![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/western-meadowlark-3839b-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n But when I passed this one on Antelope Island two days ago it was on a natural perch in good light and singing heartily so I took a chance and made the effort to turn around. Surprisingly it stood its ground.<\/p>\n For a few seconds it just sat there and watched me warily –\u00a0suspicious looking character that I am.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n But with those spring hormones flowing it wasn’t long before it broke out into exuberant song. When meadowlarks sing they have their nictitating membranes closed for much of the time (much more often than most songbirds in my experience)\u00a0and you never know when they’re going to do it. So I’ve learned to fire off many quick bursts whenever they’re serenading (and have light in their eye) just to get one or two shots that I like. This was one of them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n After a while it did some languorous stretching. First it stretched its right wing and leg.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n And immediately after it\u00a0performed a very\u00a0nice wing lift. This is my favorite photo of the series.<\/p>\n When birds stretch it’s often a signal that they’re about to take off so I prepared myself for it but this one took its own sweet time before it did so.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n