Pine Siskins in Autumn, Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Happy First Day of Autumn!
It seems a bit more like winter here in northern Utah with snow falling in the mountains and temps in the low to mid 40’s in the valley. It seems like only two weeks ago that temps were in the low to high 90’s here.
Oh wait, they were!
It is rainy this morning down in the valley and hopefully that will clear the smoke out of the air and even though snow is falling in the high country winter hasn’t really arrived and we will still have some warm sunny days with cool mornings during the fall.
I took this photo of two Pine Siskins in the autumn of 2015 as they perched together on a wild sunflower at Farmington Bay WMA where they appeared to be having a tiff over the seeds. I decided to share this photo today because of the fall colors in it and to celebrate the opening of the gate by Goose Egg Island yesterday at Farmington Bay WMA. From March until about mid September the gates there are closed to vehicular traffic so that the nesting birds are not disturbed.
I’m looking forward to the birds I’ll see migrating through this area and those that will come here to overwinter.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Pine Siskin photos plus facts and information about this species.
Oh to have a fraction of their agility.
Wonderful capture – and I hope your weather settles.
Crazy weather!!! Wonder when it will stabilize. You saw only TWO Pine Siskins? When we see an interruption of them here they arrive in a small gang and mob our feeders…the poor Goldfinches and other small Niger seed eaters have a tough time getting to the thistle…
Beautiful!
I love this photo. Wow, what a drop in temperature you are having. And the rain will make it feel even colder. It’s nice to hear that vehicular traffic is not allowed due to nesting birds.