Sage Grouse

Gallery: AvianPosted May 16, 2011326 views26 comments

Here's another shot from our Malheur trip of a couple of weeks ago. This year's trip was like last year's in that the first couple of days were unseasonably cold and then it started to warm up toward the end of the trip. This was taken from my car at the Sage Grouse lek. Everyone in the group managed to get at least a couple of flight shots of these guys as when they are done lekking in the morning they take off - luckily in the direction of the road that we are parked on. This was taken just a few beats after take off. This is cropped to 67% of FF.

7D 500F4 1.4x 1/1250 F7.1 iso 500, manual exposure, handheld out car window

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on May 16, 2011 at 1:36 AM

I like the colour palette in this shot ,and the blur in the wings IMHO makes this shot.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 16, 2011 at 1:55 AM

These guys fly like rockets; well done. Is that snow this late at Malheur? Tough on the migrants...

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 16, 2011 at 1:57 AM

Thanks Avi and Jim. Jim, yes we had almost blizzard conditions the night of April 28th. However it made for beautiful settings for shooting the grouse the next morning and it warmed up later in the week.

It's my impression that it's been a late migration for most species due to the cold spring we've had out west.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on May 16, 2011 at 5:53 AM

A also love the tones in this a lovely shot

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 16, 2011 at 7:09 AM

Wonderful Nate - great wing position. Love the frosty background

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on May 16, 2011 at 7:18 AM

Nate, you nailed the detail on this difficult shot. As one of the malheur workshop participants this year, I am amazed you could still push the shutter button as cold as it was. Great workshop, and a great experience for me, as it was my first time to see Sage Grouse.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on May 16, 2011 at 8:33 AM

Terrific flight shot. The bird stands out nicely from the bg.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 16, 2011 at 9:17 AM

Sweet flight shot with a good look at the eye. I would maybe tone the brightness of the background down a little though.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 16, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Really like this one Nate. Good separation of the head, the eye shows up well in that light, I like the wing position and the bird is sharp with effective motion blur in the wings. One of these birds unexpectedly flushed at my feet once near Bear Lake in northern Utah - I thought my heart stopped I was so startled. Never forget it...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 16, 2011 at 10:02 AM

Nice, Nate. Good job getting a flight shot. Grouse take-offs are so explosive.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 16, 2011 at 11:13 AM

Looks terrific Nate, no lie

I especially like how the birds colors blend in - It's camouflaged well in this environment.
Also like the wing position and your clear view of the head..Great POV,comp, and details

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 16, 2011 at 11:36 AM

Great job getting that head so sharp Nate. I meant to get out to a lek this year and missed my chance AGAIN! Maybe bexy tear, I will finally get to see and photograph a grouse. I love the wing blur. If it were mine, I might be tempted to tone down the BG just a touch though.

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

Comment posted by Graham Brown on May 16, 2011 at 11:38 AM

Not easy to get a flight shot sharp with the 7D but the body looks really good with slight motion blur in the wings - a nice combination.I particularly like the background, the colours blend very well with the bird. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 16, 2011 at 11:51 AM

Excellent. Nice techs, good sharpness, action, fine natural setting.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 16, 2011 at 12:16 PM

Nate,
I like the dynamic flight pose you captured with the fanned out tail, the light and the range of tones in the background. Great work.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 16, 2011 at 12:34 PM

What strikes me first about this image is the intricate feather work with the dappled white spots, all this against a non discript background. Nice separation between bird and bg, Nate. Love the pose, also.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 16, 2011 at 2:53 PM

You already know how I feel about this one

Excellent Catch Nate

It was a very productive trip.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on May 16, 2011 at 3:10 PM

Beauty, Nate. Great detail and wing and tail positions. The image really shows how they can disappear into their surroundings.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on May 16, 2011 at 3:10 PM

Another great flight shot. Great detail and color in this image.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on May 16, 2011 at 5:51 PM

Excellent - especially the forequarter perspective, eye contact, wing position and shared tones of bird and background.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 16, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Sweet shot Nate. No nits from me on this one. Wish I was there.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 16, 2011 at 8:42 PM

Excellent Nate. I like your higher angle showing the nice wing detail.I also like the backlit wing

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on May 17, 2011 at 10:37 AM

Just beautiful. Love the way the colors in the bird and background complement each other.

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on May 17, 2011 at 5:22 PM

Really nice, Nate. The sharp grouse and blurred wingtips provide a nice sense of motion. Good background to help the bird show up clearly.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 17, 2011 at 7:23 PM

You nailed it Nate. This is outstanding.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 18, 2011 at 3:12 PM

Nice flight shot Nate, good detail where it counts and good job handling the bright light, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments