Ruddy Turnstone
captured by D5 / 800mm / Panning Plate
Turnstone, turnstone, what kind of name is that for a bird that is found most often on the beach? We have two turnstones in North American, the Black and Ruddy, this is a Ruddy. And their name comes from their constant habitat of turning over debris looking for food. Unlike many of its beach neighbors, Turnstones don’t constantly prob the sand looking for a bite to eat, but under debris where the rest of the birds never look. It always fascinates me to watch all the different species of shorebirds gather and feed with minimal competition in the same little patch of sand, all finding what they need to survive the day. Beautiful!
Ruddy Turnstone
captured by D5 / 800mm / Panning Plate
In these first two photos you have two different stories of the Ruddy Turnstone. The above is your basic intimate with the subject shot, the bottom is the biology unfolding. While they were both taken with the D5 / 800mm w/TC-1.25x but the top one, the rig was resting on the sand with the Panning Plate and the bottom photo with the rig on the Gitzo mounted to the Zenelli. The difference in elevation changes two things. The biggie is the background and next is the comfort of birds to feed. Birds feel very vulnerable when feeding so if shy and feeding, being close and on lying on the sand might keep them at a distance. In the case of the Turnstones though, they only have so many opportunities to feed, that debris. Then to get the bottom photo we need to combine biology and technology.
Ruddy Turnstone
captured by D5 / 800mm / Panning Plate
It simply requires understanding how the Turnstone got its name and use that knowledge to stack out that debris. Because at some point they will come to check it out and if you’re laying on the sand and they come to YOU on THEIR terms, then you can get the biology with the clean background. There are times then when knowing what goes into a critter’s name is your clue to the biology to exploit to make your photo. Pretty simple once you connect the dots :-)