Snowy Roadrunner

Gallery: AvianPosted February 12, 2011123 views12 comments

I finally got the shot this morning that I was hoping for all winter. Tuesday's blizzard left enough snow that it hasn't hardly melted yet. I was standing at the edge of the road, with the roadrunner perched on some bricks out of the snow, when it decided to walk right by me, within 15 feet. It then proceeded to cross the road to shake and peck at a dead blackbird. Distance and shade made most of those photos not so good, but I was able to capture this photo as the roadrunner paused in its journey across the snow. I wish I had been at a lower angle though. 7D, ISO 400, f/8, 1/800, 233mm with small crop. C&C always welcome and appreciated.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 12, 2011 at 12:21 PM

Wow - what an unexpected combination to an Az desert resident. A roadrunner in snow!

Just noticed the bird tracks behind the roadrunner - this adds to the image for me.

Happy Darwin Day!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on February 12, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Rob,

Very unique and unusual to capture in the snow. A fascinating and very appealing picture for sure.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 12, 2011 at 5:36 PM

Very cool seeing this species in snow. I am sure the bird is probably not that thrilled.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on February 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM

A warm weather bird in the Kansas cold!! And he looks like he's not enjoying it with the feathers all puffed out! A very cool and unique photo!! Congrats!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 12, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Wow this is great Rob. Great that you were able to get the shot you've been after.

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 13, 2011 at 3:03 AM

Wow, that's different. I would have thought he would die of hypothermia on the spot. Excellent photo all around.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 13, 2011 at 5:35 AM

Excellent! Love the tracks in the snow. Where is the crazy coyote?

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on February 13, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Neat one Rob! Maybe he's thinking twice about being so far north right now! Terrific, and unusual capture, as I'm more used to seeing these guys in a desert habitat.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 13, 2011 at 8:19 PM

Excellent job on the exposure and I like the detail in the bird. Nice, Rob.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 15, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Quite amazing to see this bird in the snow, good job in getting this difficult shot, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 16, 2011 at 11:17 PM

You and those roadrunners! What a wonderful series you're getting from them!
I don't think a lower angle would have been better - you'd have lost the detail in the feet.
There is a good article on this here:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0910/ff0910-1.html
THis is a great image! Love the pose, bright eye, and snow. The comp for very long-tailed birds is tough - this works, but you might also try more of a pano-type shot, if you cropped a lot off the front.
Really nice!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 16, 2011 at 11:24 PM

Well done getting him in the snow and with such a good pose and head-turn. Some years ago I saw one in Death Valley, there wasn't any snow there.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments