Autumn Townsend’s Solitaire in a desert – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I was thrilled to find and take pictures of a Townsend’s Solitaire perched on the bare branches of a sumac on my journey yesterday morning to far northern Utah. I’ve found these subtle gray birds in this location during previous autumns so I wasn’t surprised to find one there. I was excited because it was so close to the road.
Roadside Townsend’s Solitaire – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
More often than not I hear this species songs or calls before I see them. This solitaire was silent.
The Townsend’s Solitaire seemed to be looking for something when I photographed it. It turned its head from side to side several times while I observed it through my viewfinder. When the solitaire lifted off it flew to the other side of the road in the shadow created by a rabbitbrush. I could tell that it had prey but the light wasn’t the best.
Townsend’s Solitaire perched in sage – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
After a few seconds the solitaire lifted off with the prey and flew towards my side of the road and landed on a clump of sage. I turned my Jeep on and moved forward slowly. By the time I was close enough to take the photo above the solitaire had consumed whatever it was that it had caught.
I could have been disappointed that I was unable to capture the bird with its prey. Not me. Having these pictures when I got home made me beam with delight.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Townsend’s Solitaire photos plus facts and information about this species.
Your efforts to capture this guy sure paid off…these are wonderful pics. Thanks Mia.
Really matches the habitat this time of year. Nice photos and find!
Love those gradations of silver.
What an eye ring they have! So nice to see this bird we rarely set eyes on. Very handsome!