Author Topic: To Nail a Mockingbird  (Read 17613 times)

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
To Nail a Mockingbird
« on: March 20, 2012, 05:35:30 PM »
Well, not literally.

I've been watching mockingbirds do their song-and-flying-dance for ages. If you haven't seen it, right in the middle of their song, they suddenly take a flying leap about 10' straight up and land right where they started - all in the course of about a second.

I've been trying to get a good shot during the leap, but the lighting/angle/timing/weather/whatever has usually prevented me from really nailing it.............until yesterday.

This guy jumped every minute on the minute and I got these two shots within a 2-minute time period. As far as I'm concerned, they rank 1 and 1A and could be interchangeable, though I'm leaning toward the one facing me.

For you shutterbugs: 1/1000, f5.6, ISO 80..........and these images are only about a third of the frame because I included the perch in the shot.


« Last Edit: March 20, 2012, 05:44:08 PM by BLeafe »


Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: To Nail a Mockingbird
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2012, 03:05:17 PM »
OK - it's down to a comfortable science now.

Sit in a lawn chair on the roof facing west in the early morning. Catch the bird with the low sun on him as he leaps.

Repeat a couple of dozen times in the next half-hour.

Go eat breakfast.

Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline Editor

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4430
  • Karma: 17
    • View Profile
    • Hackensack Now
Re: To Nail a Mockingbird
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2012, 10:05:38 PM »
These are really fun to look at. They almost look exotic.

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: To Nail a Mockingbird
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2012, 03:23:37 PM »
Being very territorial, mockingbirds are known to harass hawks and other larger birds.

In the first picture, a mockingbird appears to be displaying to a pair of what look to be some sort of raptor flying in formation (I didn't even see them when I took the picture).

In the second picture, it appears that there's no limit to the size of bird that a mockingbird will squawk at.

I think these leaping displays might only be a Spring activity, so I'm getting whatever I can now.



Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline Editor

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4430
  • Karma: 17
    • View Profile
    • Hackensack Now
Re: To Nail a Mockingbird
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2012, 11:10:09 PM »
Hammy's got nothing on this guy. What are we calling him?  Same mockingbird or is it impossible to tell?

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: To Nail a Mockingbird
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2012, 01:17:58 AM »
Hard to tell - there are a few in the immediate area. I prefer to think it's always the same one - makes life easier - and since they're so territorial, it would make perfect sense.

There really isn't anything obvious to make a name pop out. If forced to come up with a name on the spot, I'd probably call him "Jukebox", but there's nothing really personable about him.

Hammy's got no talent, but this guy has no personality.

Maybe this is his girlfriend. Her name would be Dolly.

Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

 

anything