A mishmash today.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday afternoon, knowing that our forecast predicted a series of significant snowstorms coming in that would likely keep me homebound for a few days, I went down to a local pond to see if I could get lucky with a few ducks in the windy and already overcast conditions. I wasn’t particularly lucky with the ducks but in a way I struck gold while I was photographing this male Common Goldeneye.
I now think of him as my Lucky Duck.
As readers already know my snow blower croaked (wouldn’t start, there appeared to be gas in the oil so I thought it had suffered a permanent death) when I tried to use it immediately after our last big snowstorm. So I had to shovel my driveway, sidewalks, front steps and back patio the old fashioned way. I loaded it up in the back of my pickup and took it to Jordan Mower here in SLC with the intention of trading it in for parts on a new one. I was pleasantly surprised when they told me it was only a dirty carburetor and fuel system so it could be repaired but they were backed up with repairs so I wouldn’t get it back until sometime in the week after New Years.
So yesterday afternoon while I was down at the pond I couldn’t help feeling more than a little discouraged as I experienced the effects of the approaching storm. I certainly wasn’t looking forward to shoveling 6-8″ of wet, heavy snow again.
But while I was photographing this Goldeneye and a couple of others I got a call from Jordan Mower.
My snow blower was ready to be picked up!
I didn’t ask any questions, I just gave up on ducks and retrieved my snow blower. Here it is in my garage/wood shop immediately after I started it up to make sure it was repaired and was rewarded with a well running, if noisy, machine. I couldn’t be happier because as I type this at 4:15 AM there’s already more than 4″ of new snow out there and it’s supposed to continue snowing for another 24 hours. With more snow after that.
OK, we’ve gone from ducks to snow blowers – now let’s go back to birds.
Readers will remember this banded female Rough-legged Hawk that I photographed on Christmas morning at Farmington Bay WMA.
I couldn’t read the entire band number (many of us believe we see the numbers 224 but these bands have additional numbers) so I sent these photos to Neil Paprocki of the Rough-Legged Hawk Project to see if three numbers were enough to provide him or anybody else enough useful information to narrow down precisely which bird it is. Neil was very interested (he thinks he sees 224 also) so he used his connections to try to narrow it down. Neil’s like a bloodhound so he didn’t give up and by yesterday morning he had ferreted out the following information:
*It most likely isn’t one of the birds that Neil or the project has banded because none of their band numbers have 224 in the last number group.
*Neil checked with HawkWatch International (he used to be their Conservation Biologist) and it isn’t one of their banded birds either.
*But he also checked with the Salt Lake City International Airport. For safety reasons the airport traps birds on and near their runways and when they trap raptors it’s their practice to band the birds and then release them about 100 km south of Salt Lake City. It turns out that the “SLC airport banded a female RLHA back in November with a band number ending in 2249. Could be your bird if there is another number there beyond the 4 but additional photos of the band would of course help narrow things down”.
So, it’s very possible (even likely?) that the bird I photographed is the same one that airport personnel trapped, banded and released in November. The fact that ‘my’ bird and the airport bird are both females helps to seal the deal but we aren’t there yet. So I’m hoping that some photographer, me or someone else, can soon get additional photos of the Farmington bird that will provide additional band numbers.
I know I’ll be trying but other photographers with long lenses spend more time at Farmington than I do so some of them probably have a better chance of success.
Ron
A wonderful end-of-year post. Thanks!
Thank you, Kent.
Sounds like the Goldeneye brought you some golden luck on the snowblower front. Glad for that. And glad to get a possible connection between the band and your lovely Roughie lady.
2021 apparently isn’t done with us yet, though. One of my best friends had to evacuate in CO — not sure if she’ll have a house to return to. And the loss of Betty White today, who played a large role in the spca with which I volunteer, is hitting harder than I expected.
Sorry to be the downer today. Hoping that 2022 will have things looking up — eventually (although it still has “2020” in the name, so I don’t know…).
Marty, I’m trying to be fairly optimistic about 2022 but I’m not having much success.
And losing Betty White – what a hell of a way to end the year… 😢
We had blue sky over us all morning til about 1pm yesterday, but I could see dark clouds in every direction. I got out in the yard and neighborhood a bit for photos but nothing stellar in my viewfinder. I am happy you found the goldeneye, they are so beautiful. Happy for you also your snow blower was ready. This snow fall was not as wet and heavy as our last larger snow fall. It only took me 2 hours to shovel rather than 3 and my back and hip gave me no grief this time. It is beautiful out today. I spent about an hour trying to capture photos of the Yellow-rummped Warblers and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, no good shots yet. They are hard and my yard has a lot of cover for them. I did truly enjoy watching the eastern fox squirrels bound through the 8 inches of snow. The end of their tail is all that sticks out til they jump to the next location. I think they are digging under the snow for nuts and acorns they buried in my lawn.
April, I wish I had your critters in my yard. About all I usually have is House Finches, House Sparrows and neighborhood cats.
I have less than we had 20 years ago. It helps I live along Red Butte creek and Miller Park is in the back yard.
I think this Goldeneye is lucky to have that stunning feature to complement his beautifully feathered black-and-white finery, and you are lucky to have gotten back your snowblower (and to be getting much needed snow!). Also lucky to have Neil doing additional research to come up with a potential answer to the Roughie’s ID. And I hope those poor folks in Colorado get lucky with a desperately needed weather break today.
Wishing you a Happy New Year, Ron—and to your FP followers, as well! 🎉
Thank you, Chris. I wish you and yours the same.
Happy 2022 and congrats on getting your snowblower fixed. Let’s hope you are equally lucky in getting confirmation on your banded Roughie.
Yup, let’s hope. Thanks, Granny Pat.
The New Year has arrived here. I am hoping it is a healthier and happier one for all readers of featheredphotography – and for the world.
Love the very aptly named goldeneye. Hooray for the return of your snowblower (in the very nick of time).
And how fascinating that the airport traps and releases raptors. I suspect ours would simply dispose of them (hiss and spit).
EC, we actually have two species of Goldeneyes – Common and Barrow’s. And both are neat little ducks.
Thank you for the additional information. And for the beauty and education you give me day after day…
With 2021 coming to a close it’s good to finally hear some good news.😀. Hopefully, your Lucky Duck heralds a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2022 for all.
If only, Lyle. If only…
Thanks, good to see a golden eye today! So appreciate your photos and comments!
Happy New Year and prayers for our precious wilderness and wild ones.
Mary
Thank you, Mary.
What a stud common golden eye! Love the species mix we get, even at our local pond.
Glad the blower got fixed in time! Let me know if you’d rather watch her run with a cup of coffee, then gloved up hands.
Happy New Years Eve
Shane, thanks very much for the offer but with the blower I should be able to do it myself without any problem. I appreciate the help I got from your boy (and another neighbor) after our last storm.
I was happily surprised to hear that airport personnel DO trapping and
banding–wonder if that is a widespread practice around the country ?
We’d be happy in Southern Utah if you could send some of that snow
down here– predicted and “threatening” for about 4 days now, but no
cigar–happy you got your snowblower back and functioning !
Kris, a lot of airports do trapping. There are actually private companies that have employees that are licensed to do it for them, at least at some airports.
I wish you a big, fat cigar!
Happy New Year Ron. Or at least New Year’s Eve Day. The Goldeneye did bring you luck. Got the snow blower fixed and it appears that or at least seems logical that the hawk was banded by the airport people. Hope the blower works well and keeps you from messing up your back again.
I hope we can eventually get enough of those band numbers to know for sure. Thanks, Everett.
OK, I know snowstorms can be tough, but isn’t all the snow you have been having when melted going to give some relief to the water problem?? Possibly bring some birds back?
Happy New Year Ron, wishing you all a very happy and successful New Year!
It sure is going to help, Dick. I’m certainly not complaining about the snow – not by a long shot. Happy New Year to you too.
Good news on both fronts! Snow blower is “pay the bill and run” type of thing given the weather and others needing the services also…… 😉 Possible hawk band ID is cool too – takes someone who knows where to search for such info and, obviously, Neil does. 🙂 Pretty Goldeneye – looks like it was a little breezy there at the time.
-3 and snow and blow tho snow won’t amount to much. Glad I wasn’t in CO yesterday with the fires – hopefully the coming snow will be enough to douse them – see the wind died sometime over night.
Yes, it was breezy for sure. This goldeneye had a hard time keeping his feathers in place.
That CO situation is a disaster for so many folks!
It’s the little things (motor, ID band, etc.) that make us happy 🙂
Yup, but to me some of these things aren’t particularly little…
The little things are HUGE in my world.