Sunrise with a Long-billed Curlew – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm at 400mm, natural light
So far this year I have taken two cruddy photos of Long-billed Curlews. The photos were taken after the curlews lifted off from the grasses and the engine in the vehicle I was in was still running which created softer images than I like. The curlews also had their backs to me so those two photos went into my delete bin.
I was excited about the return of the Long-billed Curlews and looked forward to photographing them on Antelope Island State Park, a location where I have had my best opportunities with curlews. But then lockdowns for the Coronavirus started and because I live in Salt Lake County I couldn’t go to the park on the island because it was only opened for Davis County residents during that period. So I missed all of the curlew courtship displays, I missed opportunities to photograph them having territorial fights, mating and calling on the wing. I missed out on the best time of the year to photograph these shorebirds that nest in our grasslands.
By the time the governor here in Utah lifted the restrictions and people from outside of Davis County could go back to the park the biting gnats (no-see-ums) had appeared and because of my extreme reactions to their bites and my hyperactive immune system I have had to stay away from the island. I have not been there since March 17th. Am I sad about that? A bit. But staying safe during this global pandemic has been a top priority and I haven’t wanted to risk getting a bug bite that causes a reaction so severe that I needed to head to a hospital. So I have also missed seeing the curlews with their young.
I will say that my favorite and most memorable times photographing Long-billed Curlews happened while I was still living in Florida well away from their breeding grounds. One might ask why.
The answer would be the intimate connection I felt with the warmth of sand, the smell of saltwater, and to my subject. When I am photographing from inside a vehicle I can feel a connection to my subjects but it simply doesn’t feel as powerful or as intimate.
I photographed this first spring, immature Long-billed Curlew on May 24, 2009 at the north beach of Fort De Soto County Park in Pinellas County, Florida as she foraged in the warm waters of a tidal lagoon. I was laying flat on the wet sand with my elbows supporting my lens as the golden light of sunrise fell on her feathers. I was definitely connected to the earth, sky, water and her at the time.
Ah, what a pleasant memory.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Tip: When using a vehicle as a mobile blind always, always turn off the engine before raising your camera or clicking the shutter. The vibrations from the engine can and do cause soft images especially with longer focal lengths.
Spectacular shot! The Curlews subtle – but beautiful colors – set against the perfect background. The detail is exquisite. Thanks Mia.
Wow, this bird is aptly named! My first good shot of one happened when we took a trip through South Dakota. While driving through the Badlands, one flew up right next to us and posed on top of a bale of hay. While my image is nowhere near as inspirational as yours, it was a memorable occasion.
It’s a beautiful shot. And I can visualize you lying in the sandy water at the shoreline. I’m very familiar with the park. I have gone over to the park to watch the sunsets or just take in the views many times. The beaches on the Gulf are so different from those on the Atlantic Ocean. I miss the days of fishing or just enjoying the water on the Gulf of Mexico long before the shadows of condominiums destroyed the views. You brought back some memories from my past too!
Thank you.
I needed this serene loveliness this morning. And every morning.
The colors and light are beautiful.
Excellent image of the Curlew! Also, very good tip. I’ve made that mistake of leaving my engine running and noticed the effect of engine vibration on the final images. I think that the impact on the image depends largely on shutter speed, but the effect is never good..