New Camera Body

Thursday my new camera body arrived - Canon 7D Mark II (upgrading from the 7D).

Miserable gray weather, so trying it out has been limited to the back porch. But so far I am pleased.

20.2MegaPixel (versus 18MP) and a better processor means I can crop without loosing resolution. Better sensor means I can shoot at higher ISO without noise. Most pictures here were taken at 1600 ISO - previously I rarely went above 800 and preferred 400.

Lighting and weather today have been dreary, but the camera has responded well.

Many features still to work with, but the spot focus option and spot metering is great for birds which often hide in the leaves. Several of the pictures here would not have been possible with my previous camera. Second 2 photos below cropped about 25% of original.

Gray Catbird

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal (fledgling)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

 Spot focusing makes possible a sharp image even though it is partially obscured by foliage.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

In the dreary light, the camera is still able to capture detail of this fledgling as it begs to be fed ...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (fledgling)

Fledgling Rose-breasted have one of the sweetest begging calls of any bird - not at all harsh, or noisy - the opposite extreme of the very loud and noisy Blue Jays.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak fledgling fed by its father.

Daughter Downy wanted dad to keep feeding her, but he refused, and eventually she figured out that she could get the food for herself ...

Downy Woodpecker (adult male) with fledgling female

Another spot focusing example ...

Northern Cardinal (fledgling female)

And finally ... just because there are so many of these creatures which do not understand "bird feeder."

Eastern Chipmunk

BTW, lens used is Canon 100-400 L. Most photos are 400mm focal length.

Backyard Birding

The backyard has been very busy in the last couple of weeks. This is just a sample, beginning with the four pair of Evening Grosbeaks and three pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks ...

Evening Grosbeak (male)

Evening Grosbeak (male)

Evening Grosbeak (male) with Brown-headed Cowbird (male)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male) and Evening Grosbeak (male)

If the Blue Jay was a rare bird, we would fall over ourselves in admiration of its beauty, but they are common, noisy, and perceived as bullies - though in actuality, no worse than any of the other birds at the feeders who will chase off other birds to get their favored seeds. I love the jays - raucous rogues that they are ...

Blue Jay

Year round birds accustomed to our presence and almost pets, are the Tufted Titmouse and Black-capped Chickadee. This one came to the rock five feet from where I was sitting to grab a hunk of suet that had fallen from the eave feeder ...

Tufted Titmouse

Black-capped Chickadee

The Red-bellied Woodpecker has been in the neighborhood for about seven years. Unlike the Downy and Hairy which wait for me to put out the suet in the morning, the Red-bellies are still wary and shy, but eagerly come to the suet and feeders and always provide stunning entertainment ...

Red-bellied Woodpecker (male)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (male)

GOOD BIRDING !!!

Ooops! But Still Good Birding

Ooops! I forgot to bring the feeders in two nights ago, and the bear took down the suet and destroyed the tube feeder. Blame it on the little gray cells getting older and forgetful.

The birds noticed the absence and were feeding in different places, but I am confident getting every bit as much seed as before, while the squirrels perhaps got less.

Highlight of the day was the Indigo Bunting. Not a new yard bird, but one that does not visit the yard or feeders every year. This year he has been here and what a treat! ...

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Also, a rare treat was the female Baltimore Oriole which came briefly to the (replacement) suet feeder. Only once several years ago have I succeeded in attracting the orioles to the feeders. BTW, the oranges in the previous photo were put out in hopes they would draw the oriole. No luck there. The oriole did not cooperate on photos, so this is the only documentation I have ...

Baltimore Oriole (female)

With the absence of the tube feeder in the yard, the grosbeaks came to the window feeder right by the kitchen table - up close and personal with these gorgeous, if voracious, birds ...

Evening Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female)

And while I am on the grosbeaks, this is the first time I have seen a Rose-breasted Grosbeak visit the suet feeder ... just visible on the back side of the feeder ...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Finally ... just because ... at least two pair of Gray Catbirds have been in the yard and visiting the suet feeder, along with Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, represented by the Downy below ...

Gray Catbird

Downy Woodpecker

Youngsters

It is that delightful time of the year when birds are nesting, fledging, feeding, and finding their way. Here's a sample, first from the backyard, and beginning with a handsome portrait of a young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak ...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (juvenile male)

Lots of feeding is going on - Evening Grosbeak and Tufted Titmouse are just two of many. And many more still hoping for a free handout, such as the fledgling Red-winged Blackbird, who was ignored despite its persistent complaints ...

Evening Grosbeak

Tufted Titmouse

Red-winged Blackbird

This young Northern Cardinal has just about gotten the problem of food figured out ...

Northern Cardinal

 Elsewhere around the area, young Hooded Mergansers were in the Wilson Wetlands in Putney ...

Hooded Mergansers

... and in the upper elevations of Somerset, many songbirds were busy feeding fledglings, but unfortunately did not come within camera range.

Barely within camera range, and probably caring less about the birds and the bees (at least for the next few months) was this Black Bear in the wet grasses of a large beaver pond ...

Black Bear

Good Birding!!

A Busy Day in the Yard

This afternoon alternated between heavy showers and golden sunshine, and the yard was as busy as ever. At least two dozen species (maybe three dozen) nest in our immediate neighborhood, and most of those make regular visits to our bird feeders. I sat on the back porch and watched the show! Hardly a pause in the activity ... a captivating way to spend an afternoon.

Here is just a sample ...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - immature male

Mourning Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Evening Grosbeak

Northern Cardinal

Purple Finch

 

American Goldfinch

Gray Catbird

White-breasted Nuthatch waits its turn - Evening Grosbeak (female)

It is a BIRD Feeder!! What do you not understand about BIRD FEEDER?

Good Birding !!