Redpoll's again - at minus 22C

[Ann McRae]

Went outside to shoot them today - they let me get about 20 feet away.
http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/photos/13624426-M.jpg
http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/photos/13624223-M.jpg

Different shot - different crop. Comments and critique appreciated.
ann

[wxwax]

Yeah, at 20' you need a monster lens to make the birdies fill the frame. It's tough to get close, I've discovered.

[ginger_55]

I love the shot. I have some birdies from over christmas. I went where they were and stayed completely still. (Sometimes just raising the lens would spook them, so then I had to keep the lens held up, don't anyone mention "tri-pod", anyway with the lens and camera held up, the birds would come back, eventually, and I could usually get a shot off.)

I missed the very small ones by an hour or so.

I love your shots Ann.

ginger

[Dee]

Went outside to shoot them today - they let me get about 20 feet away.


I love the different colored perches! Our weather's damp and cold for us, but nothing like yours!

These little guys must be a lot of fun to watch and photograph.

[Ric Grupe]

Maybe Ann can fill us in:dunno :D

[Steve Cavigliano]

Nice Ann :thumb So many pretty little birds. And still able to fly around when it's soooooooo cold. What's a matter with these guys? Did they miss the bus heading South?....LOL Maybe they stuck around for Ann's seed and feed :rofl


I also love your feeder :wink So colorful and it looks to be fairly squirrel-proof too.

-22C :yikes


Steve

[Ann McRae]

Hi everyone, and thanks very much!

The feeder is specifically designed for finches. I have it full of some tiny little finch specific feed (niger seed?). It is about 2 feet long, plastic, inexpensive. Finch feeders are available in a lot of different variety, many much fancier and more expensive than this one. On each side of the feeder, a few inches above the pirch, are tiny little bird sized holes. Only the small straight billed birds can access - even chickadees have trouble.

I had no idea how many varieties of finches there were around here til I put this one up. These redpoll's are here in a flock of about 60 birds. This fall we had pine siskins at it - that flock probably had 200 birds - they just about broke me!

That, and the suet feeder I hav hanging from my front verandah, are the only ones that the squirrels cannot access. There is a regular rotation at my big platform feeder - first thing in the a.m. are the Jays - a family of 5. Then chickadees, maybe a nuthatch or two, then the redpolls, and then late in the day (4 p.m. - sunset time here right now) the Jays again. The woodpeckers are using the suet feeder in the front. The squirrel accesses the platform, as does a magpie! This morning the squirrel was chasing the magpie around 'his' tree! Lots of entertainment, even at - 22C. Its been that cold here since just after Christmas. Otherwise, I'd be a bit more persistent in getting outside to get those shots!:wink

ann

[gus]

Hell.. -22c...I used to do some maintenance on industrial freezers & as long as they were -20c or colder i was happy. I could only last maybe 5-10 mins inside them.

I would be very carefull as to what i would & wouldnt put my tongue on at that temp :huh

[Ann McRae]

Hell.. -22c...I used to do some maintenance on industrial freezers & as long as they were -20c or colder i was happy. I could only last maybe 5-10 mins inside them.


Yes, hell is right!
Even with clear blue skies, it is most unpleasant!

I would be very carefull as to what i would & wouldnt put my tongue on at that temp :huh
I am always careful about where I put my tongue!:wink

[Ann McRae]

For those interested in my feeders, you can find shots of them in this gallery:

http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/gallery/219373

ann