Loggerhead Shrike In Full Flight

It isn’t often that I get a full-flight shot of a songbird but I did yesterday morning, thanks in part to Lady Luck who sat on my shoulder twice.

 

loggerhead shrike 2002b ron dudley

1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x tc, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in

I was photographing hummingbirds and other pollinators at our flower patch on Antelope Island when this adult Loggerhead Shrike landed on an ugly perch nearby.  I waited for takeoff by placing the bird to the far right in the frame to give it plenty of room in the direction it was looking (my left) and give me the best chance at avoiding clipped body parts when it launched in that direction (usually birds take off in the direction they are looking).

But this one fooled me and took off to my right.  In a nanosecond it was already out of frame and in frustration I instinctively jerked my lens in that direction and fired off two quick shots – a strategy that almost never works because jerking a telephoto lens invariably causes blurry subjects and the bird is nearly always out of focus by then anyway.  But this time luck saved the day in two ways:

  • by mistake my shutter speed was extremely fast (1/6400 sec) which helped to compensate for the jerked lens
  • the bird flew at a right angle to me so when the shutter clicked it was the same distance from me as it had been on the perch, which also contributed to sharpness

The bird is slightly past me but I really liked the wing position and the fact that it was in full flight rather than in the process of taking off.  I seldom get shots like that of songbirds.

Ron

16 Comments

  1. A very beautiful shot. I like being able to see the wing coloration pattern during flight.

  2. What an incredible shot. The sort of image to pore over, seeing more each and every time. I love that Lady Luck was smiling at you this time in admiration at your persistence, committment and tenacity no doubt. Being more stubborn than stains has a part to play as well I suspect.

  3. Great shot. 😀 Just great. The clean line from the bill to the tail is simply amazing.

  4. Brilliant photograph of one of my favorite birds! Hard to get the right contrast with all that black, white and gray, but you succeeded. I am somewhat stunned to hear you admit to “luck” playing a role in obtaining an image! 🙂

  5. “It’s a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get.”

    I first heard this attributed to Arnie Palmer who, as you might recall, had a bit more humility than many other famous athletes. From what I am able to tell, the quotation is apt in your case.

    Thanks, Ron!
    Cheers,
    Dick

    • I’ve always liked that quote, Dick but I’ve seen it attributed to both Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Never did figure out who it originated with. Thank you.

  6. Wonderful sense of focus, intensity anf forward motion…love the detail in those perfectly fanned wings…and, again, the perfect aerodynamics of the bird”s body shape in flight…

  7. When I see photos like this, I can’t understand why everyone isn’t a “birder”. The beauty of the plumage in flight and the grace of birds in general always leave me awestruck. What a gorgeous shot. Thanks for sharing.

    • “I can’t understand why everyone isn’t a “birder”.

      I’ve had the same thought, Angela. How can anyone not appreciate, even love, birds?

  8. Charlotte Norton

    Wow Ron, simply sensational shot!
    Charlotte

  9. Another perfect shot Ron. Wish I could do that.

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