Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/08/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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