These days I get my amusement where I can find it and sometimes it’s in one of my bird photos.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago, while I was photographing a Sage Thrasher that was too far away for good photos, I finally noticed this Rock Wren watching me from a closer vantage point than the thrasher. After a few seconds ‘he’ even came out in the open on this lofty perch, as if he was tempting me to aim my lens his way instead of toward the thrasher. So I obliged him.
Soon after I got him in my viewfinder he…
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
looked down the steep rocky slope below and…
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
launched over the precipice and into the void, keeping his wings tightly closed along the way. Free-falling as they say.
I can’t look at this photo without it reminding me of a downhill skier, perhaps in one of Warren Miller’s classic ski movies – minus the snow and with feathers of course. Even his feet look like short, stubby skis.
Yeah, I know, there’s no catch light in his eye. But with a novelty shot like this one I can live without it.
It still makes me smile
Ron
Smiling is good for the soul.
😁
Smiling here too. Broadly. Many thanks.
Good. Thanks, EC.
So glad he attracted your attention! Like the daredevil kid in class who can’t wait to show off his great idea.
Such a beautiful bird, too – the subtle colors, stripes and dots, lovely.
Thanks for noticing, Carolyn. Somehow, I got more color in this Rock Wren than I have in any other.
This reminds me of another one of your great series – the speed skating coot. Not to early to start planning for the winter avian Olympics.
Frances, I loved that speed skating coot post. If we get any ice this winter, no gaurantee of that these days, it would be fun to try to photograph that behavior again.
Can’t stop smiling!!! His feet do look like skies and his pose is mesmerizingly amusing! He looks so intense in the shot before the takeoff – he REALLY wanted to impress you! Rock Wren vs Sage Thrasher goes to the Rock Wren – he really rocked it!
“Can’t stop smiling”
Kathleen, I’m glad it had the same effect on you as it did on me.
Great series. I especially liked the last photo and no need for catchlight. The only thing that might possibly be missing is the descending laugh of a Canyon Wrens song. Now that would really be unbelievable timing. I don’t get to see Rock Wrens often as they are not found west of the Cascades. However, there is a forested butte with rocky outcroppings at it peak that is just at the edge of Eugene’s city limits. Rock Wrens were found nesting atop this butte in the 1930s. We found them nesting atop that same butte again in the mid 70s. Otherwise, they belong eastside.
“The only thing that might possibly be missing is the descending laugh of a Canyon Wrens song.”
Dan, I must have thought so too. When I first published this post, in the second sentence under the first photo, I called this Rock Wren a Canyon Wren. A friend pointed it out to me so I fixed it as soon as I could.
Here’s our champion skier on the top of the mountain, about to descend thousands of feet down the treacherous chute:
-The initial stretch;
-Crouching for the take off;
Wait, he’s frozen with fear mid air after realizing he forgot his skis and knows it will be feet first all the way down. The crowd is terrified. Beyond all belief he makes it without wiping out. The crowd goes wild.
That’s what this post needed. An announcer!
It’s a fabulous capture. And this guy’s a top-notch skier. 🙂
Thank you, Arwen.
Love Everett Sanborn’s comment! And I do love Rock Wrens. This really gave me a smile. Thanks, Ron.
Good. Thanks, Ellen.
Reminds me of Tom Petty’s Free Fallin. Really nice shot Ron. No catch light, but the eye is really clear and adds well to these outstanding photos.
I learned to ski at Mammoth Mtn in California when I was in my 50’s Took a lesson and was so frustrated – could not even go with the rest of the group to the bunny slope. Went back the next day and this very young instructor said “I’m not big on instructions – I am a zen instructor – I think in your mind you know how to ski – just relax and follow me and before you know it you
will be skiing.” Could not believe it, but he was right, and very soon off I went.
Everett, I’ve had Petty’s song in my head all morning. And I enjoyed the skiing story you sent me.
A terrific “behavior” photograph!
I know birds don’t “think” in the same way as humans but making the decision to step off that rock and drop without opening its wings, well, it may be the definition of “leap of faith”.
(Still not ready to take up downhill skiing, though.)
Nor am I, Wally. With my bad back it makes me wince just to think of it.
Back in the day I loved to ski but gave it up when I realized that school kids had the same days off I did and every last one of them was always in front of me in the line to the ski lift.
That’s the best yet Ron! Totally unique! Shots like that are few and far between…catchlight or not! Thank you for sharing.
I’m glad to know you like it so much, Connie. Thank you.
You certainly captured the spirit of this little gem! I’ve only seen two Rock Wrens in Missouri- well out of this bird’s normal range- and one was in mid-November 2015 when flying insects were hard to come by. It made up for the food shortage by picking dead bugs off the grill of a parked eighteen wheeler! Meals on wheels! I love the little dip they do when singing. Fond memories!
“Meals on wheels”
A perfect analogy for the situation you described, Diane.
TOO funny! 🙂 A good laugh is always welcome……:) Can’t say I’ve ever seen a bird do that tho suspect it may happen so fast………
“suspect it may happen so fast”
You’re right, Judy. Stuff like this happens so fast the eye doesn’t notice it. That’s another reason I love bird photography
Outstanding. Don’t need catch light for things like this. That last shot is so surreal that without the other shots and story one might think it was a photoshop job. Count one more smile here.
“without the other shots and story one might think it was a photoshop job”
I agree, Michael. Or the photo would just look out of context somehow. That’s why I so often include photos that are “introductory” to the primary photo(s).
On your mark.
Get set.
Go!
Right on schedule!
Thanks again and again, Ron.
You’re very welcome, Mary.
This made me laugh and I was not expecting that third photo to turn out the way it did. Early morning laugh to setup a positive day! Thanks for showing me not every photo needs a catch light.
Thanks, Shane I often post behavioral shots that lack catch lights. In my view, interesting behaviors trump light in the eye.
Smile shots! Yes, yes, yes. And yes, catchlights, while they are always very desirable, they are never a match for a smile. Love this series and esp love that smile of yours which I can almost feel slipping between the words.
” catchlights… are never a match for a smile”
Well said, Granny Pat.