Mass panic

Caused this time by a Merlin. These are Semipalmated Sandpipers which move through our area on their way to South America. Today we had about 60,000 in one flock but sometimes the numbers balloon to 200,000+! It is quite a sight. Merlins and Peregrines cause mass panic in the flocks when the sandpipers are resting between tides.

For this image I set up low and planned the image as you see it. I waited for a panic to occur and this produces flying birds and the roosting birds tend to orientate in one direction like marching soldiers. Air shimmer was a big problem so I didn't get many images that were sharp. The beach and water is behind the birds and they invariably look in that direction when panicked. That's my excuse for the 100 bad head angles! It's too bad about the cut-off birds at the top and sides but there's not much that can be done.

Cropped and sharpened. Comments welcome!

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
Program: Manual
ISO 400, 1/2500s, f/5.6

Hey John, That's a pretty neat capture and I really like that you got birds in flight as well as on the ground. made for a pretty chaotic yet artful image. I really love how they line up so well. If I was to suggest anything it would have been as you were shooting to focus on the foreground birds so there would be no oof ones up front.

Hi John Nice capture, I imagine its from Dorchester. We stopped on the way back, there were still thousands of sandpipers but we missed the High Tide. I like how they are all lined up on the ground.

Cool looking capture and one I always try to get when I see birds in a large flock situation like this. Not easy. Looks nice and the techs look good too. Wish the Merlin got them up towards you though. Well done

I've always been fond of these type of images..." the stuff of life " Like how you have managed to get a number of birds on land and sky in good focus. Even though you say the HA is not right, I like very much how all the ones on the ground are looking in almost exactly the same direction.

One of those events where it would probably be wise to carry an umbrella....and never look up lol

Great to see that many shorebirds.
Very interesting image.

Thanks everyone- some great comments.
@Cheryl- I should have upped the f-stop to attempt to get the foreground and mid-ground birds in focus. Maybe f11 would have done it, with ISO 800 for the shutter speed!
@Paul- Sorry I missed you guys but I was still at Bonaventure when you came through.
@David- When a Merlin or Peregrine comes through the sandpipers instinctively head for the water so no chance of a panic towards the land unfortunately.
@Phil- I have a life list of birds that have pooped on me and I would like to add the Semipalmated Sandpiper but it's never happened! They all look in the same direction in preparation for a panic flight so I'm ready for that to happen.
@Karl- You should come down east sometime and see the spectacle!

John, Not an easy image to create. Yours is full of interest and the panic is evident. Story well told.

I like the feeling of this, and the action. I was about to say that a smaller aperture might help, before I read your comment above. Too bad they're flying away, but as you say, that's what they do. Even so, it's a compelling image with lots to look at.

Thats a very pleasing photo John, I really like the colors and your processing. Really neat the way so many remain on the ground. as so many of the photos show everyone in flight. I think Cheryl has a good point about focus on the near birds. But I sure like the out of focus distant b/g.

Problems such as air shimmer (read that on your Blog which I enjoy), Great planning and fieldcraft to create this chaoitic, interesting & very cool shorebirds shot.