Bird photographers never know what we’ll see in our photos that we didn’t notice in the field. My shots of this Prairie Falcon taken two days ago surprised me in more ways than one.
1/4000, f/7.1, 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
“She” was far enough away that at first she seemed fairly relaxed, at least for a typically nervous and difficult to approach Prairie Falcon. I don’t see this species very often and it’s even more unusual for me to get one in my viewfinder so even though she had her back to me I was more than pleased.
1/5000, f/7.1, 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
But soon her demeanor changed – it’s subtle but it can be seen in this slightly soft photo. I could tell from this body posture that for some reason she was becoming somewhat uncomfortable with my presence and would likely take off soon, probably away from me given the direction she was facing.
1/4000, f/7.1, 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
And that’s exactly what happened. Just what I need – another butt shot!
Butt shot or not this photo allowed me to see for the first time that she had prey in her left foot, apparently the remains of a small mammal such as a vole.
I looked at this shot several times on my computer at home before I noticed the piece of “meat” that at first I thought was flying through the air above and in front of her left foot. But closer inspection revealed that it was actually stuck to her outermost tail feather. The weight of that slightly bloody tidbit had actually pulled the feather down against her leg and away from the rest of her tail feathers.
The first time I reviewed these photos I almost didn’t even look at the next shot in the burst because from the thumbnail preview I could see that she was very close to the left frame edge, it would be just another butt shot and I assumed she would be maddeningly out of focus. But the next day I forgot about that decision and loaded the image anyway.
I’m glad I did because it revealed something else interesting and somewhat unusual.
1/4000, f/7.1, 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
When the tail feather that had been weighed down by the piece of meat sprang back into place it flung the bloody tidbit forward and to the left – it can be seen above her head in this photo. I also thought it was interesting that we can see its shadow on her tail.
Birds. We just never know what they’ll have in store for us.
Ron
The last shot shows how very long and elegant this bird’s wings are. Lovely.
I noticed the same thing, Sally.
I like the contrasting color on the undersides of the wings, too. I laughed about the catapulted intestines. Your blog and your readers’ comments are certainly something I look forward to reading.
I agree, Pam – my readers are a big part of what makes Feathered Photography what it is.
Butt it’s such a nice butt! š You might have been double-butted too — is that a little vole tush I spy?
“Iām glad I did because it revealed something else interesting and somewhat unusual.” — and this is why we’re always after you about your itchy trigger finger. š
I know, I know. That finger gets me in trouble sometimes!
Ron, a great series with photos to prove what you saw. Interesting how the Prairie Falcon can turn her head to look back at you and her back is still facing you. I tried it and I can’t do it!! Thanks, Ron
Sometimes I try to turn my head that far to follow a bird. I pay for it for a week!
Flying intestines. Now I’ve seen it all. More amazing timing and photography
Thank you, Lyle.
LOVE these shots and I’m not at all surprised that she got cranky about your presence. Don’t forget that with HER vision, you were right in her face so she had to move to some other where where she could enjoy her snack in peace š I’m also not surprised that she jettisoned the piece of spagutti! With “my” redtail (who is no more mine than the air I breathe) and the HAHAs, if they get the opportunity, the intestines will end up neatly yanked and tossed onto my glasses. It’s happened more than once, many times in fact, so I KNOW it’s a well-executed plan!
Yesterday’s golden was spectacular, too! You really caught that golden nape! Oh the beauty! SIGH!
“Spagutti” – I like that, Laura.
Even as a meat eater I struggled with offal. I too would hurl it far away.
Isn’t it lovely that there are always surprises to be found when we spend the time to watch, to explore, to wonder.
“Even as a meat eater I struggled with offal”
Me too, EC. I’ll eat chicken livers if fried crispy but that’s about it when it comes to… guts.
I love it when this sort of surprise happens, teaching me that my powers of observation are always being tested, and we are always learning. And here, we acquire intestinal fortitude. . .;)
I love it too, Martha. Surprises in my photos like these are one of my primary draws to bird photography.
Prairie falcons are shy, and so my imagination is way off. I can’t help but imagine what’s going on in the bird’s head: “Oh-oh! One of those pesky photographers. Wait a minute. Does he want my prey? That’s just not going to happen. Here, I’ll flip him this bit of intestine to tell him what I think of him!”
“Prairie falcons are shy”
They sure are, Nancy. They might be the spookiest raptor I photograph.
Very timely Ron. Just yesterday a good friend who had spent a good part of the day doing the Audubon Bird Count at one of our lakes reported seeing a Prairie Falcon. I had just told him that I have never knowingly seen one. Great series and now if I do see one I will know what it is.
I hope you come across one sometime soon, Everett. Prairie Falcons are pretty incredible raptors.
Neat! š It is amazing what “shows up” at times in photos that we had no idea was there. She definitely needed to shed that puppy and did! Guessing it was still attached to the vole (or whatever) when she took off. In the 1st photo can see a bit of “something” on her left foot related to that. Regardless it’s a great series…… š
Thank you, Judy.
Fantastic catch! You can see by the ‘ever so slight squint’ to her eye in the second photo that she was not sharing anything with you! It’s a mystery where that remnant came from…certainly not a trace of blood on her face or ‘chin’ and you certainly don’t see any sign of it folded in the tail feathers. One more photo was needed between the second and third for sure…and then three and four! Really love these!
Kathy, I’ll go back and look more carefully at my other photos of her to see if I can tell where it was before she took off. I don’t think any of them will show it though.
Butt shot or not, I like the articulated posture in the last shot, a lot.
This series is pretty amazing, like magic in what it reveals. Where do you think the meat tidbit was in the first shot? Folded into the tail feathers?
Dave, I keep wondering if that piece of “meat” is actually a section of intestine. Many raptors discard intestines rather then eat them and they can stick almost anywhere, on the bird or on the perch.
I don’t know where it was in that first photo. Wish I did.
Catapulted intestine indeed. A great way to jump-start the day!