This male Northern Flicker chose a perch that in my experience is more typical of one preferred by a raptor.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed him last week in Montana’s Centennial Valley. This is one of the sturdier and more substantial corner posts used in an old fence line where two roads and two fences intersect. Like most flickers this one was extremely wary as I approached in my pickup and I was surprised that it gave me any chance at all but it was a cold morning and I suspect the temperature made it a little “stickier”.
The wire is what it is. At least it isn’t barbed…
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
He crawled up to the top of the post and gave me several poses in pretty decent light.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
He’s partially side-lit here but I like the effect.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Then he turned in this direction to take off. He didn’t give me a lot of time but it was significantly more than I usually get from the species and I also appreciate the graded background that includes part of the Centennial Valley instead of just plain blue sky.
My experience with this bird reminded me of the last time I was able to photograph a flicker up close – in May at the nest cavity-filled aspen tree (with active nests and eggs inside some of the cavities) that some ignoramus chopped down . That still makes me angry every time I think about it. And the morning after I photographed this flicker we found the live Barn Owl struggling and hanging from barbed wire.
The “hand of man” can be a cruel one…
Ron
Great photo’s – they are beautiful birds and hard to photograph. Haven’t lived until you’ve been awakened by one drumming on a metal vent pipe coming out of the house early some spring morning! 🙂
I know what that’s like, Judy. For years they’ve drummed at the peak of my roof just above my bedroom. They do some damage to the wood but I forgive them…
The hand of man too often is thoughtless, greed, stupid and cruel. I am so very glad that there are also other hands.
And loved the flicker series. Thank you.
“I am so very glad that there are also other hands”
Me too, EC. Thank you.
Thank you Ron. And to Dick Harlow for pointing out the red in his primaries. I will be looking for that in the juvie and parent that spent lots of time looking and getting ants in our patio.
Diana, that red in the wings is super-flashy in the right light when they’re in flight. One of my goals is to get that color and light in a flight shot.
Ron, the first image of the Northern Flicker looks like an Audubon painting. Thank you for sharing these beautiful works of art.
You’re very welcome, John. Thank you for appreciating them.
Great shots of the face. They are such pretty birds.
Thank you, Jean.
Lovely work Ron. I like side light for a bit of drama in images. Very handsome bird. I have a question?
Have you an update about the owl?
I haven’t heard anything new since my last update, Wendy. If I don’t hear something from them soon I’ll inquire. I know they’re busy so I hate to bother them…
What a super way to start my every day – your outstanding photos and learning points. Thanks, again, Ron.
Thanks very much, Bill. I’m glad to know that you appreciate both the images and the “learning points”.
Very handsome bird. I’m glad you are out there doing what you can! It may not seem like a lot, but to that owl, it is the world.
It felt good to be able to help that owl out, Arwen. I just hope it can soon be released back into the wild.
Magnificent shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Beautiful portraits of a fun bird. I’m glad it stuck around long enough for you to get these shots. The side-lighting in the third shot doesn’t take away at all from the image; I think it just helps to emphasize the identifying marks for the species.
I agree with you about the side-lighting, Susan. In this case I think it adds interest.
Excellent shots of a male “Red-shafted Flicker” yes I know today it is called a Northern Flicker, or Red-shafted race of the Northern Flicker. I just think Red-shafted is so appropriate with your flickers that show a red shaft in the primaries.
Very nice series showing a very good looking male!
Hope you got my apologies for the Sharp-shinned Hawk yesterday?
I also miss the old days when we used the name “Red-shafted”, Dick.
And yes, I read your apology but it certainly wasn’t necessary. “Stuff” happens…
Wonderful series, Ron & I too thought of the photos you took at the soon to be defunct tree!! I love all the photos & agree with Patty about the beauty of the weathered wood. I also agree with her that we humnans have cost us the lives of so many beautiful birds and other wildlife that I treasure the acts by good-hearted humans that work SO hard to save them (An example is our wonderful Wildlife Rehab centers which come to mind)!! I think my favorite shot is the 2nd one where this little love is facing into the morning light – just beautiful. I also love the little glint in it’s eye caught in all your captures.
Jo Ann, As you may know that “glint” in the eye is called a catch light. Without light in the eye birds often appear lifeless so I typically delete any images without catch lights. Yet another reason for photographing birds with the sun low in the sky and behind you.
These are beautiful images of the flicker. I find that I have a hard time photographing them and coming up with anything but a dull image. I see them most often on the brown ground, and being a brown bird, there is just no contrast to be seen. Nice to have a sky behind him; too bad it wasn’t a real blue sky day!
Thank you, Nancy.
These are a wonderful series of shots of a beautiful, elegant bird…like one I once tried, unsuccessfully, to save…I’d liked to have seen the first image withoit the wire, which thanks be, isn’t that effing Devil’s wire. The post is beautiful, too. I always love the look of weathered wood. I’m glad you intervened with that barn owl, especially as it was the “hand of man” that almost killed him. To me it makes intervention by “the hand of man ” in trying to save him mandatory…to try to undo the potential for harm we have so unnaturally, uncaringly, created. I can see the philosophy of not interfering with truly natural events, but not when they are UNnatural, man-caused catastrophies. There’s little “natural” about what we humans do anymore.
I’d prefer the wire wasn’t in front of the bird too, Patty but truthfully it doesn’t bother me that much. And I agree with the philosophy to let nature take its course if the event is a natural one but intervening if man was likely the cause.