My first decent photos of a Lazuli Bunting of either sex this year.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning I finally got back into the field again, this time into the mountains, and this male Lazuli Bunting was one of my rewards. He perched in one of the few open spots in a large willow and I even had good light on him. He didn’t give me much pose variety and he wasn’t particularly close but he was close ‘enough’, whatever that is.
I wish he’d been singing but he wasn’t, despite the fact that male Lazuli Buntings are known for persistent singing long after most other birds have stopped singing late in the breeding season. From Cornell – “Each male two years of age and older sings only one song, composed of a series of different syllables. This crystallized song tends to be an “acoustic barcode” that is different from that of other individuals.”
He wasn’t here for long but his next perch…
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
was only a couple of feet away and I had a pretty good look at him here too. I was hoping for takeoff or flight shots but that didn’t happen.
When I reviewed my photos of him at home I noticed something I didn’t see through my viewfinder.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
For the entire time he was on this perch there was a strand of tightly stretched spider silk attached to his head at one end and to a twig above him at the other. The slightly strange thing was that I could only see it depending on the angle his head was turned, so it would appear and disappear in my photos like a phantom. Or maybe it depended on how erect his head feathers were. I dunno.
The second photo above is an example of a photo where I couldn’t see it. But it was there and it didn’t take much of a head turn to make it disappear and reappear.
No big deal but I enjoy seeing things like that in my photos.
Ron
PS – Sometimes, when I really stare at photo number 2, I think I might be able to see just a hint of the spider silk. And then I don’t…
Like the spider silk detail. Yes, those details are fun to discover. But mostly I’m in awe of the colours and wishing we had such a beauty around here.
Just beautiful. Sometimes I think I can see the spider silk in 2, and then I can’t. So I wonder whether I am seeing what I know is there rather than what I can see – if that makes sense.
I am so glad that you got out into the field again and hope you did no damage.
“if that makes sense”
It makes perfect sense, EC. That’s what I think I might be doing too, especially because sometimes I think I can see it and sometimes I don’t.
Snap.
Such a pleasing combination of colors in this photo, and that little bird is quite the looker! When I enlarge the #2 image, that strand of spider silk is faintly visible very close to his head but it disappears into the ether above that. I wonder if Mr. LB might have had a spidey meal later on? 😉
Chris, my eyesight leaves a lot to be deired but I think I can see part of it. Sometimes.
Great photos, yes I see the strand in the second photo and happy you got out. If you see my new friend say Hi. He drives a blue pickup, he is a wonderful person (or a ATV around the ranch).
I am stuck at home a bit, Mia probably showed you my recent charge, he seems to making the adjustment fine. Sunday I will go somewhere.
Thanks, April. I got out this morning, but not up there, and didn’t find many birds. Kinda par for the course these days.
What a beautiful bird. Thanks Ron!
Agreed, Michael. A subject like that is pretty hard to mess up.
Cute and beautiful. A winning combination for any creature. The strand of spider silk appearing and disappearing is due to the iridescent properties of…OK, I don’t have a clue. I’d check my lens for scratches.
Lyle, if there’s a scratch on my lens I’d have a heart attack. I don’t think I’ll look…
Those colors make him one of our most beautiful birds. Like that spider web strand. Sure he did not even notice it. Even when they are here they are very elusive. Over the years here I have had very few opportunities to photograph them.
I don’t have many opportunities with them either, Everett. Especially good ones.
Beautiful! thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Beautiful little birds – we get one occasionally and, for some time, “assumed” it was a Bluebird…. 🙂 I can see the hint of web in the 2nd picture. Doesn’t seem to bother the bird….. 😉
Judy, I don’t think he was even aware it was there. But who knows.
What exquisite colors! And thank you for sharing the note about their Song being an “acoustic Barcode”… Those colors and that concept:Two miracles to ponder today!
Thanks, Alison. I thought that “acoustic barcode” bit was pretty neat, which is why I included it.
Such lovely birds. I think you’re right about a hint of the spider silk in #2!
Thanks, Cathy. In #2 I think I see it and then I don’t. Ever the phantom..;