Western Meadowlark

Gallery: AvianPosted January 14, 2011205 views22 comments

I saw three of these guys fly up from the side of the road on the way home today. Poor saps. Just about all of them leave the state for the winter, and I don't envy these three that stayed, with the cold and snow we've had this winter.

So...spring for me is the first time I hear a meadowlark singing in the morning. It's usually pretty early here (compared to other migrants)...we'll get a few straggling back in March. Such a sweet song, and when I hear it, I know summer is right around the corner. So...a shot from this past summer.

Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, 6.3, 1/500, no flash, crop from horizontal.

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 15, 2011 at 12:39 AM

He's doing what they do best, singing. Classic background and perch for these guys. Great species and photo Terry!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 15, 2011 at 12:51 AM

Beautiful detail and clarity and colors and light, Terry.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 15, 2011 at 3:57 AM

Great pose and nice BG, Terry ! Very good detail as well !
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 15, 2011 at 5:50 AM

This is excellent, perfectly timed too

Well captured.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on January 15, 2011 at 8:33 AM

Classic! A magazine cover.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on January 15, 2011 at 9:45 AM

Terry,

I love the way you captured detail in the whites in spite of the bright sunlight. Great action shot.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 15, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Terry: I'm with you on the song of the Meadowlark. It is a wonderful sound!! Great image capturing the singing pose. A classic shot of this guy in every respect

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 15, 2011 at 10:46 AM

Very nice and very "meadowlark like". The perch, the pose, are great. Not quite as much detail as I would like in the larger image.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 15, 2011 at 11:25 AM

I love the singing pose with just the bit of tongue showing. He's really getting into his song. Lovely smooth background and a post is a perfect perch for these guys.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 15, 2011 at 11:45 AM

A classic. Well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 15, 2011 at 12:19 PM

Terrific singing pose. Nice smooth bg and I like the perch. You might sharpen the larger version a bit, though.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 15, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Classic meadowlark pose Terry. I like the old weathered perch and background.Great image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 15, 2011 at 12:32 PM

What's not to like about this! Come on summer!! Well done! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 15, 2011 at 12:52 PM

Beautiful bird, great singing pose. Meadowlarks are one of my favorites, with their color, and their beautiful song. Despite their relative abundance, I have had a hard time getting a good photo. Makes me wish for spring. Excellent.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on January 15, 2011 at 2:22 PM

Nice shot Terry

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 15, 2011 at 5:32 PM

very nicely done

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 15, 2011 at 5:44 PM

Just lovely Terry - detail, background, singin pose .......

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on January 15, 2011 at 7:17 PM

Very nice Terry! A classic pose of this species.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 15, 2011 at 8:35 PM

Always been one of my favorite songbirds Terry and this is an extremely nice capture of one. Really good detail and you handled the exposure on the side light very well!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 16, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Really nice Terry. Love the weathered post and the great detail and BG. Can't beat the singing pose IMO. Well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 16, 2011 at 3:34 PM

Terry,
great singing pose so well captured.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 17, 2011 at 5:20 PM

Very nicely done Terry, love the singing pose

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments