Mountain Chickadee hanging from a juniper – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Fall hasn’t officially arrived according to our human calendars yet some of the birds I photograph have begun to exhibit behaviors typically found during autumn. Yesterday in the West Desert mountains I watched Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees extracting seeds from Douglas Fir cones and then flying off to cache the seeds to help get themselves through the upcoming winter. The nuthatches and chickadees were zipping in and out of my view at an energetic pace that was challenging to keep up with.
Mountain Chickadee in a juniper with a Douglas Fir seed – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When this Mountain Chickadee came into view it was hanging from a juniper bough with two Douglas Fir seeds in its bill it appeared to be looking around for a place to cache its food. I was only able to take twenty photos of the chickadee before it flew up into another juniper and stored the seeds in the loose bark of the tree so it can come back to them for sustenance when the snow is deep and the temps drop to freezing.
Mountain Chickadee with a Douglas Fir seed in its bill – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
What I liked about these photos was the lacy appearance of the juniper bough the chickadee was clinging to and how that lacy pattern was repeated in the background by other out of focus junipers, the quality of the light and how the chickadee seemed to hang from the juniper with ease and the view I had of the fir seeds in the chickadee’s bill.
Mountain Chickadee in a mountain canyon – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
With as much time as I spend in the field I really don’t need a calendar to tell me when the seasons are changing, I only need to watch the behaviors of my feathered subjects to know when the changes will occur. This Mountain Chickadee is one of the bird species I watch so I know when the seasons are changing, that is nature’s calendar.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mountain Chickadee photos plus facts and information about this species.
I miss seeing chickadees since moving to south Florida from New Mexico, where we had two species. Even the Carolina Chickadee fails to visit us in far southeastern Florida. Their habit reminds me of how the Pinyon Jays select the south side of junipers to store their Pinyon Pine seeds, as the snow melts sooner on that side of the tree. The leftover seeds often sprout up to produce an adjacent pine which eventually may overshadow the juniper.
“My Little Chickadee.” W.C. Fields must be loving these wonderful pics. Such incredible detail…just amazing! Thanks Mia.
Look at that agility! The body is facing one way while the head faces the opposite way. I saw my first Mountain Chickadee this summer! These are great photos and I am enjoying them, thank-you.
I like (love is closer to the mark) ALL of these shots. And the reminder that our calendars and clocks are a totally arbirtary concept
Chickadees are one of my favorites. The high temperatures are still above normal but they don’t linger as long as in summer; much cooler at night.
Love these images.
Beautiful shots!
I marvel at the way birds can hang upside down with such ease. The Juniper patterns are attractive as well.