Ever-elusive Cardinal

[herderdog]

While visiting my Mom in Tucson, I realized she had a pair of cardinals in the yard. I tried my best to get a pic of them--but they sure did not give you a lot of chances. Never still for more than half a second--seems like he was always behind something. When he did come out in plain veiw--I got so excited, I could hardly fire the camera. :rolleyes: This is the only pic of any value, and I only post it to show I did get him! Gosh I wish it was a better pic. :lol:
http://upload.pbase.com/image/43139996.jpg

[cfcRebel]

That's a very good shot. Nice capture.

[LadyHawk]

You did good, Bonnie. I'm always happy just to get the darn bird in the frame!

[scottbergerphoto]

Great shot! Cardinals are very hard to catch sitting still.

[herderdog]

Thanks Karen and Scott!

Here is another shot of him-- with his girl. I think she is even harder to capture than he is. You can see he is on his way out--would have helped if the neighbors had kept their feeder filled. ;) Oh well....
http://www.pbase.com/herderdog/image/43430414.jpg

[robertwgross]

You got very lucky, because the Northern Cardinal very seldom gets farther west than the Rocky Mountains. Tucson is just barely within the normal range of the bird.

---Bob Gross---

[LadyHawk]

I like that second shot even better than the first one, Bonnie. It looks almost painterly, and the composition is interesting.

[herderdog]

Wow, I didn't know that.
I know I have seen this bird in years past--so they have been there for awhile.
There are also Pyrrhuloxia--a much more tame bird in the area, but I did not see any on this trip.

[tupe]

Nice shots, Bonnie. I'm still waiting for one good enough to post here, even though he shows up nearly every day. Skittish birds!

[birch]

Birding is easier than bird photography I have decided. I always thought the birds flew away fast when you focus your binocs on them, I have learned they fly even faster when they see a camera! So well done for capturing the elusive bird!