Diving American Coot – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday I photographed frosty Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, foraging Killdeer, a wading Great Blue Heron, several Red-tailed Hawks, one male Rough-legged Hawk, four Bald Eagles, a confiding Song Sparrow, immature and adult White-crowned Sparrows, and a female Common Goldeneye but the bird that got me the most excited yesterday morning was an American Coot.
Why did a plain American Coot photo excite me? Because I finally took the image of one I have wanted to take for years. I’ve wanted a photo of an American Coot diving where its head was in the water with its rear end and legs above the water. I do wish the coot’s feet were visible in this image because they have fascinating feet but everything else in the photo is exactly how I wanted this image to be.
Typically I have a personal rule about having eye contact with my subject and I also want a catch light but to get this coot photo I had to break my own bird photography rules. I know that this image won’t appeal to everyone which is absolutely okay because I took this photo for me as I do for all of my photos.
Out of all the images I took yesterday this was the one that I was most interested in seeing on my large screen. An American Coot image that made my day.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species.
Love this one! I’m a sucker for Coots!
To echo everyone else…I love it too. Us old coots gotta eat when dinner is served. Great shot! Thanks Mia.
Love this. So happy you got your wish Mia! I have always been a coot lover. I took a photo of one from the boardwalk at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center last year. It was low tide and the mud was black as it could possibly be. There stood a gorgeous coot with all its toes splayed out. I so wanted to polish those toes bright red! I will never forget that coot.
Wow.
Love It!!
Not to worry about no feet as they ain’t pretty😀! Good shot Mia,
Love the photo. Mechanically impressive.
Love the shot!