Ruby-crowned Kinglet peering out of a hawthorn – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I should be seeing more Ruby-crowned Kinglets soon up in the mountains and as they move towards lower elevations. I’ve only spotted a few of them over the summer but I haven’t spent as much time in the forests of higher mountains this summer as I would have liked to. I photographed this little kinglet last September in the Wasatch Mountains.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet in golden morning light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A few days later I photographed this kinglet showing a little bit of his crown down at lower elevations near the Great Salt Lake in early morning light.
These tiny birds can be hard to spot and harder still to point out to other people. Ruby-crowned Kinglets always seem to be on the move and blend into their habitat well which makes them challenging subjects to photograph. I love the challenge of photographing small birds though.
It is supposed to be 101°F here today in the Salt Lake City area, I should be as smart as our birds in the mountains and stay up there until it cools down. I’m ready for cooler temps.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Ruby-crowned Kinglet photos plus facts and information about this species.
Beautiful images of these sprites! I have seen them only once in south Florida during the 15 years we have lived here, though they were common as breeding birds near our prior home in New Mexico. They certainly are hard to catch in a photogenic pose! I did get a photo of two males in a confrontation with their red crests extended.
I wish I saw more of these. Wonderful colors on the photos.
They are cute little birds and have pleasant songs. I actually had one fly low and land in front of me once and I missed the opportunity. I guess that is why I continue to be intrigued and keep going for the prize of a captured image. Though a lot of us in Alberta feel we did not have summer this year, with rain every weekend and cool temps, I wouldn’t trade it for those temps in the 100’s – I would find that unbearable.
Gorgeous little things, and the light in the second photo is particularly appealing.
Temperatures like that have me hunkered down, a sad, soggy and grumpy mess. I hope you find some cool relief soon.
Awesome
Great shots, I won’t tell you our temps, otherwise you might relent and come East.