For me most of these shots from yesterday morning on Antelope Island have symbolic significance for the new year.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Most of our Loggerhead Shrikes migrate south for the winter but a few do stick around and take their survival chances with our harsh weather and this bird is one of them. This time of year they have to survive mostly on voles and small birds that are almost as big as they are so these few hardy winter residents must be excellent and even ferocious hunters. This bird actually caught a vole while we were there but I didn’t get any photos of it. I like the “gray on gray” look of this image.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When the shrike took off it was a power-dive at a steep angle toward the ground so it’s possible, even likely, it was in pursuit of the aforementioned vole when it did so.
The last few months of 2015 weren’t good ones for me so as I was processing this shot on New Year’s Eve it came to me that this image is symbolic of how I feel about the transition from one year to the next, with the bird desperately trying to escape unlucky 2015 at upper left and force an early entry into a potentially better 2016 at lower right. I know the feeling…
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
As I was driving west along the causeway toward the island at dawn this coyote was heading the same direction in the crisp, virgin snow with the rising sun behind it and traveling the same direction as its long shadow was pointing. It seems to me that the symbolism for the difficulty of escaping that nasty 2015 is obvious.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I snapped my shutter just as this Cottontail Rabbit bounded off away from me. Though the image isn’t particularly sharp I found it interesting for a couple of reasons. For one it’s the first good look I’ve ever had at the bottom of the back feet of a live, wild rabbit.
And since the image was taken on New Year’s Eve Day I hope that both of those rabbit’s feet are lucky ones, for me and for my readers. I’m sure an improvement over last year would be a welcome change for many of us.
Happy New Year everyone!
Ron
So, I think I understand that for birds, I’m getting the reach I need. A full-frame could give better quality landscapes and better performance at high ISO. Now, for macro, that’s another animal altogether. Anyway, I am enjoying your images and looking foreward to getting back to Utah soon. Thanks.
Yes, birds have been my primary focus, but I photograph many nature images, see carolblackardphotography.com to see examples of my work. I’m not sure I understand the “extra reach” comment. I mostly use a 400 4.0 lens. I apologize for not being too savvy with the tech science. I appreciate your help.
Shooting with a cropped sensor camera is similar to using a longer lens. For example your 400 mm lens on a cropped sensor Canon camera would give you an effective 640mm (400 x 1.6 crop factor of the camera). On a full frame camera it would only be 400mm.
Hello, Ron. Your photographs are beautiful. I love your coyote skimming across the light snowy ice with sparkles and that warm light you talked about on the bald eagle comparison shots previously. This guy’s feet hardly seem to touch the ground. Beautiful.
I am curious about equipment, Ron. I’ve been using a Nikon D300 for years, with a fixed lens. I am not keen on throwing more money into the hobby, but do you think I’m foolish not to upgrade to full frame? What do you think I would gain? I’d really appreciate your comments on my website. Thank you very much.
Carol
“do you think I’m foolish not to upgrade to full frame?”
Carol, I can’t answer that question because I don’t know if your primary subjects are birds or not. I prefer the cropped sensor for birds because of the extra reach.
Ron,
At the beginning of the New Year I would like to take this moment to thank you for the many beautiful pictures that you have shared over the years. Yours and Mia’s photos are truly in a class of their own. May the coming year be kind to you and provide many opportunities for the continuance of your excellent work.
P.S.
Just so you know your work provides the benchmark for excellence that the rest of us photags aspire too.
Sincerely
John E Burton
Morgan, Utah
Sun Images, LLC
What a kind, thoughtful comment, John. Thank you.
Happy New Year Ron! Beautiful shrike and coyote! That rabbit made me laugh as that is what 90% of my shots look like! Whether it is a bird, deer or snail – they see a camera and I get a butt shot!
Ha, butt shots are stock in trade for many of us, Jeff. Comes with the territory!
Happy New Year Ron…..and I hope it is a Great one for you.
I wish the same for you, Steve. Thank you.
A very happy, healthy hopeful 2016 to you and yours.
Love that those lucky feet stay where they are grown…
Agreed, EC. I remember when lots of folks used to have rabbit’s feet hanging from their rear view mirror or on their key chains.
Happy new year Ron, and thanks!
Thank you, Susan.
I would like to go to Antelope Island today too first I have to clean and feed all my critters. I am hoping it is not crowded, at least there is more space for the people to disperse in. I hope to see some chukar, I love how their colors contrast in the white snow. The last time I went to Farmington it was very crowded there were still about a dozen duck hunters also.
April, Chukars have been very scarce on the island for many months now. I don’t know why. But I did see a small group of them there a couple of days ago – my first ones for a very long time. I hope you find some today.
The great thing about the future is that it’s unknown. That leaves room for Hope.
Your artistry has been inspirational for me, Ron, ever since I first discovered this website. As we move forward into the Great Unknown, I know that you will continue to share Nature’s beauty with all who care to enjoy.
Peace.
“The great thing about the future is that it’s unknown. That leaves room for Hope”
That’s a great way to look at it if you’re an optimist, Wally. I wish I was one but by nature I’m not, so I look at like this – “because the future is unknown it leaves the distinct possibility of even more despair”. It’s no wonder I have trouble sleeping, huh?
Thank you for the very kind words.
Yes, and improvement over last year would be nice, and especially for you. I hope the new year is good to you and that Shannon’s recovery progresses nicely. I am still keeping her in my prayers. Love all of the photos today.
Thanks very much, Susan. Shannon called me New Year’s Eve – only the second time I’ve been able to talk to her since I left Florida. It was wonderful to hear her voice again.
Love that view of those fluffy, two-tone “snowshoes”…(I can think of a better part of the anatomy to expose to 2015) and really like the idea of leaping out of 2015 and into a better year, 2016–I hope!!! The shrike reminds me of kestrels…cute little killers! I’ve only seen one once or twice that I’m aware of and don’t know which kind…very brief sightings. Happy New Year to all. May it be happy and healthy….and fun!!!
“The shrike reminds me of kestrels…cute little killers”
Me too, Patty. Folks often call shrikes “wannabe raptors”.
That first one of the Shrike is gorgeous! I’ll be having black-eyed peas, cabbage and ham today. It’s my New Year’s Day tradition. 😀
Arwen, My New Year’s Day traditions include going shooting and trying to recover from the stress of attempting to sleep during the midnight fireworks that always seem to last for hours. Thankfully, last night they weren’t quite as bad as usual.
Almost every day’s blog from you brings me some surprise ( maybe because I’m ignorant , but every day less so, due to your blog ! ) The photo of the coyote struck me
immediately in that length of the legs ( proportionately to the torso ) was much greater than I’ve been used to observing in the desert habitats farther south in Arizona
and New Mexico , and I wondered if it could be an evolutionary response to the deep winter snows of the north country ? Then you showed us the bottoms of the cottontail’s
hind feet, and I wondered if all wild rabbit cousins also sport fur on the pads of their paws ? It occurred to me that this would also be a useful adaptation to traveling in
snowy country ( ? )
Kris, typically cold weather mammals are stockier of build and have shorter legs and ears than desert mammals as a method to conserve heat. So what you mention seems to go against that general rule. I don’t know how to explain it…
Shrikes are among my (many) favorite birds. Such fierce beauties. Let the rabbit’s feet say goodbye to ’15 as we’ve leapt into ’16. Happy New Year! Looking forward to many more beautiful images from you.
“Looking forward to many more beautiful images from you”
Catherine, I’ll have to do better than I did this morning if I’m going to present any more “beautiful images”. It was a tough morning in the field for me – not many birds and even less luck.
Wishing you a fabulous New Year, filled with good things. I love your salute!
Thank you, Gail.
Wonderful shots Ron – the last one I like even though it is like many of my shots, probably why I like it!
Have a great and successful New Years Ron!!
I hate to post soft and cut-off shots like that, Dick. But sometimes it just can’t be helped…
HAPPY NEW YEAR, RON! Thank you for your beautiful photos and narratives. Yes,wishing for lucky rabbits feet in abundance for 2016. Every best wish to you!
Thank you, Deborah.
I am kind of new at birding and am from Michigan. I had never seen a shrike in MI but so far have seen two of them here in Florida. Absolutely love your bird photography. I was hoping for a 500mm lens for Christmas – oh well, maybe next year. Happy New Year. It will be happier if my University of Michigan football team wins today!
A 500mm for Christmas – now that would be quite the Christmas present, Mary Lou. Hope you get it next year, or before.
Good shots, Ron. Those Shrikes are such a “pretty little bird” even if ferocious! Good looking Coyote – ours are more grey here. The rabbits feet show great detail and how they can keep warm and “walk on snow” to a point. Happy New Year to you and yours – hopefully it’s a better year particularly for Shannon! 🙂
Thanks, Judy. Hopefully it’s a better year for everyone!
Happy 2016, Ron
Perhaps we will see you out there this morning. I’m certain we will see something. As you say, “you won’t know unless you go”. -12 degrees F this AM so we are headed toward the “Island” where it has to be warmer!
Dang, we won’t be there, Neil. We’re heading further north. You might want to check out Farmington – based on the photos of others there was a variety of interesting birds there yesterday. But there were also lots of people, which is why we won’t be there until the weekend’s over. Good luck wherever you go!