Painted Bunting, Cozad Ranch, Linn, Texas

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Tele-converter

ISO 400, F9, 1/100s Aperture priority at 0, Flash ETTL II -2+2/3

One of the most brilliantly colored birds in the United States, the Painted Bunting is the only bird in the U.S. to have a blue head and red under parts. A group of Painted Buntings are collectively known as a "mural" and a "palette" of buntings.

After Artie dropped me off at the airport at 04:00 yesterday morning (thanks again, Artie), I slowly made my way from McAllen, Texas to Montreal, Quebec via Houston and Cleveland. The first two flights were un-eventful and the only noticeable difference flying with the threat of swine flu was the amount of refreshing fresh air in the cabin. I’m a seasoned flyer, and constantly complain of feeling deprived of oxygen on commercial flights since the price of fuel sky-rocked way back (airlines save a fortune by reducing the amount of fresh air intake).
Like most nature photographers who travel, I have a large carry-on (a Think-Tank Airport Security roller), and it’s usually fully packed with cameras and long lenses. I was un-able to talk my way on board with the bag, until I noticed the Scottish accent and enamel pin on the lapel of the lady at the check-in counter. It was two flags, an American, and a Scottish one, and they were crossed at the middle of the flagpole. I commented that I had a similar badge, but it was the Union Jack crossed with the Canadian Maple Leaf. She immediately proceeded to assign me the last three available seats on the regional jet, and asked me to pre-board, remove and stow my camera gear in an overhead bin (with blankets and pillows), and then gate check my empty bag. Thanks-you to the nameless Continental Airline lady with the crossed flag lapel pin.