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Northern Wheatear at Lickdale, Lebanon County, PA
This Northern Wheatear was serendipitously discovered by a visiting South Carolina birder at a dumpster behind a Days
Inn in Lickdale on 6 Oct. The bird was still present 7 and 8 Oct, when these photos were made. Residents in the area mentioned
that the bird has been present in the area for up to a month!
In characteristic wheatear fashion, this bird showed no fear as it foraged about the area behind the Days Inn, often
approaching onlookers to within a few feet. Below are just a sample of the many dozens of "keeper" images I was able to make
of this enchanting bird over the course of a few hours.
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 2x TC III, 1/800 sec. at f/13 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 2x TC III, 1/1000 sec. at f/13 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 2x TC III, 1/1000 sec. at f/13 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 2x TC III, 1/1250 sec. at f/9 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 2x TC III, 1/250 sec. at f/8 (manual), ISO 1250, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 1.4x TC III, 1/320 sec. at f/5.6 (manual), ISO 1250, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 1.4x TC III, 1/800 sec. at f/13 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 2x TC III, 1/1000 sec. at f/13 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 1.4x TC III, 1/1600 sec. at f/10 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 2x TC III, 1/800 sec. at f/8 (manual), ISO 800, tripod |
Below is a close-up of the bird's open bill, showing bright yellow on the inside of the lower mandible. In this photo
the bird also shows the edge of a bright yellow inside of the upper mandible, a feature which I saw clearly in life but did
not capture in a photo any better than this. The yellow on the inside of the upper mandible indicates that this bird is a
juvenile.
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| Canon 1DMkIV, 500mm f/4L + 1.4x TC III, 1/1250 sec. at f/10 (manual), ISO 800, handheld |
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