On Saturday, I counted birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count in my yard and surrounding areas. The Common Redpoll really took over the spotlight for me. I had a large flock of very cooperative birds. In my past experience these birds would fly away at the slightest noise, so I had a hard time shooting them without a window in between my lens and the bird. On Saturday, however, I was able to go out on my deck and shoot them from about ten feet away from the tree. They didn’t mind my presence and did not flinch when I would move my camera around. It was a bright overcast day, so lighting was pretty good.
Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll
I finally have some “split” photos that came out clear too. It seems as though all previous attempts would come out just out of focus!
Common Redpoll
I even managed to get some photos that were good enough to crop for close-ups. While this will never make print, it works pretty well for the web.
Common Redpoll cropped
I also had some Pine Siskins mixed in with the Redpolls. It seems like their numbers are getting higher again. It would be nice for them to pass by in the same numbers as they did in the fall.
Pine Siskin
Some of the more common birds that I always try to get photos of are two of my favorites – the Nuthatches. I have a Northeastern Nuthatch sweep pretty much every day, but I never get tired of them!
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
My best non-photographic highlight were all of the Woodpeckers! I stood in the woods on the border of my yard just watching and listening to the Woodpeckers for about twenty minutes. I had drumming from three different sized birds – Pileated, Red-bellied and Downy – all at the same time. I even spotted a female Red-bellied Woodpecker – perhaps a companion to the male that I see everyday?