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winter snack

February 7th, 2008

M_chickadee_seed

This mountain chickadee holds a sunflower kernel between its feet while it eats.

Birds, songbirds

  1. bjmmech
    February 7th, 2008 at 15:27 | #1

    Thanks Con. I really like the patterns in the wings.

  2. tracywall
    February 8th, 2008 at 20:14 | #2

    Boy! To catch him in action! I agree with bjm about the wings. And also the contrast of the puffiness in his body. Must have been cold!

    Hope you’re staying cozy warm and dry with all the snow you’ve been getting!

  3. Con Daily
    February 8th, 2008 at 20:28 | #3

    Thanks, Bob and Tracy. I liked the wings in this image, too, and the way the twigs frame the bird.

    Tracy, it’s been cold and very windy, snow often but not huge amounts, the snow on the ground is blowing and drifting. Gusts to 75 mph! All the birds are fluffed up!

  4. April
    February 9th, 2008 at 13:58 | #4

    Very interesting and unusual photo of the little chickadee. I like the way you captured his movements.

  5. Mark
    February 10th, 2008 at 13:00 | #5

    This is framed nicely by the branches. I was attempting to get some wing spread images of my local black-capped chickadees, but resulted in nothing but blurs.

  6. Con Daily
    February 10th, 2008 at 13:13 | #6

    Thanks for your comments, April and Mark.
    I think the bird must have lost balance for a moment as this is one in the middle of a series of shots while the bird ate the seed and the only one with the wing action.

  7. Howard Grill
    February 11th, 2008 at 10:11 | #7

    Great image. I like the way the dark wings contrast with the bright background and, like others have said, the great way the twigs frame and mimic the shape of the wings.

  8. Wren
    February 12th, 2008 at 03:18 | #8

    Nice picture, particularly the wing pattern. I like the chickadee’s focus on the seed (I’ve been known to concentrate on lunch myself, so I fully understand) as it makes the picture about the bird in a way that some photos don’t.

  9. JULIA R. BERKLEY
    February 13th, 2008 at 19:33 | #9

    I think this one’s just gorgeous, Con — for me, besides the wings, it’s the position of the bird’s head and the way the whitish branches frame it so beautifully. Love the coloring. I hope you don’t mind if I pull this one off just to use on my desktop?

  10. Con Daily
    February 13th, 2008 at 19:54 | #10

    Thanks Howard, Wren, and Julia.
    I was quite happy when I saw how the bird took on the shape of the space created by the twigs in this image.
    Wren, I see your point, it is more about the bird.
    Julia, of course you may put this image on your desktop (The “whitish branches” are aspen.)

    A little secret everyone: I really liked this image from the start, but didn’t post it right away because I didn’t think anyone else would like it. I’m so glad you did and thank you all for your comments.

  11. Howard Grill
    February 14th, 2008 at 07:18 | #11

    Con, isn’t it amazing how hard it is to predict what others will like? I actually wrote a whole post about that in my blog from Dec 9th…it amazes me all the time.

  12. Anonymous
    February 15th, 2008 at 15:28 | #12

    Another great shot!!! I love the way the branches frame the bird.

  13. Anonymous
    February 17th, 2008 at 19:00 | #13

    Great photo, but “its”, OK?

    like yours, ours, his, hers …its.

  14. Con Daily
    February 18th, 2008 at 07:59 | #14

    Thanks, Anon! The post was written in haste. I know the rule, but my fingers don’t always type what I know. Thanks for commenting.

    I wish anons would sign a name or nickname so I’d know who to thank.

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