Pic of the Day

Wilson's Snipe, Gallinago delicata:  Stevensville, Montana

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

Pic of the Day

    

     Wilson’s Snipe, Gallinago delicata—Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge; Stevensville, Montana: I posted three images from the Wilson’s Snipe photo shoot on July 5^th (go to http://www.bobbyharrison.blogspot.com/2012/07/pic-of-day.html).  When I was looking at images to post today I came across this photo.  The image reminded me of just how amazing birds are, especially the Wilson’s Snipe.

     If you look close enough (click on image to enlarge) you can see that the tip of the snipe’s bill in this image is slightly open.  Snipes, along with a few other shorebirds, Long billed Curlew, Short and Long billed Dowitcher to name a few, exhibit the ability to open and close the tips of their bills without moving the base of their bills.

     The Wilson’s Snipe forages for worms, leeches, crustaceans and mollusks just below the surface of soft soil.  Sensitive never ending in the tip of the bill allow the bird to feel the prey and grab it with its flexible bill tip.  Just amazing!  

Interesting trivia: 

The following is from: http://www.sangorgonio.sierraclub.org/mountains/animals/birds/sandpipers.htm  

     “It is one of the few shorebirds that can still be hunted legally. It stays well hidden in ground cover, is well camouflaged, flushes abruptly, and zigzags sharply in flight, all habits that make it difficult to shoot and therefore a favorite challenge to hunters. The word sniper derives from snipe. The verb "to snipe " originated in the 1770s among soldiers in British India where a hunter skilled enough to kill the elusive snipe was dubbed a "sniper."”

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/25 second @ f9, Gitzo Tripod, Arca Swiss Monoball

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