Close-up-Bluejay with Peanut

Taking Mitch's advice, I put out peanuts to attract the bluejays. Can't believe how fast these birds came in to get them! Taken from about 8-10' away and cropped in a bit. (20D, 400 5.6). Any comments welcome.
Karen

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Woah, you are getting better and better. Wish the tail were in focus as well...but this is great. Wished my shots were this close, and clear.

Nice.

Really nice Karen. I think my Blue's are busy with the bird and bee business up in the woods. I haven't seen them for several days, even with peanuts out. And then yesterday, a squirrel came and got them, even though they were soggy from the rain. Stupid squirrel.

Another shot, more of a profile--when the peanuts were all gone, he came back for the sunflower seeds.
Karen

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Beautiful shots, even with the soft tail in the first pic--

Very nice Karen....Blue Jays are a pretty bird and its great you could get so close.

Wonderful shot Karen

Thanks, Jim, Scott and Alex. I set up a window blind a la Canonloader-and can get pretty close shots of the birds when they come in to the feeders.
Karen

pttenn wrote in post #3206999
Another shot, more of a profile--when the peanuts were all gone, he came back for the sunflower seeds.
Karen

Nice shot Karen. I like the profile shot more. Yeah, the key to all birds....food talks

canondslruser wrote in post #3208572
Nice shot Karen. I like the profile shot more. Yeah, the key to all birds....food talks

So true! I have yet to wave a toy mouse around to attract the hawks but heard that works... (joking, don't think I would actually do that)
Karen

The toy mouse does work. Or toy bunny, toy frog or anything similar. It's how you train a young hawk that was human raised to hunt on it's own. Their instincts zoom in on any little movement in the grass and their natural curiosity and killer instincts make them go check it out. The common cat has nothing on the hawk. If they see a grassblade wiggle, they will "watch it like a hawk". If it moves again, they will go for it.

So, a mouse on a long string is irresistable.

Very nice images Karen.

Excellent images Karen. I like them both.

very good shots, I may be being a bit dense but what do you mean by window blind?

Mark

In my case, I have set up my back and side yard with several feeders and some strategically located branches near the feeders for the birds to perch on before they go to the seeds. From my bedroom window, I can see and shoot all the action from the comfort of the great indoors. In winter, I have cut a piece of matte board from a framing shop to fit in the partially open window. The matte board fits snug when the window is brought down on it's top and has a 6" by 12" hole cut in it for the lens to poke through. This keeps the cold air out, or most of it. In summer, I will have to go outside to the picnic table behind the Lilac bush to shoot cause the air conditioner will be in the window.

All the feeders and sticks are lined up for easy aiming and an uncluttered view from the window, and I planned it that way and to get the best angle of the sun. The key is the planning. Don't hurry it like I did, or you will be moving things around, sometimes by only inches, to get unobstructed shots.

Also, next winter will see a 2" piece of styrofoam insulation replacing the matteboard.

I'd like to hear what Karen and others do too. I know several people have some sort of backyard setups.