Horned Larks are ground dwelling birds that rarely perch more than a few inches off the ground. They’re often found singing from small rocks but they “never perch in trees” and it’s quite unusual for me to see or photograph one perched on low vegetation. It’s almost like they have acrophobia unless they’re in flight.
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
So this breeding male caught my attention two days ago when we found it perched high at the top of sagebrush in Tooele County, Utah. I have very few (if any) images of the species with sky in the background so in my portfolio at least these images are unique. The bird even acted out-of-place as it held its tail at this angle as though it felt like it might topple over at any moment.
1/5000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Eventually he began to sing a little but this was about the only pose variety he gave me. After a few seconds another vehicle came along the remote dirt road and flushed the bird (typical bad timing for me – that was the only vehicle I encountered on the entire road).
Today’s post is somewhat abbreviated because this procrastinating bird photographer will be working the entire day on his taxes. Oh joy!
Ron
I am so glad that birds are rarely literate and essentially rebels. They may know what the ‘book’ says they should do, and custom says they should do and make their own choices about whether they will conform. And how often.
And a horned lark where ever it chooses to perch would make my heart leap to meet it.
Your comments often make me smile, EC. The first sentence of this one is an example.
Back to your taxes Ron. This procrastinator has finally (last week) completed and lodged LAST year’s return. Our tax year ends on June 30, so I should be preparing to do it all again. And am not.
A Lakota friend once told me he saw a Mallard duck in the big Cottonwood near Mouse Creek (in SD)…I’ve always thought he was nuts, but now I’m wondering( if he might have (i still think he’s nuts, but maybe he really did see a Mallard in a tree. –or could it have been a Wood duck…or a ….?). The second shot has everything the first does, plus the open beak singing…so it’s my favorite…can almost hear the song!
I wouldn’t be surprised if he saw what he said he did, Patty. Stranger things have happened.
Since some of the comments are about Canada geese in trees I will add my two cents worth. My dad had a pair that nested in a cottonwood tree about 30 feet above his fuel tanks on the farm. He ended up putting a piece of plywood with an old tire nailed onto it for a more stable platform. For several years they came back and raised young ones in that nest. The closest water was a canal about 1/4 mile away. Also, the other day I saw a pair setting on top of a light pole at the football field and was wondering if they were thinking about nesting there.
Marvin, in my experience Canada Geese are pretty flexible in their choice of nesting sites.
Ah Yes the tax man cometh 😉 mine are done except for mailing payment to IRS & State Of AZ. We have state income tax & sales tax yet we have no money for schools. GET DOWN OFF YOUR SOAP BOX DAVID
Nice photos again Ron. Yep the critters & birds haven’t read the books so they constantly surprise us with their antics
David, I just finished them (taxes). Didn’t take as long as I thought it would. Still painful though…
Ron – these two captures are very special with the 1st being my favorite! Reading your commentary seems to express what draws all of us who like to capture these wonderful birds on film (although I need a different word since we no longer use film – LOL)!! We love capturing them doing something unusual for their species that we haven’t seen before. I wouldn’t have known that this was an unusual perch for the Horned lark without your comment but it added a lot knowing what was unusual and special about the 2 captures to you.
“I need a different word since we no longer use film”
Jo Ann, I just say I’ve captured them in pixels instead of on film. Works for me…
Why not just day, “captured on camera”?…
Ah, yes taxes! Hope you fare better than us! We took a 20K hit, tough on retirement income.
Great shots as usual, but why 1/5000? Did you need that to stay at ISO 500 or f/7.1?
Ouch, 20K! That hurts. You could buy 2 new 500 f/4 lenses for that!
I didn’t have time to lower my ISO for this bird. I fired off a few quick shots then saw that other vehicle coming so I had to move. But I did change from f/6.3 to 7.1 deliberately to try to get more of the sagebrush sharp.
Without going into detail it was my fault for not taking taxes out on an insurance policy that came due.
So, we have to pay the piper! Won’t be doing much buying this year, a ton of wishing though!!
They do surprise us! First time I saw a Canada Goose in a tree was a shock also! 🙂 Nice shots! Caesar must have his due for sure even if it’s a pain to do all the paper work! 🙂
“First time I saw a Canada Goose in a tree was a shock also”
Judy, I had the same reaction the first time I saw a Ring-necked Pheasant in a tree. But now I know it’s a fairly common occurrence.
Cold/snowy weather will put the Pheasants in the trees for sure!
Wow! What great shots Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.