Our Bird Spa has a very powerful bubbler that pumps water up through a hole in a fake rock. Birds cannot resist it.I spent some time in the photo blind this weekend watching the birds coming to the water feature and got a few usable images. By 1 pm on a hot summer day, there are always birds at our water feature. But bathing birds, being wet and less able to fly, are putting themselves in a risky spot, so they are wary and skittish. There's no sneaking up on them. But the photo blind seems to conceal just enough to make it possible to take images of bathing birds.
I did not get anything stellar. A few images of goldfinches, a few young, naive cardinals. I'm still learning how to use this camera and lens.
A female goldfinch comes in for a drink.
Then slips into the water for a dip.
And starts splashing water over its plumage.
It must feel good to get totally soaked on a hot day.
This young cardinal was attracted to the water but never did bathe.One image that I did NOT get from the blind was this shot of a young male Baltimore oriole. He was attracted to the water feature while I was inside the house replenishing my liquids.
This young male Baltimore oriole hung over the bath for 10 minutes but never went any closer.Ain't that how it always works? You leave the photo blind because the sun has come out and it's 437 degrees F in there, you are dizzy and careen wildly toward the shade and air conditioning of the house, and THAT'S when the oriole shows up. Quick like a bunny I grabbed the camera at my side (it had actually melded itself onto my polyester disco shirt) and snapped off a few frames through the studio window.
I love the oriole shot. Y're right. Tis the best shot of the day!
ReplyDeleteYep, that's always the way. Just when you lower your lens and your guard, the money shot passes you by. But you got a great shot nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteNow go get that disco shirt surgically removed, will ya?
I ooo'd and aaaah'd over the photos - very good! Then I laughed like crazy at the mental picture I had of you and your disco shirt frying in the blind.
ReplyDeleteI need to get one of those things! The not shirt, the blind.
Mary:
ReplyDeleteEven better, get a blind made out of the polyester disco shirt material. I'm sure it will work great and it'll LOOK fabbo!
Oh, My God, stop it! :o)
ReplyDeleteThe bird shots were great. But how about having Zick take a picture of you in your sweaty polyester disco shirt? Oh, the things you endure to give us such great shots. We appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteThat will teach you to wear polyester disco shirts when it is 437 degrees outside.
ReplyDeleteJust say "no" to polyester - do you know how many esters die for just one shirt?
~Kathi
Speaking of disco shirts, has anyone else noticed how much polyester has crept into the "hi-tech"--whatever that means--"performance" fabrics? OK, it's not layered with foam in between like our grandmothers' pantsuits, but it's still made of plastic, and some of those costly, fancy "outdoor performance" garments look great but are just plain HOT. And not in a nice way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me use your blog to grouse, dear. Oh, I meant to tell you there was a grouse at the bird bath right after you went inside. My word verification is:
isjnizod...at least Izod shirts are cotton.