Christmas Day Chickadees & Friends

Christmas day brought a wind chill across my ridge at -25 F. I took a hike up one of my trails to hand feed my chickadees as I do each day of the year. I met a half dozen or so that were braving the bitter wind chill and took a few shots. Each Christmas hike is special because my son usually accompanies me and I get shots of him feeding my birds. This year he had to leave early because he has to work tomorrow, so I was photographing on my own.

The Common Redpoll shots I took on Christmas Eve Day... the last photos of the day.

Wonderful series.
MERRY CHRISTMAS

Beautiful shots Dave, Chickadees are among my favorite birds to have around here. That last shot makes me cold just looking at it.

New shots in your publication-worthy portfolio Dave. Excellent work, keep it up in 2013!

Good Morning db, beautiful friends you have, well shot especially number one. I just read an article about Chickadees and Redpolls and how they survive up in the north tundra such as yours. Pretty amazing how they can withstand that -25 cold.
Stay warm if you can, let the little guys spend the night inside! lol.

Brave little souls to be out in that weather; and you too, Dave. All good shots, but I favor #1 for its pose and great lighting and detail. Happy Boxing Day!
Al

jhayesvw wrote in post #15407302
Wonderful series.
MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thank you Jeremy... about the time I was shooting these chickadee photos in my Arctic gear & mask... I was wishing I was in Oro Valley shooting the Vermillion Flycatcher

Shar824 wrote in post #15407561
Beautiful shots Dave, Chickadees are among my favorite birds to have around here. That last shot makes me cold just looking at it.

Thank you Sharon... I think anyone that has chickadees in their neighborhood has them high on their favorite bird list... you would not like this weather at all.

Wallace River wrote in post #15408117
New shots in your publication-worthy portfolio Dave. Excellent work, keep it up in 2013!

Good morning Ian.. thanks, I am looking forward to see what flies in the new year and what similar birds we both get....

BGgraphy wrote in post #15408164
Good Morning db, beautiful friends you have, well shot especially number one. I just read an article about Chickadees and Redpolls and how they survive up in the north tundra such as yours. Pretty amazing how they can withstand that -25 cold.
Stay warm if you can, let the little guys spend the night inside! lol.

Good morning to you my friend... yes, the chickadees can endure some rather harsh conditions and maintain such a happy disposition, they are a joy to have around in the winter months... thank you again.

CDMOOSE wrote in post #15408279
Brave little souls to be out in that weather; and you too, Dave. All good shots, but I favor #1 for its pose and great lighting and detail. Happy Boxing Day!
Al

Good morning Al... thank you, always fun to have the chickadees around, it would be quite lonely in the forest during the winter without them... Yes, Boxing Day... highway 61 will be loaded with shoppers from across the border ...

A great set, Dave. Love the first Chickadee and the first Redpoll especially but all are very good of course.
Your -27ºF would be about -31ºC. That is very cold indeed. Stay warm!!

Wow love the detail in the feathers! Makes me glad I upgraded to the 7D, I have something to aim for.........

Beautiful photos. My Grandfather used to feed the birds by hand many years ago. Me..they just land on my head and back when I am filling feeders, taking pictures and moving things on my lawn!

That is a great set Dave. So nice to hear you go and feed them, it must give you a warm feeling in all that cold.

Beautiful Dave. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #15409204
A great set, Dave. Love the first Chickadee and the first Redpoll especially but all are very good of course.
Your -27ºF would be about -31ºC. That is very cold indeed. Stay warm!!

Hi Levina... thanks again... the temp is all the way to 22F today... a heat wave in these parts

napoli3 wrote in post #15409572
Wow love the detail in the feathers! Makes me glad I upgraded to the 7D, I have something to aim for.........

Thanks so much for the comments... hope you enjoy your new 7D.

SJC from VT wrote in post #15410244
Beautiful photos. My Grandfather used to feed the birds by hand many years ago. Me..they just land on my head and back when I am filling feeders, taking pictures and moving things on my lawn!

Thank you... you must bring seeds with you, it sounds like they will be eating out of your hand shortly.

L.J.G. wrote in post #15410249
That is a great set Dave. So nice to hear you go and feed them, it must give you a warm feeling in all that cold.

Hi Lloyd ... thank you, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to feed my loyal chickadees and nuthatches... every jacket I have has seeds in the pockets, I can't go out the door without feeding one....

Stephen Stephen wrote in post #15411706
Beautiful Dave. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

Thank you Stephen... appreciate your comment... a Happy New Year to you.

Stunning photos. Absolutely gorgeous!

I love it when they look like little fluff balls, great set Dave.