New Year’s morning on Antelope Island was a cloudy, low-light affair. It turned mostly sunny as we left for home in late morning and on the causeway we passed flocks of birders on their way to the island for their first day of birding in the New Year. I couldn’t help but notice the irony – us photographers who needed good light didn’t get any and the birders who don’t, did…
But despite the low light I was able to photograph two coyote hunting techniques that I thought were interesting.
1/800, f/8, ISO 500, 100-400 @ 150 mm, natural light
This coyote was on the edge of a large hill overlooking the frozen shoreline of the Great Salt Lake far below. I was very close to the animal but it was so intent on scanning the marshy area below for prey that it simply ignored me. At one point it stood on its hind legs with its front legs on a large, snow-covered boulder to give it an even more elevated view of the hunting grounds down below. I hoped that it would look back at me but it never did, though I think this pose, with just enough of the muzzle in view to show the direction the coyote was looking, well illustrates the hunting behavior.
I was pleasantly surprised with one element of this photo. I was much too close to this coyote to use my 500mm lens so I had grabbed my other 7D with the 100-400 attached and backed the zoom down to 150mm. I’m so used to the extremely narrow depth of field of the larger lens that I expected the background in this shot to be unidentifiable. I think the shorter focal length gave me just enough depth of field to make this hunting behavior image more effective because you can identify the area being scanned by the coyote.
1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 100-400 @ 400 mm, natural light
A few minutes later we found another coyote hunting voles. I caught this one in mid-air as it pounced but this time it missed the vole. I liked the full extension of the body and the flying snow under the tail.
I always enjoy watching coyotes while they hunt. They’re very good at it and I’m often impressed by their amazing bursts of speed.
Ron
this flying coyote is very beautiful . And as well as capture by camera that’s really great well done great job .Some people think that camouflage is a fashion statement. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. If you are sitting on a hillside of yellow prairie grass or snow while wearing dark green camouflage you will stick out like a sore thumb.
Coyote hunting
Thank you Ron for these phenomenal photos ! The Coyote has a special place in my heart. Often vilified, as appose to an an adaptable, enduring,and beautiful survivor.
Thanks, John. I couldn’t agree with you more.
What wonderful shots… The poise, grace, power — you’ve captured him (her?) perfectly. I love coyotes, such clever and shy critters.
I love them too, for the same reasons you do, Christina.
Wonderful shots and commentary! Thanks!
Thank you, Charlotte.
The flying coyote one is really nice. I’ve see young pooches with this behavior before, when they see lizards, or other small animals that provoke their curiosity. It may not be as stylish as the coyote’s , but it’s very similar to me.
Maria, yes “stylish” is the right word for this jump.
I love the coyote in flight with the snow beneath its tail. A nice variation on the wind beneath its wings.
They are beautiful animals aren’t they – and that looks like a wonderful thick pelt.
This time of year their pelts are thick and luxurious, Elephant’s Child. That’s one of the reasons many coyote hunters prefer to kill them during winter – a sickening situation here in Utah, but that’s another story…
The flight of the coyote…..Nice!
Thanks, Teri.
Ron, I love both coyote images but love the one caught in mid air. You must have been so thrilled when you reviewed your pics (although I bet with your portfolio, you’ve had many moments of catching your breath as you review the day’s images).
You’re right, Sharon. I was pretty happy to see the posture I caught, especially because in the field I thought I’d lost focus on the coyote as it jumped.
What a graceful animal in flight! I am so impressed by how you catch not only birds but also other species in the air! Love these shots!
I never thought of that second image as a “flight shot” but I guess you’re absolutely right, Tana. Thank you.