![\"black-billed-magpie-4770b-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/black-billed-magpie-4770b-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMagpies along with many other birds have been relatively scarce on Antelope Island since the wildfire in July so I was happy to find a group of a half-dozen birds near one of the campgrounds three days ago. And two of them were even somewhat cooperative.<\/p>\n
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1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n Both were hatch year birds that haven’t completed their molt so they still look a little scruffy, particularly around the head and neck. We can still see pin feathers below the neck of this bird. At this stage they’re not as sleek and attractive as they will be soon but for me that’s no reason to ignore them as photographic subjects. In this shot I like the wing position, hanging feet and clean background.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n Even juveniles show iridescence when you’re lucky enough to get\u00a0just the right\u00a0light angle on the bird and I think the curved tail\u00a0on this\u00a0youngster enhances that effect.\u00a0I also enjoy the bicolored background.<\/p>\n We have stormy weather coming in and I’m hoping the front brings some birds with it because the island has seemed very lonely since the fire. A little rain wouldn’t hurt either – at this rate it won’t be long until there’s nothing but dry mudflats surrounding the island.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Magpies along with many other birds have been relatively scarce on Antelope Island since the wildfire in July.<\/p>\n![\"black-billed-magpie-4744-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/black-billed-magpie-4744-ron-dudley.jpg\")
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