Sand Bathing

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4x TC @ 700mm, Shutter Priority @ f/9 (1/1000 sec), 0 EV, ISO 400, Tripod, JPEG from RAW, Cropped 40% from Full Frame

Subject: Asian Hoopoe

Location: Near my home here in Thailand

Although I have plenty more images from Borneo to show you, thought I'd mix things up a little and bring you back to Thailand :^)

In March I spent a couple of weeks focusing on capturing images of one of my favourite birds, the Hoopoe. Though I've yet to achieve my dream shots of Hoopoes in flight with wings and crest fully outstretched, I have been fortunate enough to add a number of photos to my collection that I like very much as portraits as well as a few showing unusual behaviour and poses.

The one you see here is of a couple (almost certainly male and female) that took a break from hunting and pecking the grassy areas of our local paintball shooting range (have to choose my moments carefully, as do the Hoopoes!) searching for nutritious snacks such as bugs and insects.

At first I was surprised by what appeared as though they'd decided to not only sit and rest but actually lay completely down with their heads on the ground, then they started shifting and turning, as though they just couldn't seem to find the most comfortable position. After a little while one of them started to ruffle it's feathers and shake itself vigorously, kicking up dust and particles of sand in the process.

Then it dawned on me: I believe what they were doing was “washing” themselves; by grinding their feathers, heads and bodies into the sand they were probably trying to remove bothersome parasites that simple preening wasn't able to accomplish. I haven't been able to verify this so I could be wrong, but that's my guess anyhow.

Comments and critique always welcome :^)