Mix Of Urban Birds Close To Home

This mix of urban birds were taken over a two day period close to home. Birds, no matter where they are, bring me joy, happiness, and even laughter.

Red-winged Blackbird on the edge of a pond – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/500, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This cooperative Red-winged Blackbird male photo is full frame and resized for web presentation. It takes skill to walk up to a blackbird and have it stick around for a photo like this. The water in the background was a perfect foil for his dark plumage.

Savannah Sparrow in front of snow – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/1600, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

On a day right after the big snowstorm here in northern Utah, this Savannah Sparrow was out and about looking for food. The white in front of the small sparrow was snow.

Savannah Sparrow in urban habitat – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The next day I was able to walk right up to two Savannah Sparrows in a tree and take frame filling images of them both.

Double-crested Cormorant splashy landing – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/1000, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Having Double-crested Cormorants nearby give me loads of opportunities to photograph them. I see them hunting for food, sunbathing, preening, swimming, taking off, flying over and landing on the water.

Neighborhood immature Sharp-shinned Hawk – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/1000, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I found this immature Sharp-shinned Hawk resting on a basketball backstop just a few houses up the street from where I live. The backstop isn’t pretty but the hawk sure is.

Urban Redhead drake portrait – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f10, 1/640, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Most of the ducks I see in the winter have taken off for their breeding season but this Redhead and his mate have stuck around. I was photographing another bird when this Redhead drake swam up and got out of the water. It was so close to me I didn’t know if I could focus on him but this portrait turned out well.

Redhead drake stinkeye – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f10, 1/640, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And then there was this photo of the drake where it looked like he was giving me the old stinkeye. Maybe he was just hamming it up for the camera. In reality, he was simply preening.

American Robin in Darth Vader mode – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Then a pair of American Robins walked up to me while I stood at the edge of a pond. This male robin looked so “helmeted” that I couldn’t help but think of Darth Vader from Star Wars.

American Robin getting close – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The robin also walked up so close to me that I could only take portraits of it. The pair of robins seemed determined to find breakfast and didn’t seem to care that I was there.

American Robin looking for food close up – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

After I took this photo the robin got so close to me that I couldn’t focus on him. He walked just to the right of my tripod foot which was just two feet away from my own foot.

Spring female American Robin portrait – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Then the female American Robin walked up for her portrait. She wasn’t quite as brave as the male and dashed away soon after this photo was taken.

These birds, and others, were tons of fun to photograph close to home.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my bird photos in their galleries.