partly because of its high degree of difficulty but certainly not limited to that. But the version I’ve posted in the past needed some tweaking.
A Peregrine Falcon Enjoying Duck For Breakfast (and a faux pas on my part)
I found this Peregrine Falcon on a duck kill along the causeway to Antelope Island.
A Peregrine Falcon To Try My Patience
Persistence and dogged tenacity are often prerequisites of bird photography but even then there’s no guarantee of success.
Northern Harriers Not Seeing Eye To Eye
I’m speaking figuratively in my title of course. Literally they were doing exactly that.
Prairie Falcon In Flight With A Duck In Its Talons
I was just leaving Antelope Island when I encountered this young Prairie Falcon feeding on what I believe is a Shoveler near the marina.
Cinnamon Teal With A Strange Feather Condition
Ok, curiosity finally dictated that I post some images of this duck. Does anyone know what’s going on here?
Peregrine Falcon On A Duck Kill
Peregrine Falcon On Prey And In Flight
I don’t often have opportunities with Peregrine Falcons in flight but this bird changed my fortunes for the better.
Northern Harrier On A Mission
Typically Northern Harriers in flight studiously avoid my vehicle but occasionally (very occasionally) one will continue to circle and come in quite close. On the rare occasion when this happens I always wonder why.
The Prairie Falcon And The Northern Shoveler
Back in November I blogged about my encounter with a Prairie Falcon and its Northern Shoveler prey. I thought that some of the images I didn’t use back then were worthy of another post. This falcon struck the duck on the water, then waited for it to die and to be washed up onto shore. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in It attempted to enjoy its meal at the water’s edge but waves kept coming in and “rocking the boat”… 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in so the falcon decided to drag the shoveler further up the rocky shore and away from the annoying waves. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in It wasn’t an easy task. Average weight for Northern Shovelers is almost as much as it is for Prairie Falcons (1.3 vs 1.6 lbs) so the falcon really struggled in its attempt to drag the duck to a more suitable dining area. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in I thought this was an interesting shot with the wings up, the left foot off the ground and direct eye contact. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in Finally the falcon was satisfied with the…
Coots Don’t Like Redheads
Last spring I witnessed quite the little drama between an American Coot and a mated pair of Redheads. I’m going to be a little anthropomorphic here with my narrative (and even my title) – sorry, just can’t resist. The Redheads seemed to be minding their own business but this coot took exception when they came too close to its nest. Here the coot is apparently looking away from the ducks but the Redheads seems to know that something’s potentially up. And it was. I’m always amazed at how fast the reactions of birds are. The Redhead almost seemed to know the attack was in progress before it actually was. You’ll notice that the coot is no closer to him in this second shot than it was in the previous one. The Redhead seems to be trying to use some of the reeds to avoid the approaching coot. The attack continues… and continues… until both birds sense that it’s over and begin to settle back down into the water. The male Redhead reacts with what seems like a celebratory wing-flap that it survived the attack without any damage… and then swims off contentedly with his lady. But the coot isn’t taking any chances and lays low in the water while facing the retreating ducks with a threat pose. I was pleased to get this sequence without clipping any birds and keeping multiple subjects sharp in the frame – not easy to do…
Indecisive Coyote With A Duck
Coyotes sometimes prowl the causeway to Antelope Island early in the morning. While they’ll certainly take the occasional vole they may come across, voles aren’t really their intended quarry. There are far more voles on the island than there are along the causeway. Coyotes come onto the causeway to scavenge. 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, not baited During winter there are many ducks along the causeway and occasionally one of them dies – an easy meal for a coyote. But most often these coyotes are after falcon leftovers. Peregrine Falcons and Prairie falcons often hunt the causeway and most ducks are too large for either species to completely consume, so there’s nearly always leftovers. Three days ago I found this coyote with a duck. The bird appeared to be frozen so I suspect it was carrion. Here, the coyote couldn’t decide which way to go with its meal – left or right, because the causeway is narrow and the animal is confined by the lake in the back and the road in front, which gave me an indecisive posture that I like (despite the side light). Ron
My Recent Encounters With The Female Prairie Falcon
As regular readers of my blog know, I’ve had four close-up encounters with this female Prairie Falcon on the Antelope Island causeway over the last couple of months. I couldn’t resist posting some images of her in different poses that I haven’t published here previously. There is general agreement among folks who are much more knowledgeable about falcons than I am that it was the same bird in all four cases. 1/640, f/4.5, ISO 640, 500 f/4, natural light, not baited, set up or called in Here she is on 10/7/12. I’ll never forget that morning because she let me get closer than I had ever been to a wild Prairie Falcon (even had to remove my tc). But there was a tradeoff (isn’t there always?) because the reason she felt so secure was that she was in deep shade, which isn’t the best situation for photography. Still, I’m happy to have the images of her that morning. 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in A little over a month later (11/11/12) she killed a Northern Shoveler in the water about 50 yards out and waited for it to drift to shore. Here she has just claimed her prize and seemed to raise her wings in celebration. 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in She attempted to enjoy her meal on the shore edge but waves kept coming in and sloshing the duck around so she decided to drag it further away…