{"id":120144,"date":"2024-01-26T04:50:48","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T11:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=120144"},"modified":"2024-01-26T13:36:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T20:36:50","slug":"im-still-looking-for-this-leucistic-american-coot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/01\/26\/im-still-looking-for-this-leucistic-american-coot\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m Still Looking For This Leucistic American Coot"},"content":{"rendered":"

I remember feeling very thrilled when I found this leucistic American Coot on January 2, 2023. I’d been hoping to find a leucistic coot for quite a long time.<\/p>\n

The day I found the coot, it was dreary and gray, and the coot stayed well out in the middle of my local pond. I shared the presence of this coot with friends, neighbors, and some local photographers.<\/p>\n

After that, it became a goal for me to get better photos of the wonky-looking coot.<\/p>\n

\"LeucisticLeucistic American Coot and reflections \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I had no idea that the leucistic coot would hang around until sometime in April, so I visited the pond frequently, hoping to get closer, better quality images of it.<\/p>\n

Last winter was especially snowy and gray down in the Salt Lake Valley; most of the time when I saw the coot, the light was awful, and the coot stayed way out in the middle of the pond.<\/p>\n

It wasn’t until spring arrived that my wish came true.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Coot with leucism in Salt Lake County \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

On the 7th of April, I was able to take photos of the leucistic American Coot that I liked. Even though the coot wasn’t close, I like the funky colored reflections on the water.<\/p>\n

\"LeucisticLeucistic American Coot and red roof reflections \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/4000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

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The red reflections contrasted nicely with the coot’s unusual black and white plumage, and the reflections complemented the coot’s red eyes as well.<\/p>\n

At that time, I still hoped to capture closer images of this striking coot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"UnusualUnusual leucistic American Coot \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, tripod mounted, 1\/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

On April 9th, I was finally able to take the photos of the leucistic American Coot I had longed to create. I was standing on the shore of the pond with my dear friend and photographer, April Olson<\/span><\/a>, when the coot swam towards us.<\/p>\n

I didn’t hesitate, I took hundreds of photos of this unique looking, leucistic American Coot. I’m so very glad that I did.<\/p>\n

\"LeucisticLeucistic American Coot looking at me \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, tripod mounted, 1\/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

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By the time April arrives here in northern Utah, American Coots are in their breeding season. A few coots do breed at this pond, now that the pond-side vegetation has become overgrown. However, this coot moved on for the breeding season.<\/p>\n

After April 9th, I no longer saw this coot at the pond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"LeucisticLeucistic American Coot in spring \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, tripod mounted, 1\/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Every time I have gone down to my local ponds and looked at the Jordan River from the trail or the road, I look for this unusual leucistic American Coot.<\/p>\n

It may or may not show up again. Me? I’m going to keep on looking for the coot.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here<\/a><\/span> to see posts on other leucistic birds that I have found and photographed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I remember feeling very thrilled when I found this leucistic American Coot on January 2, 2023. I’d been hoping to find a leucistic coot for quite a long time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":120127,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[137,27,7646,709,26],"tags":[4004,4010,2772,2773,4121,14661,3456,3455,10698,13483,1984,1902,958,165,1004,1006,8018,3996],"class_list":["post-120144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-coots","category-avian","category-rarities","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-american-coot","tag-coot","tag-coots","tag-fulica-americana","tag-funky-water-color","tag-leucism","tag-leucistic","tag-park","tag-plumage-aberration","tag-pond","tag-rare","tag-reflections","tag-spring","tag-unique","tag-unusual","tag-urban","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t