Pic of the Day

Lewis's Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis:

Larry Creek Loop; North of Stevensville, Montana

     This is a bird that I had longed to photograph and finally got the chance in 2012.  I began my search in Montana’s Glacier National Park.  After talking with a Park Ranger I was directed to Polebridge, a small, out of the way tourist destination on western outskirts of the park.  I drove many miles around the area which was very good Lewis’s Woodpecker habitat, but after a full day of searching I had no luck.  I spent a few more days in Glacier then decided to head south and look elsewhere. 

     It wasn’t long till I found myself in Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville, Montana.  On my third day of shooting at Metcalf I came across another photographer who told me about seeing a Lewis’s Woodpecker.  Within the hour I saw my first Lewis’s.  It was a lone bird flying from telephone pole to telephone pole along a dirt road. 

     I followed the woodpecker for a quarter of mile when it joined a couple of more birds in a wooded ravine.  After watching the group for a few minutes I saw one of the birds fly to a snag with insects in its beak.  I had found a nest right beside the road.

    I spent three mornings observing and photographing Lewis’s Woodpecker at the nest tree.  Though the young were too young to be seen, the adults but on a great show as they brought food to their nestlings.  This bird was photographed after it delivered its insect morsels and hitched up the nest tree to pose for the camera.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1000 second @ f/7.1

Pic of the Day

Wilson's Snipe, Callinago delicata:

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge; Stevensville, Montana

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/200 second @ f/9

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Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas: 

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, Montana

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/500 second @ f8

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Cassin's Finch (female), Carpodacus cassinii; Near Stevensville, Montana

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Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus;Lee Metcalf NWR;
Stevensville, Montana
Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/320 second @ f7.1

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   Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris – Lee Metcalf NWR; Stevensville, Montana:  I hit Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge at just the right time.  Breeding season was underway and marsh wrens were busily building nests and defending territories.  On my second morning at the refuge I was on location at sunrise and ready to shoot.  Shortly after the sun had risen, a male marsh wren climbed to the tops of reeds and began singing their hearts out.  

     But not all the wrens were singing, many were gathering nest material.  Male marsh wrens build multiple nests within their territory and leave it to the female to choose the nest she likes.  As I watched one male singing from a reed, another flew to a cattail within a dozen feet of me.  Without even thinking I framed the wren in my viewfinder and started shooting.  I was surprised at the wrens fearlessness, and when I reviewed the images I was even more surprised that I had captured it gathering nesting material.  The  bit of cattail down in the wrens beak gave the image just the spark it needed.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,250sec @ 7.1

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/500sec. @ f8

Pic of the Day

     Wilson's Snipe – Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, Montana:  When I arrived at the Lee Metcalf NWR just outside of Stevensville, Montana there was only a half hour of light before the sun would set behind the Bitterroot Mountains.  I immediately went about finding a subject to shoot with those last few minutes of light, but had little success.  During that time I scoped the area and found spots I need to be the following morning for the best light.

     As I drove out of the refuge onto a county access road I saw this Wilson's snipe perched atop a fence post.  I have often seen snipe, but usually at the edge of muddy wetland that usually provide the worst of shooting condition.  They are so well camouflaged that once found and photographed they are hard to seen in the image.  They are also very shy and easily spooked, making photography even more difficult. 

     As I passed this snipe I slowed the van and a cautiously backed up within a hundred feet of the bird.  The sun had set, and I knew I had to work from a tripod if I wanted to obtain sharp images.  With nothing to lose, thinking that the bird would fly as soon as it saw me, I got out of the van in plain view and, set-up my camera gear.  Still thinking that all was for naught, I began a slow approach toward the snipe.  To my great joy the snipe seemed unconcerned with me.  At thirty feet I began to shoot images and slowly worked to about eighteen to twenty feet.  With the sun far set, I had to shoot very slow shutter speeds, but at the same time I wanted to maintain a sharp image from the front of the fence post the snip was perched through the bird itself.  Fortunately the bird did not move, except to turn its head every now and then, which gave me the opportunity to use the slow shutter speed and maintain depth-of-field.

     As I continued to shoot, the only sound heard was the hum of my shutter snapping.  Then in the silence between the shutter snaps I heard a faint buzzing.  The buzzing osculated as if it was moving closer, then farther away.  Immediately I recognized the sound and why my snipe was so patient with me.  Her focus was not on me, but on a males buzzing nuptial flight display occurring above our heads.  After a few more shots, I backed off and let the dance continue.  I was a very happy camper!

    I had thought I had lost the chance to shoot after the sun sat that evening, but as always, the unexpected delighted me with some wonderful images.

Top Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/30 sec. @ f9, Tripod

Middle Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/30 sec. @ f9, Tripod

Bottom Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/30 sec. @ f9, Tripod

  

    Lewis’s Woodpecker – Stevensville, Montana:  For three days I drove Glacier National Park, The National Bison Range, and Metcalf NWR looking for Lewis’s Woodpecker.  Lewis’s Woodpecker is an uncommon bird in its range, and I was told by park rangers and other birder’s that, “you don’t find Lewis’s, they just happen.  They move around a lot.”  
     The Lewis’s Woodpecker was first collect by Meriwether Lewis on the 1805 expedition into the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase territory.  The bird was named for its discoverer. 

Unlike other woodpeckers the Lewis’s does not usually dig into a tree for insects, but fly catches.  I have observed the bird perched in typical woodpecker posture, then, leap into the air to hawk insects.  It is most unusual behavior for a woodpecker.

     After chasing the bird for three days I did not think I would find one, then I stopped and talked with another photographer while shooting at Lee Metcalf NWR.  I asked him if he had seen a Lewis’s.  He told me he had seen one that morning on a road west and north of Stevensville.  With his directions I took off looking, and to my great surprise I found not one, but three birds just a half a mile north of where he told me to look.  As I watched the birds I was incredibly excited.  The Lewis’s is a “Lifer” for me.  Seeing the bird itself was enough, but I had not only seen the bird, I saw one fly to nearby cavity.  I had found nesting birds, and an opportunity to shoot photos.

    The nest was situated in a cottonwood stump about twelve feet off the ground.  There was also a drive into pasture about 20-25 feet from the nest that I would pull into.  The nest was perfectly situated for me to use my van as a blind.  I have enjoyed two good mornings shooting this wonderful, and some what rare bird.  I was just hoping to see this beautiful bird, but I have been fortunate to photograph it as well.  What more could I ask for!


Top Photo:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, with 1.4 teleconverter, 1/1000 sec @ f8
Bottom Photo:  Nikon D 7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/000 sec, @ f7.1