[Leica] IMG: Grackles

[Doug Herr]

This morning (01 August) I visited the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area between Davis and Sacramento, California; this is an area I visit frequently with varying degrees of success.  Today was one of the better days :)

The first set of photos from today is a Great-tailed Grackle, a member of the Icteridae family (which include meadowlarks, red-winged blackbirds, orioles and others).  The grackle dropped into a pond where I had been observing another bird, and it began hunting for tasty invertebrates:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/quiscalus/gtgrac01.html

What's this?  An ibis has done the work, all the grackle has to do is steal the crayfish

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/quiscalus/gtgrac02.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/quiscalus/gtgrac03.html

with its prize underfoot

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/quiscalus/gtgrac06.html

Unlike the ibis, the grackle can't swallow the crayfish whole so is takes the crustacean apart to eat it 

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/quiscalus/gtgrac08.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/quiscalus/gtgrac07.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/quiscalus/gtgrac04.html

Technical stuff: Sony a7II, Canon FD 500mm f/4.5 L, Leitz (on-topic!) 14188 shoulder stock, old green truck.  All comments welcome.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com
http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com