Autumn Brewer’s Blackbird male – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
We are just a few days away from the autumnal equinox and I’m already seeing the change of season. On my last trip into the Wasatch Mountains I could see that the oak, aspen, serviceberry, maple, willow and cottonwood leaves have begun to change colors and that some were already gloriously in full fall color. I had already seen changes in the behaviors of the birds I photograph in the high country and noticed that some of the birds had already spread their wings and headed towards warmer climes.
Soon enough I will also be making changes by spending less time in the mountains and more time in the valleys looking for the birds I know will be migrating out of Utah and for the ones I know that will be migrating through and into the state. Some birds will simply move down from the high country to lower elevations for the fall and winter.
Recently I spent some time looking through my September and October image files from previous years and started to think about how some of my avian subjects change with the seasons. I start to look forward to seeing the birds that I photograph here in the fall and winter while at the same time I begin to miss the birds I spend so much time with during the spring and summer.
I tend to think about the shots I missed this year of the birds that will move on and hope for better opportunities with them next season and ponder what changes I should apply to get the photos of them that I desire. By looking at the photos of birds I took last September and October I can figure out some of the changes I need to make now to obtain the photos of them that I want.
Last year right around the time of the autumnal equinox I started spending more time at Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Area because the gate south of Goose Egg Island was opened and that allows access to more of the marshy areas there. I’m looking forward to visiting the marshes there soon to see what changes the WMA has undergone and to photograph the birds that are there during this time of the year.
This male Brewer’s Blackbird was photographed on September 24th of last year at Farmington Bay WMA the day after the autumnal equinox. Just looking at this photo makes me think of fall. Cooler mornings. The first frost. The sounds of Tundra Swans and ducks flying overhead. Starling and blackbird murmurations.
I look at this seasonal change as a personal challenge to grow, to adapt and to meet my bird photography goals. I’m looking forward to the challenges and changes ahead.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Brewer’s Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
What a beauty – and you more than met the challenge of photographing that dark plumage.
What a gorgeous blackbird!
I agree with Mary, getting that detail is difficult.
Beautiful detail in his dark feathers!