Camera Critters #208

With spring arriving, the birds of the local area are beginning to show their breeding colors.

One of the more common birds here, are the House Finches.  Their bright red cap and neck turn an otherwise, drab bird, into something worth watching.

However, I have seen House Finches in this area which were yellow where the red normally is.  Several years, I attempted to get a photo of one which was visiting the apple tree in back, but was unsuccessful. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was walking around town with camera in hand, when I heard a finch singing away.  As I am prone to do, I lifted the camera to my eye, zoomed in on the bird and thought…”What in the world?”

This House Finch wasn’t red, nor was it yellow.  It was brown with a very slight hint of orange.  I snapped away for a dozen or so images and then continued my trek.

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Camera Critter #150

One of the sure signs of spring for me, is the return of the breeding males.  Normally, this begins in late March.  However, spring has sprung early this year in my world of birds.

I had originally grabbed my camera to get a photo of yet another new ‘yard bird’ for me…a Red-tailed Hawk.  However, as I lifted my camera, he got nervous and flew off.  But shortly after he departed the area, the little birds returned and I was able to capture several male Lesser Goldfinches and one male House Finch.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #44

The other day, I noticed a number of American Goldfinches fighting over the Niger Seed in one of the feeders in the Apple Tree out back.  So I decided I would try to get a few photos before they turned completely yellow.

Well, the Amercian Goldfinches were a bit on the shy side and for the most part, stayed in a nearby Ponderosa Pine.  I guess they didn't like me sitting on the bench next to my door, pointing a big black, Canon at them.  But a nearby House Finch decided he would test the waters and landed in the tree.

After I snapped the photo below, the finch turned around and looked straight at me with one of those "What the..." looks.  As I attempted to calm down from the laughter I was trying suppress, the bird took a couple of steps to his left and just as I was pressing the shutter for another of his portraits... 

He took off...

Last time I saw him, he was high-tailing it to a nearby Ponderosa Pine, joining the rest of the cowardly birds there.  

I bet he told them all about me and my Canon.

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