Surprise Pine Siskin

Musk Thistle with two bee species on it – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yesterday morning I was high in the Wasatch Mountains photographing bees on a Musk Thistle when a Pine Siskin landed on the flower. I am not certain of the identification of the bees but I believe they are two of the more than 900 native bees that we have in Utah.

The Musk Thistle isn’t native, it is introduced and considered to be a pest. I don’t think the bees or the siskins mind the fact that the thistle is introduced. The bees may feed on nectar and the pollen of the flowers and I know that the siskins eat the seeds.

Anyway, I was completely focused on taking photos of the thistle and the bees. Through my viewfinder I have a very limited field of vision and if I am not paying attention outside of the viewfinder sometimes things pop into my field of view that I don’t expect.

Adult Pine Siskin on a Musk Thistle close up – Nikon D810, f9, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yesterday the unexpected “thing” was a surprise adult Pine Siskin that landed on the Musk Thistle that scared away the bees I was photographing. I knew that the siskins were in the area because I could see and hear them. I just didn’t expect this siskin to land on the flower that I was focused on. It was an unexpected gift.

I was able to take six images of the siskin before it flew off.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Pine Siskin photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my wildflower photos along with shrubs and trees.