Sagebrush Perches

For me there’s just something wonderful about sagebrush.  In fact, lots of things. When sagebrush is wet its smell is almost intoxicating (at least it is for me).  When walking through it that scent comes wafting up and my mind can’t help but wander through old memories and cowboy songs.   I love the silvery-gray-green color it lends to a hillside.  The presence of sagebrush is essential for many species for nesting, habitat, protection or food.   Sage Sparrows, Sage Thrashers and Loggerhead Shrikes nest within the plant and larks, Burrowing Owls and Long-billed Curlews nest on the ground in stands of sagebrush.  Sagebrush dominates the diet of the Sage Grouse during late fall, winter and early spring. It also makes for an interesting perch for bird photography even though its growth patterns often put obstructions in front of the bird.  Since sage is the dominant plant of the Great Basin in many areas I have regular opportunities to photograph birds perched on it.  The various species (Big Sage and Black Sage for example) provide variety in color and leaf shape and sometimes you catch the bird on bare twigs or branches or layers of snow/ice on top of the plant.  1/1000, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc  I photographed this Lark Sparrow on sage yesterday – as you can see, the leaf colors are a soft silvery green in early spring.      1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc  And this Loggerhead Shrike is from this morning, with the Great Salt Lake (not sky) in the background.     I thought I’d…

Continue reading

White-crowned Sparrow Bathing in a Lilac Bush

 I have a serious case of unrequited spring fever.  It’s been a long and dreary winter and it’s not over yet so when I stumbled across these images from last spring a few days ago I decided they were worthy of a post.   Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/2500, f/8, ISO 640 It was just after a spring rain in May last year when the sun came out and I noticed this male White-crowned Sparrow fluttering around in my neighbor’s lilac bush so I quickly grabbed my gear and started firing away.      Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/3200, f/8, ISO 640 The sparrow seemed so ecstatic over his bath that he let me get close and pretty much ignored me.      Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/2500, f/8, ISO 640 The leaves and especially the flowers were loaded with water and the sparrow was taking full advantage of the situation.      Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/2000, f/8, ISO 640 And the ecstasy continues.  I guess there’s just something special about bathing in lilac water…      Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/2000, f/8, ISO 640      Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/2000, f/8, ISO 640      Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/2500, f/8, ISO 640     Canon 7D, 1.4 tc,  tripod, 1/2500, f/8, ISO 640 Some of these photos are far from perfect – the light was harsh, the bird was side-lit, I often didn’t get a catch light in the eye and the contrast was high, especially…

Continue reading