My Last Chickadee

[canonloader]

I had a small flock of Chickadees in at my feeders since last fall and all through the winter. When spring got here, all but one took off back into the woods, except this last one loyal little bird. He's here every day and hanging with the Sparrows. :)

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/dayshots/5-27-07/chickadee-9441-052707.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/dayshots/5-27-07/chickadee-9449-052707.jpg

[csquared63]

Nice shots, Mitch. Interesting that they leave for the woods. We're about the same latitude as you and ours stay year-round. This guy appreciates your hospitality, no doubt!

[canonloader]

Thanks Carl. I think he likes the food. :)

But the woods is only across the road, so I'm sure they didn't go far. But all my Titmice left too. Haven't seen one in weeks now. :)

[Gary Fairhead]

Two nice captures Mitch and mine seem to stay all year although they are not as visible. I still hear them though:D

[Howler-Cat]

Mitch...I think he's trying to prove to you that you don't need to exchange your current gears for 5D...Great shots!;)

[jpalmer]

very nice mitch .it looks a bit like our coal /willow tit we have here in the uk.

[kolok]

These are grateful little birds. Nice photos - nice of the little guy to sit still for a second or two to give you a chance to capture it on film (err... memory card).

BTW, what kind of feeder do you have that the chickadees came to and what were you feeding them?

[canonloader]

Thanks Gary, Ben, Jason and Kolok. He doesn't sit still for long, that's for sure. :)

[rocklyons]

Mitch, like yours, most of my chickadees left, althought I do see one feeding from time to time. My titmice are still here in numbers as well as the house finches, Blue Jays and Cardinals. Yesterday I had a wild turkey hen wander thru. Not the first time but it doesnt happen all that often either.

Rock

[canonloader]

Thanks Rock. I have all kinds of other birds that more than replaced the chickadees, but I knind of thought they would be here all year. :)

[philc123]

Nice shots Mitch, ours are all busy nesting etc, still get a few visits but they go past like lightning. My main visitors are 3 fat woodpigeons, cant shift them off my table. :)

[canonloader]

Thanks Phil. Ya know, I have some doves that come every afternoon now. A breeding pair, although I don't know where the nest is, but they feel so secure that they can fill up on seeds, then just nest in the grass for a half hour and take a nap in the sun. :D

[Adi7r]

Nice shots Mitch, especially the 1st one.

[canonloader]

Thanks Adi. I shot these in morning sun, cause I don't usually get up that early. ;)

[hTr]

I didn't know they would move like that Mitch I see thgem just going from tree to tree almost as a flock. Nice picture though.

[canonloader]

Thanks Gary. Well, most of the ones I had here all winter just go to the feeder, pick up one sunflower seed, carry it back to a bush and open it, then do it all over again. :)

[EdV]

Nice images, Mitch. We don't see the Chickadees in the yard/at the feeders any more either but we hear them every time we go out into the field.

I assume the fill flash experiments have been going well. I've been trying to follow but we are having internet/e-mail connection problems. Supposed to have someone out next week to check it out. Damn intermittent problems! :evil:

[canonloader]

Thanks Ed. Yes, I finally got the fill flash figured out and it works just like I knew it should but could never make it do it, cause of that damned C.Fn 3. :D

On the other hand, I went to the wetlands and shot some amazing stuff today, but left the flash in the truck. And I won't do that again. Plenty of light today, but just from the wrong direction. Tomorrow I go back with new batteries and the flash on the camera, Beamer and Bigma and tripod and do what you do, sling it all over my shoulder. I'll be putting up a female red wing thread shortly. You should be able to see where fill flash would have come in handy. :(

[EdV]

The fill flash does come in handy but I still run into occasional white eye problems. I had them in some of the Bluebird and Towhee images that I made this morning. I posted the best of the group in my Bird Walk thread. I know its an easy fix but I still am thinking about trying to eliminate the problem with a flash bracket. I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[canonloader]

The problem with the bracket is I have no way to attach it to my tripod head. I have one for handheld, but it won't attach to the quick release. It only takes a second to brush out the white eye.

[Sindri Skulason]

Beautiful shots of a beautiful bird. Well done. :-)

[canonloader]

Thanks Sindri. He's a fun little guy to watch. :)

[Reyno]

A pair of well captured images. Very well done indeed Mitch.

[canonloader]

Thanks Reyno. I think this guy thinks he's a sparrow. He hangs with them and is just about as nervous as a sparrow, very hard to shoot. I have much better luck with "wild" ones. :)

[D.C.]

Nice pictures. Always enjoy your photo's.

[canonloader]

Thanks DC. This one little guy is my buddy. He isn't afraid of me, it's just his nature to never sit still. But I like him anyway. :)