Almost time for birdcakes... Photo

Photographer’s Note

I found a recipe to make homemade birdcakes on a birding site online. The birds LOVED them. So many different kinds showed up and the feeders were hung fairly close to the house so I could get good shots. This little thing was my absolute favorite. Poor little guy, it was pouring rain and he was drenched, but I got a few nice shots.

The weather is finally beginning to cool off, so I will make a new batch and put them in the feeders. It said if the temps get over 85(F), they become rancid. Well, according to the weather we have a day coming up that's to reach 81, so I guess I better wait a bit. Winter here is a long way off. Hope you enjoy it.

Didi, jwmunro, JCG, Dyerco, lucasgalodoido, Sistercosmo, gunbud, papagolf21, gervaso, bukitgolfb301, mortijo, Vasa, maloutim has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ls7902 (6166) 2009-10-27 18:55

You really got a good zoom on this one. Very good focus & background blur. Nice colors and bad weather lighting. Regards. Latiff.

Didi (36078) 2009-10-27 19:28

Hi dearest friend
You are more closer to nature, in my town very common birds
Nice catch with a good selective setting on this marvellous bird.
Sincères amitiés

jwmunro (6573) 2009-10-27 19:40

Hello Shelly -

This is a very nice capture of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I do like the OOF BG, the image is sharp with just a hint of catch light in the eye, and exposure appears to be spot on. Well done!

Thank you for sharing.

John

cd70 (713) 2009-10-28 1:56

Hi Shelly,
quel bel instant décisif !
Il a fière allure l'oiseau, de belles nuances de couleurs et un placement dans le cadre idéal. Le flou d'arrière plan est très harmonieux. Splandide !
Cyrille

JCG (25291) 2009-10-28 3:47

Hello Shelly,

In little time, when the cold becomes sharper, my parents, in Brittany, also will suspend the balls grease for the birds !!! They have already peanuts… Still a very good focus on this coloured bird which emphasizes well the photograph. It seems to appreciate the food which you prepare for them. Beautiful moment, thank you Shelly.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

macjake (1652) 2009-10-28 5:19

Good Morning Shelly

Wow
well captured moment, great use of the 1/400 shutter speed.
We don't see too many bird photos like this on TE, so this is a treat!
very sharp photo.
even the water droplets.
nice work!
Thanks
Craig

Dyerco (9062) 2009-10-28 6:40

Hi Shelly
Great shot with a totally out of focus BG that really makes the bird stand out. You have a catchlight in his eye and the detail is superb.
Phil

COSTANTINO (22671) 2009-10-28 13:38

Hello
What beautiful and sweet photo
Nice capture of that moment,the colours are great
great work from you,you did the best
regards
Costantino

lucasgalodoido (16601) 2009-10-28 13:50

Hi Shelly,
impressive the quality of this picture, the detaisl of bird are interesting and I like of the low DOF too. Great job, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas

yquem46 (7876) 2009-10-28 13:55

Superb Shelly
You must be quite close for such a portrait with a 200mm !
The sharpness on the bird is perfect, the BG neutral and hence ideal, and what i like too are the water droplets on the chain and the cage
Bravo Shelly
Best regards
patrick

gunbud (27833) 2009-10-28 20:32

Hi Shelly,
Wow really like this shot with lovely redhead clinging to the feeder.
Very clear crisp colors with sharp details.
Looks like you got the recipe right.
I just purchased a 40-150mm zoon lens and hope to get some nature shots.
Its tricky getting used to focusing properly.
Regards, Tom

Sistercosmo (2573) 2009-10-29 12:38

Hi Shelly,

what a wonderful shot with great details. This guy is beautiful and I love the water dripping down the chain and on the feeder.

Smart of you to hang them close to the house. :-) Looking forward to seeing more!

Have a great day. Hugs,
Linda

ktanska (16559) 2009-10-30 3:27

Hi Shelly,
Good closeup of this woodpecker having some snack. That blurry background has nice calm colours. That bird looks different from what can be seen in Europe. The red head looks amazing.
Kari

papagolf21 (56335) 2009-10-30 6:48

Bonjour, ma bonne amie Shelly,
Outre la joliesse de la composition (du plumage de l'oiseau) ; j'aime ces perles de rosée sur cette petite cage contenant de la nourriture.
La composition est très réussie.
Amitiés sincères.
Philippe

gervaso (5166) 2009-10-30 7:46

Hello, Shelly!

Wonderful colors, and excellent sharpness and depth of field! You got it in a great moment, with beautiful details! Very good job!

gilou530 (35172) 2009-10-30 10:17

salut shelly
excellent ce cadrage un belle capture de cet oiseau, un bokeh bien réalisé, bravo
amitiés
gilbert

bukitgolfb301 (4606) 2009-10-30 16:34

Hello my dear Shelly

What an another impressive supper shot!
Perfect framework/composition, sharp focusing and good vivid color contrast are outstanding usual!
Bokeh at the background makes a good mood.
Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Have a nice happy Saturday !

Takero

mortijo (12212) 2009-11-02 7:33

Hello Shelly,
I nearly missed this one, and that would have been a shame!Only one word BEAUTIFUL! Great focus and sharpness. Outstanding colors. I only miss one thing...the recipe.
Have a nice day
John

Vasa (5500) 2009-11-03 4:11

Your lovely target, dear Shelly and your eternal inspiration. It seems your Nikon is formidable tool. D70s was my idea too, but they say in the shop, it is old mark, there's the new version. My question why they leave the so good success. The camera is not the apple for baying every week.

Anyway your subject is for my soul and my discrete collection. Sa happy to see you again, friend,

Branko

skippy007 (7033) 2009-11-10 2:25

Hello Shelly, this is just plain beautiful, colours are rich & natural, pin sharp, excellent clarity, rain drops on the chain are the icing on the cake. The blurred BG has made this pretty coloured bird jump out of the frame. I have just posted another of the same Pelican, hope you can find the time to look at it.
Take care
Santo

giorgimer (21136) 2009-11-14 1:25

Hi Shelly,

ehi, it's hungry! Excellent moment capture, I like the short focus, I'm sorry for the food being prisoned ;)

Well done!

G

maloutim (3949) 2009-11-17 13:07

Hi Shelly!
I am a bird lover and a very keen bird-watcher!
This photo is fantastic with the bright colours of the lesser-spotted wood-pecker? I also like the bird cake in the cage and the beautiful blurred background!
I wish I had great photos like that to show of "my" birds, but I am pretty useless with the zoom, and the birds usually fly away when I try to photograph them.
However, I watch them with care on the crab apple tree outside the kitchen window (specially planted there for bird-watching!) We have got a special bird book and have always managed to find out what birds we see, we have been able to admire over 30 different species! It's great!
We have also been to America and observed that it's very rich in bird species, but they are quite different from European birds. So, we couldn't find them in our book!
Thanks for sharing this beautiful photo anyway!
Best regards.
Marie Louise.