Ring-necked Pheasant and Midges – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had a whole different post planned for this morning but problems with my internet connection kind of knocked me off that path. As an Army brat I learned young that is best to be adaptable and to work with my circumstances so that is what I am doing today.
I went to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday morning and I probably took way too many photos but I was there, the light was great, and the birds were plentiful so why not? The photos that I didn’t get haunt me more though, like a beautiful Spotted Sandpiper that was up close, out in the open, and next to the water. I’m still cursing that missed opportunity.
I saw Cliff Swallows, Tree Swallows, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Killdeer, Canada Geese, Cinnamon Teals, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Pintails, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Spotted Sandpipers, Pied-billed Grebes, Western Grebes, Clark’s Grebes, American White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, American Coots, White-faced Ibis, Caspian Terns, Forster’s Terns, California Gulls, Franklin’s Gulls, Savannah Sparrows, Western Kingbirds, Western Meadowlarks, Swainson’s Hawks, Northern Harriers, Willets, Long-billed Curlews, Peregrine Falcon, Sandhill Cranes, Long-billed Dowitchers, American Avocets, Black-necked Silts, Double-crested Cormorants, Marsh Wrens, Song Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, White-crowned Sparrows, Bullock’s Orioles, House Sparrows, American Robins, and probably a few more that I have forgotten to list.
I’d edited this male Ring-necked Pheasant image because of all the midges that are in the frame so I’ll share it this morning instead of the post I had planned. The midges were thick yesterday on the auto tour route at the refuge and I saw more than a few midge “tornadoes” right next to the dirt road. The midges don’t bite but they can be annoying because there are so many of them and when they land on my face, eyes and nose they kind of tickle and slapping them away sometimes makes me miss shots.
I don’t know if the Ring-necked Pheasants eat the midges but I know that many of the other birds at the refuge do so I like to think of midges as bird food on the wing.
Life is good even when things bug you.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Ring-necked Pheasant photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great pic! We used to live in a rural part of No.Calif and our property rolled down to a large creek. When my kids were young, we would hike down to fish and often flushed a couple pheasants out of the thickets along the way. We were always impressed at how vivid the pheasants colors were. Yet I don’t think we ever saw a pheasant as beautiful as the one in this image. Wonderful shot Mia. Thanks.
What a beauty.
And hooray for bird food.
Don’t rub in the fact I didn’t go to BRMBR yesterday. I was planning on going but ended up with a late start so I stayed local for birds and was disappointed in the number I saw. As one of our past students use to say “maybe tomorrow”.
You had a good day, for sure! Nice list. That pheasant photograph is fabulous!
The midge cloud very likely causes you to miss the “no-see-ums” of the Fort DeSoto mangroves ….. NOT! 🙂
Great photo of a bird thats hard to get standing stiill!
Lovely portrait, but I see what you are up against regarding the midges.. That is a very impressive list of birds, makes me want to go on a day trip and spot a few for myself.
Great colors! They are so photogenic. He doesn’t seem phased they the midges.
Ring neckeds. Beautiful birds.
OMGosh. I’ve never seen a close-up like that of a Ring-necked Pheasant. Even bird books do not do justice as this photo does. Wow.