Glad I stayed at home

[Dawesy]

Too cold and icy this morning to go out with the camera so decided to stay at home and see what turned up at my garden feeding station. I was rewarded when a small group of Redpoll arrived for the first time this winter.
DPP_7D220160004 by steve dawes, on Flickr
DPP_7D220160006 by steve dawes, on Flickr

[antoeknee]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

Though I've never seen Redpoll the first bird looks quite colourful and has a black bib so wondering if this could be a lesser Redpoll. Might be worth a bit of reading as I believe they do occur in mixed flocks.

[Dawesy]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

Though I've never seen Redpoll the first bird looks quite colourful and has a black bib so wondering if this could be a lesser Redpoll. Might be worth a bit of reading as I believe they do occur in mixed flocks.

I think they are both lesser redpolls , the first being a male which are more colourful than the females

[Bill53]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

Nice pose in the first shot Steve.

Bill.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

Nice. I like the first picture better.

[tesarver]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

Well caught Steve

Tom

[Stan]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

the only time I have taken a shot of a bird on a feeder was to use in a talk that Dee and I did to the camera club on bird photography - as an example of what not to do. Feeders are very important to attract and of course sustain them during the winter months but for photography all you need to do is set up a natural perch nearby which they will use as a stopping off point from which you can get a natural shot

Stan

[Dawesy]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

Thanks Bill , Nat and Tom

[Dawesy]

Re: Glad I stayed at home

the only time I have taken a shot of a bird on a feeder was to use in a talk that Dee and I did to the camera club on bird photography - as an example of what not to do. Feeders are very important to attract and of course sustain them during the winter months but for photography all you need to do is set up a natural perch nearby which they will use as a stopping off point from which you can get a natural shot

Stan

I have a number of natural perches and a small reflection pool at my feeding station Stan , the redpolls came straight out of the birch trees at the bottom line f the garden onto the feeder , thought I would get a shot and wait for them to alight on a perch but good job I did as they flew straight off and I never saw them again.