American Coot close up in low light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
About two weeks ago I shared photos of an American Coot struggling to stay upright on ice and I think those photos were fun to view because anyone who has walked on ice can relate to slipping and sliding on it.
American Coots can be a challenge to photograph because of the high contrast between their dark colored plumage and their ivory white bills and I happen to like having my skills as a bird photographer challenged. I enjoy photographing coots because they can look calm one moment, switch to aggressive in the blink of an eye and then look comical the next. In other words, they keep me on my toes.
During the winter I am fortunate to have scores of American Coots gather on a pond close to home where I can photograph them to my heart’s content and I do just that quite often. I can photograph them fighting, feeding, resting and preening. I’m able to photograph them in the water and on land where I can see their large, greenish colored lobed feet.
When the American Coots come close to me I am also able to take portraits of them that show their red eyes and their ivory colored bills with their reddish-brown frontal shields. Almost two years ago I was at my local pond in poor light when this American Coot stepped out of the water close enough for me to take a portrait of it and I was glad to have it in my viewfinder. The light I had wasn’t the best but the photo turned out well.
It has been pouring rain here this morning but if the sun breaks through the clouds, even if it is only for a few minutes, I’m going to head to the pond and hopefully find a few coots there to photograph.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species.
Oh, Mia! You NEVER disappoint!!!
Fabulous portrait — so much detail! The way he’s hunkered down with his head in the center of a roundish body, makes me think of Violet Beauregard in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 😉
I forgot to say that you have an exceptionally sharp and stunning capture of this bird here, that catch light in the eye is outstanding as are the feather and shield details. I applaud you.
I do like the red eyes, and learned a lot about them as I followed the growth and development of a few families last summer. loving and protective, or vicious as can be, quite the enigma.
Lovely, it reminds me of fond memories of an imprinted bird we called Coot-Coot. He loved his ears rubbed.
I always love your portraits – and this is no exception.
Thank you.
Lovely! Calling out for gallery wall space. Stay warm little coot!
The feathers are so thick that they almost look like fur. Great photo.
Cool photo, Mia.