Ruby-crowned Kinglet and faded Rabbitbrush – Nikon D500, f5.6, 1/500, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday morning near a creek in one of the sky island mountain ranges found in the West Desert of Utah there were kinglets, sparrows, solitaires and a few warblers busy bathing, foraging, and hawking insects. As the water flowed over the worn rocks in the creek several Ruby-crowned Kinglets moved around in the willows and shrubs looking for insects and spiders for breakfast.
Most of the time the kinglets were in the shade and not out in the bright morning sunlight. I took photos of them wherever they landed. The adult male Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the photos above had just been near the creek bank then I saw it pop up above the faded flowers of a rabbitbrush in the shade. Morning light may have produced a nicer looking photo than the kinglet being in the shade yet I quite like the soft light in this image.
Note: I know that this kinglet is a male because his ruby crown was plainly visible in other photos I took of him.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet peeking out of willows – Nikon D500, f5.6, 1/320, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Then another Ruby-crowned Kinglet peeked out the the willows. Even though the tail and part of the body of the kinglet is obscured by some out of focus willow leaves I loved the filigree of lacy leaves in the background of this image and the great view I had of the kinglet’s eye.
Not exactly an image one would find in a guide book but this is the kind of view I get of this species quite often. In habitat doing what birds do.
Wild Turkey hen trying to sneak by – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Later in the morning in another canyon a hiker flushed a small flock of turkeys that I had been listening to. The turkeys flew up a small hill in distress and after a bit this hen tried to sneak past the “mobile blind” that I was sitting in. She was so close that I opted to take a few portraits of her before she disappeared into the forest.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay in the West Desert – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
On the way down the mountain I spotted a Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay fly into a sumac in a dry wash and was delighted when it flew to a spindly juniper branch for a second or two. I am always happy to add photos of these jays to my portfolio.
The Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Wild Turkeys and the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay made the very bumpy and extremely dusty ride into the mountain canyons well worth taking.
Life is good.
Mia
Nice selection. I love the scrub jay’s stance.
Great shots, many thanks!
Thank you for sharing the delights of your morning.
That turkey’s face looks prehistoric: the dinosaur nature peering out.
Great shots as always.