Gray Catbird - the most recent Spring arrival

After a somewhat lackluster Spring for photographing migrants I've had a pair of Gray Catbirds take a liking to my area......and my grapes!

1.

IMAGE LINK: http://s407.photobucke​t.com …x700_zps1ad8c72​6.jpg.html

IMAGE LINK: http://s407.photobucke​t.com …x700_zpsac723e8​c.jpg.html

IMAGE LINK: http://s407.photobucke​t.com …x700_zpsb1c0c43​3.jpg.html

IMAGE LINK: http://s407.photobucke​t.com …x700_zps4f70cdb​6.jpg.html

Superb shots! Those big eyes really draw you in

Great shots again Steve, love the poses in 1and 3 .

Excellent series, beautiful subject! They have yet to return to my region. This spring seems all screwed up!

Steve, what great details!

The F stops here wrote in post #15936303
Superb shots! Those big eyes really draw you in

Much appreciated JD. Those eyes are kind of eye-catching aren't they.

andrewhuxman wrote in post #15936342
Great shots again Steve, love the poses in 1and 3 .

Thank you Andrew. I personally requested the pose in #1

manitobaman wrote in post #15937259
Excellent series, beautiful subject! They have yet to return to my region. This spring seems all screwed up!

You're very kind in your comments mani, and you're right that this Spring has been stranger than most I can remember.

Flo wrote in post #15939080
Steve, what great details!

Thank you Gail for your always lovely comments.

Thank you for showing these great images of a bird I remember growing up w/ in extreme northern Illinois but have never seen here(N-Central Il.) And for the grape idea-never thought of that. What other birds do they attract?

ardeekay wrote in post #15940710
Thank you for showing these great images of a bird I remember growing up w/ in extreme northern Illinois but have never seen here(N-Central Il.) And for the grape idea-never thought of that. What other birds do they attract?

Thanks for the compliments Rog as always. In all honesty, I started "graping" in order to attract Mockingbirds (kissing cousin of course) which have totally ignored them. The main attractants are Cardinals, who love grapes, and an occasional bit of interest shown by Crows and believe it or not a female Red-bellied Woodpecker! Who knew?
There are also Warbler species that like them too. I had a Tennessee Warbler stop in for about a week last Fall.
It's also true that the local Racoons benefit when I forget to bring the grapes in at night

Superb shots. Bird is in wonderful poses and the bokeh is excellent.

Lovely colouring in these Steve.

Hi Steve!
What a wonderful set of images you have here.
Amazing how pretty a grey bird can be.
You caught it in some interesting poses.
Good work all around.

Wow!
Great pics!
#3 is gorgeous.
Congrats.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #15941233
Superb shots. Bird is in wonderful poses and the bokeh is excellent.

Always so kind Lester and as always your comments are most welcome.

Joe52 wrote in post #15941239
Lovely colouring in these Steve.

Thank you Joe. Springtime does give lovely color.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #15941588
Hi Steve!
What a wonderful set of images you have here.
Amazing how pretty a grey bird can be.
You caught it in some interesting poses.
Good work all around.

LEVINA!!! How nice to hear from you, and with such wonderful compliments. They do have a pretty gray suit don't they. Thank you so much.

Charles Roy wrote in post #15941791
Wow!
Great pics!
#3 is gorgeous.
Congrats.

Very gracious comments Charles and I do greatly appreciate them all.

Well exposed and great bg Steve.

Beautiful!