Bird
07/04/24
Female House Finch: ISO 800, 600mm, f/6.3, 1/320
We currently have 3 House Finches setting up a spring home in our backyard. The "family" consists of 1 male and 2 females.
This picture is of one of the females standing on our shepherd's hook that holds our Nyger Seed Feeder during the summer months. I think she maybe remembers this food source from last year and is looking for where I hid the seed. I put it out today.
29/06/19
Red Wing Blackbird: ISO 320, 210mm, f/4.0, 1/320
Spotted this Male Red Winged Blackbird at Elizabeth Hall Wetland Nature Reserve in Lethbridge, Alberta pretty easily as he was trying to catch my attention as I moved closer to the marsh.
He must have been protecting a nest nearby because he was causing a loud distraction.
A couple of females were also flying around. They were probably busy gathering food for their young.
19/02/12
Yellow Warbler: ISO 200, 200mm, f/8.0, 1/750
Waiting for spring to arrive. This yellow warbler was captured last spring at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Red Deer, Alberta during one of my nature walks.
\07/07/11
I was sitting on our deck and noticed a pair of Blue Jays (Not from Toronto) flying to the feeder to find some food. Read More...
25/06/11
Pine Siskin: ISO 800, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/125
I have placed Nyger seed feeder sacs in our crab apple tree in hopes of luring goldfinches. When I noticed these birds enjoying the seed I thought I finally attracted female goldfinches.
Turns out this is a Pine Siskin. They seem to be getting used to me as I was able to get quite close to them without scaring them off.
What's for Supper?
12/05/10
Purple Finch: ISO 400, 400mm, f/8, 1/250
House Sparrow: ISO 400, 320mm, f/8, 1/180
The snow is gone from the yard. There is still some patches of snow in the region but the weather is finally warming again. The May Long Weekend is fast approaching and we should be able to say goodbye to winter for awhile.
The bird activity in the backyard is still pretty busy. Been watching the crows carry nest building materials to the neighbours pine tree. The sparrows and finches are busy feeding on whatever they can find.
Two nights ago I took the camera out to watch the House Sparrows forage for food on the ground. From the image above it looks like they are finding little bugs to eat. As the temperature at the time was in the mid teens the bugs were probably coming out of hiding to warm up.
As I was calling it a night I headed back to the house and spotted some Purple Finches high in the Mountain Ash tree feeding.
I wasn't sure the shots I took would turn out as I had the heavy zoom on and had to point it upwards through tree branches without a tripod. So I was fearful of blurry out of focus shots. I managed to get a few good images.
The top picture shows that the trees are finally starting to leaf. In a couple of weeks it will be nearly impossible to get this shot as I would have to shoot through leaves and branches.