Early Winter Birds

[jroovers]

Finally got out to take some bird shots!

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroovers/15845625342" title="Male Cardinal by Jordan Roovers, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8620/15845625342_57c72c3460_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="Male Cardinal"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroovers/15845625152" title="Turning House Finch by Jordan Roovers, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/15845625152_e6c3dc7074_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="Turning House Finch"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroovers/15844255271" title="Berry Eating Cardinal by Jordan Roovers, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7478/15844255271_7d13167b14_c.jpg" width="534" height="800" alt="Berry Eating Cardinal"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroovers/15660236199" title="Cattail Chickadee by Jordan Roovers, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15660236199_30df17d407_c.jpg" width="571" height="800" alt="Cattail Chickadee"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroovers/15660236069" title="Light Snow Goldfinch by Jordan Roovers, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8675/15660236069_085a3d8692_b.jpg" width="1024" height="732" alt="Light Snow Goldfinch"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroovers/15820415376" title="Staring Cardinal by Jordan Roovers, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8677/15820415376_bfac982611_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="Staring Cardinal"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroovers/15660235639" title="Perched Housefinch by Jordan Roovers, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/15660235639_a342e9b3b9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="576" alt="Perched Housefinch"></a>

 

[toothybugs]

Exquisite sir! Cardinals in winter are one of my favorite sights, there's just something about the contrasts that gets me every time.

 

[JaYbIrD1969]

Humbling!! Standing O. Thanks for sharing!

 

[HPark]

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Reef Bass]

Well done Jordan!

 

[Misled]

Sweet stuff Jordan!!!

 

[jroovers]

Thanks guys!

Exquisite sir! Cardinals in winter are one of my favorite sights, there's just something about the contrasts that gets me every time.

Yes, their colour is a much needed splash during all the greys and whites of winter!

 

[jroovers]

Some more, a white breasted nuthatch and a combination of male and female downy and hairy woodpeckers.

 

[toothybugs]

(A standing ovation only seemed appropriate.)

 

[pyithar]

awesome pictures. thanks for sharing.

 

[gueli]

Great pics!
Thanks for sharing

MfG
Günter

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Great pics Jordan!

 

[noy]

great shots!

 

[nightOwl]

Great shots! Are these in the wild or staged? Looks great to me.

 

[IPT]

B E A U T I F U L ..... very well done. Looks like you're in a blind or have a super tele, or both. Do tell .

 

[nightOwl]

B E A U T I F U L ..... very well done. Looks like you're in a blind or have a super tele, or both. Do tell .

Yea what IPT said .

 

[jroovers]

Thanks everyone for the comments

Great shots! Are these in the wild or staged? Looks great to me.

B E A U T I F U L ..... very well done. Looks like you're in a blind or have a super tele, or both. Do tell .

These birds are all essentially in the back of my yard which backs onto a small forest with a stream. I have feeders set up in the back that includes mixed seed, nyger, and suet, so it attracts a variety of birds including the nuthatches and woodpeckers. The shots are all from a blind that I set up, knowing in advance where the birds are likely to be. Then it is just a simple waiting game to have them hopefully land where I want. The feeders draw in a high concentration of birds, especially the cardinals. I use a 400 5.6, not quite a super tele, but getting there. Would love a 500 f4 but just too much money. Without the blind I don't think I would get close enough to get these shots. I get bored sitting in the blind and much prefer to move around, but for short periods it is actually quite relaxing and it has resulted in much better opportunities IMO for better images when the birds are cooperating.

The woodpecker shots are "staged" in the sense that I give them an incentive to land where I want them to I put a bit of "bark butter" (basically a peanut butter infused suet) on the perch of my choosing for a few days and then they are eager to land where I'm set up in my blind looking for the treat. So I guess they are being rewarded or compensated for their services and are staged. It is fun and rewarding to pick a spot, set up the shot conceptually, and then have the birds cooperate. Takes some patience, which I'm not the best at having, but definitely enjoyable. It doesn't always work out, but it is nice when it does.

 

[jroovers]

Here's another, first of 2015, a pine siskin on a red pine (and a first for me with this species):

 

[Nina51]

those are just some freaking awesome pics!!!! i have been a huge bird watcher for the 15 years i've lived in the boonies. i have all of those same birds along with many others. do you have bluebirds? i bet you could get some great shots.

do you have a bird bath? if not, that would really attract flocks of song birds especially in the winter.

 

[jroovers]

those are just some freaking awesome pics!!!! i have been a huge bird watcher for the 15 years i've lived in the boonies. i have all of those same birds along with many others. do you have bluebirds? i bet you could get some great shots.

do you have a bird bath? if not, that would really attract flocks of song birds especially in the winter.

Thanks, I just moved to my new place at the end of September, so not really sure yet what birds will be around in the spring and summer. Given that we back onto woods, I'm assuming we'll have a ton of warbler species, orioles, and maybe blue birds too. I've looked into houses and meal worms, so I may give it a go to attract them. Any tips?

I do have a bird bath but it isn't set up. The creek behind my place has pretty good flow still even though its been consistently 10 degrees C below zero, so not sure if there is a point as there is plenty of fresh running water to be had. The birds use it, I can see them from my back window down in the creek bathing and drinking.