Calling adult Black-capped Chickadee – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Mornings have gotten cooler in the high country of the Wasatch Mountains just to the east of where I live in the Salt Lake Valley. Yesterday I saw a low of 45 in a mountain canyon and although it felt refreshing to me it is a reminder that a change of seasons is about to begin.
For a while I sat watching and waiting for the sun to rise over the peaks while enjoying the much cooler temps than we have had down in the valley. After the sun lit up the canyon the birds became more active.
I saw and heard Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees yesterday morning but only this Black-capped Chickadee came in close enough for me to photograph.
Adult Black-capped Chickadee perched in dead willow branches – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Black-capped Chickadees are abundant here but they aren’t as easy to photograph in wild areas as one might think. These chickadees are constantly on the go, don’t stay in a area long and without a feeding station there is nothing there to entice them to come back over and over again. They simply move on.
I heard this adult before I saw it high in the Wasatch Mountains, quickly found it in the nearby willows and was glad when it flew in close to where I sat in my Jeep. The first two branches that the chickadee landed on weren’t the best spots for me to photograph it because there were other branches that crossed the chickadees body in those frames but when it flew to the third branch it was completely out in the open. I was only able to take 39 photos of this chickadee and then it was gone.
I’m tickled that this Black-capped Chickadee flew in and spent a few seconds with me. As plentiful as they may be I am always excited to have them in my viewfinder.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Black-capped Chickadee photos plus facts and information about this species.
Hooray for cooler mornings. And for this charmer.
Thank you.
Such a delightful little chap! Wish we got them down here, but alas, so I’ll have to live vicariously through your wonderful photography. 🙂
One of my favorite feisty little birds. We have them in the yard year long. They really like the peanut butter suet I put out in the winter.
Cute
So nice to see these beautiful shots of our friends from away. Constant feeder companions all winter and then they disappear into the pines. Enjoy the cool!
I am not seeing or even hearing as many Black-capped Chickadees in the Niagara area as I used to. Sad. Climate change?