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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Just because ...

With days getting longer, trees budding, grass greening, and flowers appearing, the light is completely different from just a few weeks ago. Adding to that has been mild temperatures allowing me to sit outside, or roam about, looking for birds ... and subjects. All of this has produced some wonderful images of familiar birds. I chose these few because they are a little different.

... as for example, I was shooting a series of the White-breasted Nuthatch working the feeder when a Tufted Titmouse tried to land at the same spot.


Since I began photographing birds, the Belted Kingfisher has always remained distant. But at the Hinsdale setbacks, this gentleman landed nearby and stayed in place for a few seconds, clearly displaying his excitement about the upcoming activities of Spring ...


The kingfisher interrupted the stalking of a Northern Flicker, which always remained ahead of me, and was usually backlit. I think this photo catches the bird's wariness, even while it was busy foraging ...


... and finally, as common as the Red-winged Blackbird is, and as much as it becomes just a part of the background, I love the male when he is busy showing off his epaulets, and trying to acquire his harem for the season.


Good birding!
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7 comments:

  1. Shelley8:44 AM

    Nice series of photos! I especially liked that action shot of the tufted titmouse coming in for a landing! Laughed about the blackbird's harem - I just learned that last year. They are quite the Romeo!

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  2. Kelly9:36 AM

    ...love the first photo--the angle of the nuthatch and the wings on the titmouse, and the kingfisher photo is fantastic. They usually fly screaming down the river whenever I approach. For a bird I see every time I go to the river, I've only gotten one halfway decent shot of him!

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  3. Bill S.10:36 AM

    I have never gotten a good shot of a kingfisher - even with a blind. But just had a flicker trying to drill a hole through the metal vent cover.

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  4. Chris2:31 PM

    Wow Chris, I would sign immediately to see all this species you know, especially the flickers that I love a lot! Well done mate!

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  5. Felicia6:00 PM

    You must have been either really lucky or really sneaky to have gotten such a close shot of that kingfisher; the ones I've encountered fly off as soon as I think of aiming a camera their way! It's great that you got it!

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  6. Deejbrown8:36 PM

    We tend to eschew the animals who are numerous and cherish those whose numbers dwindle. Let us look at this amazing blackbird with his scarlet epaulets and imagine what our world would be without him as part of the background.
    Just sayin'.

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  7. FAB12:37 PM

    The Flicker has definitely got his eye on someone!

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