Snowsquall, CA
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I’ve spent the last two weeks on the Arctic shore of Canada’s west Perth County, Ontario, photographing migrating Arctic Shorebirds. For those of you who know Ontario, Canada, you might be saying isn’t Perth County deep inside of South Western Ontario, it does not even have a shore on a Great Lake, let alone the Arctic Ocean’s Shore.
Okay while Perth doesn’t have an Arctic shore, what west Perth County does have is wetlands and mudflats in particular. These mudflats are easily seen from altitude above Huron County which borders the Great Lake Huron its namesake and is Perth’s neighbour to the west. This combination of large flats of shallow water and expanses of mud make for a prime resting ground for large flocks of migrating Arctic shorebirds that follow the Great Lakes southwards. Food is always the pivotal factor as to why these birds stop-over and these wetlands are teaming with an abundance of nourishment in their nutrient rich waters and soil, deep in the agricultural heartland of Canada, nestled amongst the Great Lakes the largest bodies of fresh water in the world.
If you love Arctic birds this is a hot spot of where to be in late summer, like Point Pelee is for migrating Warblers in the spring. Add to this weather patterns like a heavy rain and it creates the “perfect storm” to have a wide diversity of what some consider the “crème de la crème” of all birds, the Shorebird.
I find Shorebirds very frustrating because identification is sometimes based on such nuances that it can be very difficult to tell them apart. Not just what’s a Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs but a myriad of other sandpipers that can all look alike except for tiny variances in feathers colourations on the scapulars, mantle or coverts. Even when looking at photos it can be very difficult because unless you have the scale of another bird or object, as well as perfect exposure, you can be left guessing. Yet with time, after spending numerous hours observing these masses of birds, you start to pick up the differences as you see them move amongst each other, even in flight, as they fly intermingled in large flocks and gather along the way of their often continental journeys from northern to southern hemispheres in fall. It truly is a wonder of nature, both breathtaking and life affirming in the observation of these epic journeys. Add to this the intimacy of the camera and it becomes a joy to behold through the viewfinder, a blessing in my life. I’m becoming very fond of shorebirds.
And so I came to the West Perth Wetlands in South Western Ontario, photographed numerous shorebirds and in my confusion trying to ID them, went to someone who tells me the true way to distinguish difficult shorebirds is through their respective songs. One night, I sent him a volley of photographs asking for help in confirming my ID’s, the next morning he called me to ask where I had taken these photographs and if I had been up to the Arctic Ocean shore. He placed the context of being on these wonderful northern tidal coastlands in my imagination through viewing my photographs. After that, every early morning I awoke and readied myself for the drive, I imaged myself heading out to Canada’s formidable Arctic Ocean’s shore to photograph a litany of “lifer” shorebirds for me – off to the Arctic shore of west Perth County.
Over the course of the next while I would like to share some of my joyous shorebird moments, those “Kodak Moments” with you, all photographed some 5-6 hours driving to the north-west of Rochester, New York the home of Kodak itself, with not an iceberg in sight. I digress but what will ever replace those Kodak moments? Maybe that’s why they’re called memory cards, but my digital memories just sounds weird for those of us who remember Kodak.
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Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) during fall migration at West Perth Wetlands, Ontario, Canada.
This bird has a very wide range and Breeds in the Arctic south to James Bay, the Aleutian Islands, and the southern tip of Greenland. It winters off Peru, the southern Arabian Peninsula, and Indonesia. It prefers open ocean and beaches but can be found on shallow rivers, lakes, and mudflats during migration. The male tends the offspring from egg to fledgling.
There was a "dopping", "swirl", "twirl", "whirl", or "whirligig" of phalaropes present the day I photographed them (these are all names used to describe a flock of phalaropes).
Nikon D300, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR, TC-17E II
1/2000s @ f/5.6, ISO 200, EV -0.7, aperture priority
tripod, PS CS5 post processing
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For a larger resolution image please click on the image inside the following link.
EXIF Data file | http://www.gerardpas.com/photo/birds/_DSC32295EXIF.html
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Nikon D300, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR, TC-17E II
1/2000s @ f/5.6, ISO 200, EV -0.7, aperture priority
tripod, PS CS5 post processing
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For a larger resolution image please click on the image inside the following link.
EXIF Data file | http://www.gerardpas.com/photo/birds/_DSC32343EXIF.html
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Nikon D300, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR, TC-17E II
1/1250s @ f/5.6, ISO 200, EV -0.7, aperture priority
tripod, PS CS5 post processing
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For a larger resolution image please click on the image inside the following link.
EXIF Data file | http://www.gerardpas.com/photo/birds/_DSC32257EXIF.html
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The phalarope is a small sandpiper with lobed toes to help it swim. It spends its time swimming, dipping its head underwater for food. Phalaropes are the only waders which consistently swim on water, feeding by stirring as they move, and then reaching to pick insects, plankton or krill from the surface.
The photo below shows how this bird looks much of the time swimming as it is feeding unlike other sandpipers which stand and bob their heads for food.
Nikon D300, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR, TC-17E II
1/1600s @ f/5.6, ISO 200, EV -0.7, aperture priority
tripod, PS CS5 post processing
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For a larger resolution image please click on the image inside the following link.
EXIF Data file | http://www.gerardpas.com/photo/birds/_DSC32320EXIF.html
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What really startled me in watching this birds behaviour around the other migrating shorebirds was that it was very aggressive and had a great deal of attitude. In the sequence below: because of its webbed feet this little bird had built up a head of steam and is charging a Greater Yellowlegs almost 4 times its size (look at its wake). It crashed directly into the Greater Yellowlegs and then chased it around for a wee bit. Very amusing to observe this mercurial little bird.
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The Red-necked Phalarope; a striking little sandpiper with a long journey ahead of it, from Canada’s far north to the southern coasts of South America.
Thank you for looking. I hope you get to see one of these someday and if not these pictures will help you imagine it – this was a “lifer” for me << http://www.lfpress.com/travel/2010/08/27/15163156.html >>.
Like this birds journey a bit long winded post from me as is usual.
Your comments are welcome!
Gerard Pas
Ars est celare artem — It is true art to conceal art.
http://www.gerardpas.com
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