A Sage Thrasher in golden light- Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I didn’t get to see Greater Sage Grouse on my recent trip to southern Utah but I did get a few brief looks at another sagebrush obligate when a single Sage Thrasher popped up into view. It was my first of year sighting of these small thrashers this season which made me eager to see them closer to home. They are migrating north now and will show up in northern Utah soon.
I wasn’t able to get a single image of the Sage Thrasher before it flew away but I’m glad I was able to see it.
The songs of Sage Thrashers are beautiful and when I am photographing them I also get to listen and enjoy it as their melodious songs float across the sagebrush steppe and grasslands.
Last year I was able to photograph the courtship displays that Sage Thrashers exhibit, Undulating Flight and Bilateral Wing Displays, for the first time which was exciting for me. I hope that I will be able to see and photograph their courtship displays again this season.
The photograph above of a Sage Thrasher in the golden light just after dawn was taken at the end of the nesting season and just before the thrashers headed south.
Life is good. Birds are good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Sage Thrasher photos plus facts and information about this species.
That golden light is glorious.
As is the bird.
Beautiful photo, Mia.
Love the liquid quality of the bird song…like a small, fast moving stream tumbling over mossy rocks…wish it last mant times longer…..
Soft, warm colors…beautiful bird….nice!
A beautiful song to accompany a beautiful picture. Thank you for sharing.