Northern Cardinal Male

[canonloader]

This bird has been a regular in my yard for over a year. Every now and then, he and the female disappear for a few weeks and every time they come back, they are very skittish for a week or more. Like they have to acclimate to the feeders and other birds every time. Today he sat still long enough for me to get a couple shots. :)

http://www.flashbax.com/slide_shows/northern_cardinal/gallery/album1/large/cardinalm-db3b7567-102407.jpg

http://www.flashbax.com/slide_shows/northern_cardinal/gallery/album1/large/cardinalm-db3b7570-102407.jpg

[philc123]

Nice shots Mitch, great pose on the second. :)

[canonloader]

Thanks Phil, and right after that, he flew off into the bushes. :)

[Peepaw]

Nice shots Mitch, they are warey little guys. I've got one that comes to my yard that always seems to be on guard duty.:)

[canonloader]

Thanks Scott. They use to be more relaxed, if this is even the same pair. Hard to tell. :)

[Sindri Skulason]

Very good shots indeed. :-)

[hTr]

Nice Detail on the bird but a little noise in BG Mitch

[canonloader]

Thanks Sindri and Gary. I see the noise, but it was borderline so I didn't fix it. :)

OK, I fixed it. :mrgreen:

[Gary Fairhead]

Two nice images here Mitch with the second one being my favourite for the pose and DOF..I have a nit but not sure what it is,,,,are the saturation levels up in these shots...almost like there is a yellow or warm cast ...could be my tired eyes.

[canonloader]

Thanks Gary. Not sure what it is. I set temperature to cloudy. I think I need to look at it again. :)

[Travisj]

Beautiful shots, great color as well. Thanks for sharing.

[canonloader]

Thanks Travis. This was early morning in the shade, under a bush. I like how it came out though.

[HWP]

Wow.. great shot's of the Northern Cardinal.. Nice detail and sharpness. I'm having a terrible time trying to get a Northern Card.. they're gone by the time I think of pressing the button. Nice colors..

Henry

[ajosteve]

Mitch, these are simply beautiful...love the red and green...would make a good christmas card...very sharp detail...steve

[canonloader]

Thanks Henry and Steve.

Henry, these were taken from my desk. I rested the camera and lens on three stacked bird books on the left side of my desk and shot out the window at the bird on a perching stick I placed to angle over a small plastic tub turned upside down and some sunflower seeds on it. All this is under the Lilac bush, which amazingly, still has all it's leaves. In the room, I had all the lights off, so the bird, if he looked in the window, could only see a black hole. I can sit in here and all kinds of skittish birds will act normally. :)

Steve, these guys change color almost like a chameleon. I think the reds change with temperature also. When it's really cold out, they get a deeper red, it warms up, they get more washed out looking, all in just a days time.

[tbmrgc]

Sweet pictures Mitch--really vibrant with that great background.
Bob

[canonloader]

Thanks Bob. The old Lilac bush is a handy thing to have. It seems to keep it's leaves longer than anything else. I know all the birds love it. :)

[downywp]

Very nice shots of this beauty, really like the green b/g!:)

[guitarman3]

Very nice shots of a beautiful bird, Mitch. I had a chance to get a shot of one earlier this year when I was visiting the east coast but only had my 70-200 with me. I don't see them coming my way soon! One of my favorite species for sure!

[canonloader]

Thanks Downy and Dennis. I keep forgetting the Cardinal isn't a widespread bird. Seems funny they wouldn't have spread all over the US at least. :)

[Alex Paul]

Two outstanding shots Mitch :) :)

[canonloader]

Hey Alex, thanks buddy. You been doing any shooting? Hows the new job? :)

[IraRunyan]

Nice shots. I have a pair in my yard now, and hope that they calm down and let me get a few shots. They seem quite nervious now......

[canonloader]

Thanks Ira, mine are nervous too, but I shot from inside a dark room, so he either couldn't see me or ignored me as not a threat. Still, if I make noise or move too much, he is off to the bush again. :)

[gymell]

Nice perch and BG for that cardinal.

[canonloader]

Thanks Liz. I'm just glad to see them back. They must have been on vacation. :)

I'm just now headed out to Pettibone Island, the other side of the river from where we shot eagles that day. Wanted to see if any are around, since last October was when they first started showing up there. ;)