I like the dynamic flight posture that resulted from the speed, wing position and relatively steep flight angle of the goose in both of these images.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
These shots were taken at a local pond three days ago as the goose was coming in to land on the water. When geese are approaching this pond they typically come in at a pretty steep angle and then flare to slow down and reduce their rate of descent just prior to landing. Usually they’re gliding (not flapping) at these later stages of their approach and they don’t have their wings fully extended so it takes high speed to keep a 10 pound goose airborne.
And the high speed, downward flight path and gliding flight produced a couple of images I quite like for the flight posture of the bird.
The fairly bright willow tree branches in the background may or may not be a distraction for some viewers but they don’t pull my own eye away from the bird, at least not significantly.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Even though the next shot in the burst has the goose in exactly the same posture I’m including it because it provides evidence that the bird was gliding since the wings are in the same position in both images.
But the background changes, providing at least some relief from the monotony of two otherwise almost identical images… 🙂
I looked for differences in the bird in the two photos but found very few and they were minor. One thing I noticed was that the body of the goose is slightly more level in the second image than in the first (as evidenced by the junction of the front of both wings with the body). That’s because the bird was leveling out as it approached the water just below. You definitely want to be level horizontally when you hit the water. And going at the “right” speed.
Twice now on different days on the pond as I’ve been photographing heavy-bodied geese coming in to land on the water I’ve thought of Captain Sully Sullenberger’s “Miracle on the Hudson”. Both Sully and this goose faced some of the same critical decisions if they were going to avoid disaster, including rate of descent, proper nose angle, when and how to reduce speed and others.
Even though we’ve all seen Sully’s miraculous landing on the Hudson before I’m including this link to a video from the Smithsonian that includes the landing itself but also some background of the event as evidence of how very impressive that almost impossible successful landing was. For me it was worth another look, in part because I found there to be striking similarities between the approaches leading up to the landings of both the Airbus A320-214 and the goose.
It’s ironic that the incident with Captain Sully Sullenberger’s flight 1549 was caused by bird strikes that completely disabled both engines because the species involved was the Canada Goose.
Ron
Here’s a link to photos of the damage to Sully’s plane on display at the National Air and Space Museum if you have the interest.
A personal note: I’m generally a somewhat grudging admirer of George H.W. Bush (especially in comparison to his eldest son and our current White House resident) even though I’m far from a fan of some of his policies. And that’s quite an admission from this dyed-in-the-wool political liberal but he had personal and even some political qualities that I admire. After Barbara Bush died and because of his Parkinson’s Disease he obtained a yellow Labrador Retriever service dog named Sully in honor of Captain Sullenberger. The canine Sully served 41 for the last six months of his life.
Even though 41 didn’t actually name his service dog my regard for him as a human being went up another notch because of that name – credit by association or something like that I guess.. Sometimes it’s the little things, valid or not…
Catching up again with the blog. I love the colors!
I’m always happy to see Canada Geese, whether in photos or at one of our local parks, or occasionally walking down the street (we’re close enough to the park that we get the occasional “lost” goose). Love looking for the subtle differences in the bird’s flight posture between the two shots. It would make a great science lesson in observation: How many differences can you find?
At least GHWB could laugh at himself. I’ve been hunting online for the clip with Dana Carvey and GHWB on a split screen. Finally found the whole clip: https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/george-h-w-bush-supports-dana-carvey-cold-open/2872690 HW comes in around the 2:00 mark.
Marty, I didn’t find very many differences, other than the two I mentioned (in my text and in a comment).
I watched the GWHB portion of the clip. He was a good sport about it.
Ron, I enjoyed your links and the comparison of the Canada Goose landing to Sully’s plane. As far as the politics, I refrain.
Thank you, Ron
I was a Barbara Bush fan. Like you I’m grudgingly an HW fan. He was ethical. Not something you can say now. The goose is magnificent.
I am in awe at the goose’s flight (indeed all birds). I would class Captain Sullenberg as that often misused word ‘a hero’.
How I wish I could ignore politics (yours, ours, the world’s). It is often the little things which make my day (my family told me ‘small things for small minds). They work for me as an antidote and a balm.
Big things obviously matter but it’s often the little things that add the finishing touches that make so much difference, in photography, in politics and in many other aspects of our lives.
I think hero is misused and overused also. To extreme.
The juxtaposition of the goose and the branches creates an interesting three-dimensional effect. That left outstretched wing affords an excellent opportunity to study wing feather anatomy.
I’ll abstain from commenting on the Bush dynasty in the same way I am trying to ignore current politics/politicians during the season of hope and cheer. Would that there were more people in government with Sully’s integrity.
Interesting observations about the bird, Lyle.
I should probably “abstain” too but politics has become so nasty and utterly ridiculous that I find it impossible to ignore most of the time, though I do succeed in fits and spurts. Today I failed miserably…
Excellent captures as always..thank you, Ron…and thanks for the links …as a private pilot I never get tired of viewing that miracle landing …always in awe and admiration for Capt. Sully….having lived on an island for many years in the Atlantic flyway where Canadian Geese are pretty common , I never tired of their beauty. They are truly awesome birds….IMHO…
Very interesting to know some more of your background, Steve. Wow, “lived on an island”. I’m jealous.
Big, cumbersome looking, but beautiful…there is something about them that draws me back. The catch light in his eye certainly makes me feel as if we made eye contact and kept it. Do like these photos! I have one of a small squadron of them landing on a very small lake in MI…they had to circle several times…it made me think of newbie pilots practicing their ‘touch and go’s’…stange the thoughts one gets when photographing birds.🤔 I watched the video again of the landing of Sully you provided…thanks for the link. I’ve always admired G.H.W.B. for the man of integrity he was…I fear though it is a lost attribute in politics. Though I tend lean towards the other side of the aisle, I could not overlook the moral man he was. It is unfortunate how low the moral convictions some can have, are still looked up to, and not challenged. I read something a few weeks ago ‘Once you lose your integrity, the rest is easy’…J.R. Ewing of Dallas series. Somehow it seems to fit in todays climate.
Thank you, Kathy. I’m familiar with that quote (although I was unaware that J. R. Ewing was the source) and strongly agree with it.
Beautiful shots, Ron! 🙂 They are “big birds”. “Sully” is an amazing man in more ways than one. We still have large flocks around struggling to buck the wind we’ve been having more or less successfully..for awhile anyway then down in a field they go. I’m also a “grudging admiror of H.W. despite being mostly on the other side of the fence and also had to smile at the name of his service dog. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I didn’t and don’t understand some of his decisions based on his personal qualities but he was of a different generation, even from this old fart… 🙂
Great shots Ron. Like the song, “His eye is on the sparrow”, my eye was on the Goose and never noticed the branches till you mentioned them. The Canada Goose really stands out and quickly grabs your attention. Most all of us have seen a Canada Goose up close. Is there any wonder that they can bring down a plane? I have always been an admirer of G.H.W.B. A really good account of his miracle crash landing and escape from the Japanese off the coast of Chica Jima by submarine can be read in the book Flyboys by James Bradley. A funny story about G.W.H. came from his days as a first baseman and captain of the Yale baseball team. A Yankee scout was there one day at a game and was very interested in George who had knocked out four hits in four times at bat. The scout approached the Yale coach and asked about young Mr. Bush’s abilities and whether he should be interested in signing him. Surprisingly the Yale coach laughingly told the scout that Bush was not that good, that he just happened to have had a good day. So much for being an MLB player and on to a career of public service.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett. And I enjoyed your baseball story about 41. It’s one that was new to me.