A snowy alternative to Florida birds

pathfinder

I have sat here admiring Harry's egret and herons, while watching the snow fall all day long, the sky grey and dreary. I filled the bird feeder yesterday, and decided to see if I could capture some local birds who are sticking it out in Indiana through the winter rather than lolly gagging in the Florida sunshine. This is a few frames I caught this afternoon for you Harry
Some variety of sparrow I believe...


A female cardinal


Her other half, and yes that white stuff is snow falling


Male and female cardinals

Ann McRae

Hi pathfinder

Those are really lovely shots - I particularly like the second and fourth shots. The simple composition of the second shot is fab, and the lovely use of dof on the fourth. (I am trying to make a point of saying 'why' I like something!).

I believe that your first bird is a finch, what I know as a starling is much larger and dark blue/black - and really noisy!

enjoy the snow!

ann

pathfinder

Ann McRae wrote:

Hi pathfinder

Those are really lovely shots - I particularly like the second and fourth shots. The simple composition of the second shot is fab, and the lovely use of dof on the fourth. (I am trying to make a point of saying 'why' I like something!).

I believe that your first bird is a finch, what I know as a starling is much larger and dark blue/black - and really noisy!

enjoy the snow!

ann

Thank you so much for your comments - I agree that the 2nd and 4th image are my preferred images also.

I liked the first one because it showed how puffed up the little bird was trying to keep warm. I am not a birder at all, so my identification of a bird is usually based on a picture in "The National Audobon Society Field Guide to N American birds" and I thought it resembled a European Starling as shown in picture #606. When I go back and look at it again I suspect it is more likely to be some vairiety of sparrow. I will edit my first post appropriately.

pathfinder

My second frame was the only one of a dozen I shot that was useable - the wind was blowing and invariably I would end up with the eye behind the limb or some thing like that. This was the only shot with the head nicely visible. Perseverence counts I guess.

Harryb

Very nice pics, I really liked the last one. Pity that you're stuck with that white background. What's that stuff called again?

Harry

fish

Nice shots, pathy. I'm really starting to like the female cardinal. Very subtle, yet beautiful coloration.

Good thing you didn't use that POS DO lens.

pathfinder

fish wrote:

Nice shots, pathy. I'm really starting to like the female cardinal. Very subtle, yet beautiful coloration.

Good thing you didn't use that POS DO lens.

Sorry Fish - I did use a DO lens for all of these shots.....

Dee

Great shots

pathfinder wrote:

Male and female cardinals

How nice to see the female cardinal featured like this, and I love the male in the background.

I miss cardinals and blue jays... we get an occasional western jay but I don't think they visit the coast that often. I usually see them inland.

lynnma

Pathfinder they are lovely.. I love the last one of the female and male in the back.. really touching

pathfinder

SO ... the sun finally came out today - what a difference for shooting birds.

GREAPER

For not bein a birder, these are some really fine shots Pathfinder. I really like the simplicity of the second one. Very nice.

pathfinder

GREAPER wrote:

For not bein a birder, these are some really fine shots Pathfinder. I really like the simplicity of the second one. Very nice.

Thanks Greaper. Like I said, a lttle dose of sunshine was really helpful. That little sparrow was just sitting there in the rhododendron all puffed out and warming himself/herself(??) in the sun. The lighting was perfect - all I did was go click. Glad you liked the pictures.

I am trying to emulate you and the lovely images of perching birds you have been posting.

I have enjoyed the difference in my images between Saturday and Sunday too - all shot in the same place - the only difference was the weather