On average I probably only have good opportunities with the elusive Sage Thrasher two or three times per year. This year the last day of June was one of them.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
This bird landed in front of me with a juicy young grasshopper in its beak but while it was perched here it spotted something interesting in the grasses below and..
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1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
promptly flew down to investigate. It poked around in the grasses to the left in the frame and came up with a larval caterpillar. It then hopped up onto this buffalo chip (dried bison dung) with both insects in its beak.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light
This bird perched long enough for me to get some static images before removing my tc for lift-off.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light
This was something I hadn’t seen before. The thrasher actually ran across the top of the bush to gain speed for take-off. I didn’t get the best wing position but I like the dynamic position of the feet and legs.
1/2500, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light
This image appeals to me for several reasons. Because of the very limited depth of field when you’re using a 500 mm lens it’s quite difficult to get two birds sharp in the same image, especially when one of them is in flight. I also got eye contact from both birds and I like the background of the thrasher in flight. Seconds before this shot was taken the lower bird was perched on the branch that’s in front of it here. I wish it had stayed there a little longer so the branch wasn’t in front of the bird.
Though I’ve tried giving posing instructions to birds in the past they just never seem to take my direction…
Ron
I love #3, but all of them are a great story!
How remiss of birds not to take direction from you? What were they thinking.
I am glad that the Sage Thrushers were generous enough to give you (and us) a good day.
There’s something about these birds that has captured me. Their postures? The streaky breast feathers? I think it’s their eyes. There is something about their eyes that has snared me!
Found your website this morning. Beautiful bird photography – and the organization and layout is easy to navigate. I plan to keep coming back.
Hi Ron! Great images and information as usual. I really enjoy your blog everyday..!!
I’m curious, what settings do you generally use? Aperture priority, shutter priority, fully manual?? I would guess shutter priority or manual if you have time..
Thanks again for your posts!
You see the most amazing behaviors when you are watching birds. I love the idea of running across the sagebrush to assist in take-off. I really like all these photos, and the offending branch didn’t bother me, either. The birds definitely dominate that photo. But at the same time, it really is too bad that they take direction so poorly… 🙂
Beautiful Imagery Ron ,especially the last two (didn’t even notice the the branch in front of the lower thrasher till you pointed it out..it doesn’t diminish the composition IMO). The Sage Thrasher’s yellow-orange eyes are amazing !
Thanks, John. I’m glad the branch isn’t an issue for you. I also love the color of those eyes.
Wow! Some fantastic shots Ron! Thanks so much for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thank you, Charlotte.
Awesome shots Ron. They are so animated in each shot. I so look forward to your blog every day to see what you have seen and learn new photography tips. Thanks so much. Bear River last weekend was great. Spent 4 hours on the drive around refuge, took lots of pics but haven’t looked at them yet. Spent most of time watching grebes and a nest of american coots feed young chicks on the nest. The fluffy little ones ran back and forth from edge to edge on the nest as parents arrived. Was surprised they weren’t swimming in the water yet, but I’m not familiar with their behavior. Thanks again.
That was a nest of american coots. Darn spell check.
I’m glad you had a good time at Bear River, Tanja. I know what you mean about “watching grebes” – they’re fascinating. Not to worry about the typo – I fixed it.
Boy! You directors are so demanding! These poses are great, I esp. love the first four. Ex. the tail position and the cocky look in the first, the alert stretch in the second, the position of the feet in three, and the He-Walks-on-Water behavior captured in the fourth… and two birds, ONE IN FLIGHT…in the last! What more could you ask for??? I think you may be getting spoiled, Ron…and how to you know grasshoppers are “juicy”? I’m worried about you…
Thanks, Patty. No need to worry about me. Rest assured that my knowledge of the juiciness of grasshoppers has a clinical rather than an epicurean origin since I dissected so many grasshoppers during my biology teaching career 🙂