Sprague's Pipit

Gallery: AvianPosted September 29, 201174 views11 comments

Got my first chance in a while to get out, and headed to the Fort Pierre National Grasslands in the center of the state to try to find and photograph these guys. I'd struck out on a couple of other past attempts, but had no problem finding them this time. Photographing them was another matter...they sure like to stick to the vegetation. Stayed with it for most of a day and finally got some shots though.

Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, ISO 250, 1/1600, f7.1.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on September 29, 2011 at 10:51 AM

Your persistence paid off Terry. Nice habitat image-good low POW and excellent detail-these guys camouflage well.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 29, 2011 at 11:32 AM

Great detail, head turn, & backside view Terry, the bird really blends into this environment..
Congrats on getting this fine shot

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on September 29, 2011 at 12:01 PM

Great shot of this lovely little Pipit Terry! Easy to imagine how from a few more feet back it would probably already be a challenge to see, as long as it stood still.

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 29, 2011 at 1:04 PM

Excellent. I love these "low color" images that show how well a species fits its environment while avoiding a cluttered look. That's not easy to do and you've done it very well here.

A few winter here in the grasslands of southern AZ but are extremely hard to find, and those who do get to see them mostly settle for a view of them flying away in stair-step fashion.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 29, 2011 at 5:48 PM

Sweet!
Great pose and detail - excellent habitat shot!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 29, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Amazing that you got such a good look at this bird in those grasses Terry. Excellent head turn to make it work.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on September 30, 2011 at 8:39 AM

I don't recall this Pipit posted anywhere, so many congratulations with this great capture!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 30, 2011 at 12:44 PM

Wonderful detail on the larger version, I like the head turn and eye contact, these guys seem to blend in very well, nice job in getting this, well done.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on September 30, 2011 at 7:51 PM

This is amazing Terry. They are so difficult to find, hear, yes, but see and photograph no. I think you did an amazing job with this one. It was one of my target birds for this year but I didn't even come close.
May

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 30, 2011 at 9:03 PM

The bird harmonizes so well with the habitat. Beautiful image.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 1, 2011 at 6:06 PM

As good a photo of a Sprague's as I've ever seen, Terry. And a habitat shot, besides. Absolutely first rate.

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