There was a range fire on the north end of Antelope Island on August 3, 2011 that forced managers to clear out all campers from the campgrounds so when I arrived early the next morning the campgrounds were empty and this young coyote was hunting on the edge of Bridger Bay Campground.
- Note: I posted these images and described this incident on my blog over 5 years ago. But when I had a nightmare two nights ago about screwing up this opportunity I took it as a sign that I should post them again – after all, very few current readers have seen them or know my deep frustration at having butchered “the shot”. For this post I’ve rewritten much of the text and reprocessed the images.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Normally the coyotes on the island are elusive and difficult to approach but I believe this to be a young one so it didn’t seem overly concerned about the presence of my pickup (I don’t know its sex but for the sake of convenience I’ll refer to it as a male). Besides, he had hunting in mind and he wasn’t about to let me interfere with a potential meal. In this image he has just spotted something of intense interest in the grass a few feet in front of him.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Here the coyote is beginning to make his stalk. He hasn’t yet crouched down because if he had he wouldn’t be able to see the prey through the tall grass. But he’s very, very focused.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
As he got closer (both to the potential prey and to me) he began to crouch down in a manner reminiscent of a hunting cat.
At this point I sensed that something dramatic was about to happen so I tried to prepare myself for “the shot”. The most common prey of coyotes on the island is voles but I was pretty sure it wasn’t a vole this time because the coyote was too far away from his point of interest when he first spotted it to have seen a tiny vole through the grass from that distance. I thought it was going to be a rabbit – both jackrabbits and cottontails are very common around that campground. Whether vole or rabbit I knew I wouldn’t get a good shot of the moment of capture (if it happened) because the grass was just too tall at ground level. I was hoping to get a shot or two with the prey in his jaws when the coyote raised his head after the capture.
I could kick myself (hard!) for not considering the possibility that the prey might be a bird that would flush straight up in front of the coyote.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is the shot that broke my heart because I cut off one wing and the top of the head of the prey (a juvenile chukar). If I had anticipated that the prey might be a bird that would flush I’d have allowed for more room above the coyote. I didn’t have a lot of wiggle room (this image has been cropped very little and is 85% of the original) but I didn’t need much to keep from cutting off the bird. I’d rather have cut off the coyotes legs (that we can’t see anyway) than to have done this to the Chukar.
Yet another thing that could have saved the day would have been if my shutter had fired about 1/20 second earlier. If it had I’d have caught the bird in a lower position and the coyotes jaws agape (here they’ve just snapped shut).
So many things went right for me. I had enough shutter speed to pretty much freeze the action, the angle of light was good on both subjects, the point of contact was above the grasses and visible, the coyote got close to me in the first place and most of all, it flushed a bird right in front of me and I had my camera ready.
But what do I do but screw up what was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity by decapitating the Chukar! I should have anticipated that the prey was a Chukar because I’d seen a covey of these young birds disappear into the grasses in that same vicinity just a few minutes earlier. I’m familiar enough with the behavior of Chukars to know that they’re reluctant to fly and will often flush at the last second in front of a threat. There’s so many things for a wildlife photographer out in the field to think of, anticipate and plan for but this is one I missed. If you’re a nature photographer I expect you understand my frustration.
Oh, and by the way – the coyote had the same luck I did. The Chukar escaped the jaws of death with only the loss of one small contour feather that I could see in the next frame as it floated to the ground. Bad day for both of us I guess. I keep reminding myself that at least I saw something that most folks never experience.
For now that will have to suffice…
Ron
OK, my reply is late…I’ve been on the road. Yeah, there are a lot of things you miss in life–those woulda, coulda, shoulda, but you got spectacular shots in this group…and even the missed perfection is pretty darn good. I so miss starting my day with your posts, but I should be back onlin regularly soon. In Colorado now, two days drive from Phoenix. YAY!
Oh and I loved the redtail taking off…you KNEW I would 🙂
Oh man. Incredible! Totally amazing you got to even see it. And the shot is pretty awesome regardless. I have a few of those stories as well. 😀
Wow what a sequence of action, Ron! I would not have left enough space either. And I shared the pain for many of my previous failures. Nature always has a way to surprise us. But then next time when it happens again we r gonna nail it.
Thank you, Tin, I hope you’re right about your prediction, for both of us!
Such a beautiful animal. Love all of your shots. I felt sorry for the bird, but after reading on, I felt for the Coyote. It’s tough in the wild. Last week we saw two adult Coyotes at the bottom of our hills. They saw our car, and ran as fast as they could. One had its winter coat already. I had my camera, but they were gone before I could get a decent picture. Such is life I guess lol.
Thank you, Jean. Good luck with your coyotes in the future.
I still do these types of things just due to lack of experience yet….it is a gut wrench when you look at them blown up on the computer and think what could have been…Nice to know that you were once a mortal too :>)
If we all had a dime for ever missed shot that we were trying to capture in that perfect moment, we would all be rich.
“If we all had a dime for ever missed shot that we were trying to capture in that perfect moment, we would all be rich”
I agree Joe, but some of them hurt more than others. This one haunts me more than any of the others, partly because I have evidence of how very close I came.
You OFTEN see things that many of us do not, and will not.
Perhaps you decapitating the young beagle boy was the coyote’s wish fulfilment going the wrong way? He wanted to, you did. I am very sorry for the two of you. And a part of me is also glad for the chukar.
I can’t help but applaud the Chukar too, EC. At least there was one winner in this little drama.
There is some heavy drama here…the photographer’s storytelling for starters, which is another great reason to love your blog, Ron. Do not despair, lol…
Thanks very much, Susan.
Ron,
What adventures you have! I feel your frustration on that last shot, the drama is amazing. But, all told, it gives you an amazing story, the visuals are stellar, as always. I am so glad you’re always willing to share and help us learn about not only photography in it’s technical aspects, but the human part of the story too.
Thanks for enjoying the story, Philina – including the drama.
Ron-please check out my reply to Sallie…
Yup, I already did. Interesting point by both of you.
I can understand and feel your frustration at missing the perfect action shot…so close! I still find this a wonderful, very enjoyable series…with a surprise ending. The last image, though not the perfect image a photographer would want, it supplies the mandatory completion of the suspense created by the previous action sequence. For you and Senor Coyote, a not so happy ending, but for the bird, a VERY happy one!!!
At least there was ONE winner, Patty. I hope that bird appreciates how incredibly lucky it was. 🙂
I understand your frustration, but at the same time, to be totally on top of all the possibilities and prepared for all of them – including timing – would mean being more than human, which I don’t think even the best photographer on the planet could achieve. I think it’s wonderful that you captured what you did (remember the value of behavioral shots), and that we could share in your experience from a distance. Too bad your “decapitation” didn’t help the coyote with its prey… 🙂
“Too bad your “decapitation” didn’t help the coyote with its prey”
That made me smile, Susan. Thanks.
Amazing series of images Ron! And I know I may be rationalizing the last image as a ” missed opportunity “, but I like the” off centerness” of it .As you said the young coyote missed the chukar as well.It’s a good metaphor for the situation.
Yup, the coyote and I certainly shared the same bad luck that morning, John. I hope his fortunes improved soon after that.
I think that last shot is miraculous – the fact that the action is almost out of the frame underscores its drama. life and death activities happen in the blink of an eye.
“the fact that the action is almost out of the frame underscores its drama”
Interesting perspective, Sallie. I’ll try to look at it that way. 🙂
I had the same reaction…the composition underscores the tension between capture and escape…
I’ll “third” the motion! I foundy heart beating a little faster from shot to shot. In the last photo, I found it difficult to determine whether huge coyote had been successful. Having parts of the bird just out of frame heightened the experience.
That should be “found my”. Darn iPhone!
I feel your “pain” Ron–wow. Thanks for posting–as always, I learn so much and feel that we reinforce our virtual friendship when sharing the ups and downs of life in the field 😉
I agree, Christine. And I have many ups and downs to share. Bet you do too…
Ron, what a beautiful series!! This coyote is stunning and SO focused I can actually see his mind working!! Now back to your frustrating mistake – according to you!! Even though you didn’t get the shot you wanted, this is a phenomenal shot!!!!! And I wish you weren’t beating up on yourself!! To get it in perspective – weren’t you fairly new to Nature photography?!! If it happened today, with all your years of experience behind you – you would get that shot!! We, your very loyal followers have MANY photos that we can attest to!!
“weren’t you fairly new to Nature photography?”
Not very, Jo Ann. By then I’d been at it for a fair number of years already. However, knowing what I know now, if I was presented with this same situation again I don’t think I’d decapitate the bird. Who knows, but I’d sure like another chance at it…
Reminds me of the many “whale” shots I took years ago when we were sailing from the Chesapeake to Maine … just the splash … no whale.
Ha, good analogy, David!
Man, in my mind those are great shots!! The first shot is fantastic, beautiful conditioned animal. Yes, I know the frustration, but at least you got the action, just not the visual that you would have liked.
Plus, as you said this is a young Coyote, and an adult probably would have caught the Chukar. And, you got the miss.
What a wonderful pictures and story, thanks for retelling it!
Dick, I agree. I’m glad I at least got the shot that I did, though it’s bittersweet indeed.
I think every nature photographer who approaches the art seriously has a handful of stories like this. Take some comfort in knowing that the coyote’s reflexes weren’t any better than yours.
I guess that’s some comfort, WC – but not much…
GEEZ! I can certainly relate to the frustration of not capturing well this shot let alone having nightmares about it! 🙁 Very nice what you did catch and thx for sharing it. 🙂
Thanks for the commiseration, Judy. I wonder if it’s just coincidence that I had the nightmare on the night before Halloween…
While I certainly understand your frustration as such a shot may only come once in a lifetime, I am happy for you that you got to see this unfold in front of you. Most people never have that opportunity to witness the stalk and attack. 5 years ago and different gear and I can still tell these are your photos. Sharp, well lit and a nice story. Thanks for blowing the dust off of these and sharing 🙂
“I am happy for you that you got to see this unfold in front of you”
Thanks, Zaphir, but to be perfectly honest I “see this unfold” fairly regularly in my dreams (nightmares). I’ll bet I’ve dreamt about messing up this shot a dozen times over the years. Maybe more…