My Acer palmatum Sango Kaku looks stunning lit with early morning sun at this time of year. Its coral branches just look fantastic especially when covered in frost at the same time as they were this morning. However this tree is also quite a hot spot for the birds in my garden especially on sunny cold mornings.
This morning I couldn’t resist running out with my camera (coat, hat, scarf and gloves on) as this particular moment of lighting on my tree only lasts 30 mins at the most. I have done this a few mornings and the birds leave only to return when I returned inside! Today I was lucky as you can see below. I captured the Blue Tit, Siskin male, Siskin female, Goldfinch and finally my first okay shots of the female Blackcap that is still visiting my garden. We are still to see a male Blackcap this year. We are now going out to try and sort the leak in our camera Nestbox so I expect the feeders will be quiet for a little while.
All photos and shown above were taken in my garden on January 12th 2008.
Those are beautiful pictures. My Sango Kaku is still too small to be of interest to the birds, but the coral twigs are of great interest to me. The light hits mine in the afternoon in a similar way.
Lovely pictures. I see what you mean about your acer. My witchhazel looks stunning at the moment – I may try to gets some film of the birds sitting in it… I love the little blackcap female. We usually have a pair of blackcaps this time of year… but not this year. Keep the pictures coming.. I love them!
Beautiful pictures…as always. I try to take pictures of our native birds, but they are always too small (I only have a tele 250mm) on the photo. What kind of lens do you use?
Have a nice weekend,
Barbara
Fantastic pictures, what camera do you use??
These are so great, Shirl! It’s really fascinating to see the different birds you get. (I covet the blue tits, they’re so cute; we do get goldfinches and siskins but the others aren’t around here. They’re all so charming to look at; I’m becoming more fond of birds the longer I garden. The waxwings send me into complete raptures when they’re here, and the woodpeckers make me chuckle. Then there’s the eagles, but they’re for a post coming soon.
Oh, and I was completely struck by the comment you left on my blog; a lovely and moving comment indeed.
A beautiful tree for your beautiful birds.
stunning photos here, especially the goldfinch, one of my favourite birds, but also the blackcap, I’ve never noticed that little white line beneath their eyes before.
Hi again, Entangled and Jane 🙂
Entangled – Thank-you, I was thrilled with them as the colours were so beautiful at that time. I have had my tree a few years now so it has grown larger enough for the birds to use. Yes, the coral is just wonderful to look out to in winter and spring 😀
Jane – Thank-you! I would expect that photos or video of small garden birds with withchhazel would look pretty special! I love the blackcap too it is a shame she is on her own but she appears quite settled with the regulars visiting my garden. I will try to keep the pictures coming but the one I really want is the wren at my pond 😀
Hi again, Barbara and Aron 🙂
Barbara – Thank-you! These photos were taken using a 55-200mm zoom lens. Many of my bird photos have the birds quite small too but I always crop my photos to show them as I do. I did have a nice weekend thanks – hope you did too 😀
Aron – Thank-you! My bird and flower photos are taken using a Digital SLR camera using a Tamron 55-200mm zoom lens on my Canon EOS 400D. Although I would like to name and shame the standard lens that came with this camera – it gives absolutely rubbish results!
Hi again, Jodi, Lisa and Juliet 🙂
Jodi – Thank-you! I also find it fascinating to see all the different birds and wildlife in other blogs too. Again I also have found myself liking the birds more as I photograph and write about them. I’ll look out for your post on eagles but I don’t think I’ll see waxwings here and I haven’t seen any woodpeckers either. It really is a great bonus that I can see them in other gardens so far away! Jodi, I wasn’t sure whether to add my comment or not as it was quite strong. I hope it helps someone else 🙂
Lisa – oh it is and so they are 😀
Juliet – Thank-you, I like the goldfinches too but I’ve yet to really capture a shot of them not moving! That female blackcap really is a beauty isn’t she – yes it looks like she is wearing eyeliner 😀
Hi Shirl,
I’m glad you stopped by because it led me to your beautiful blog. These bird photos are wonderful! It’s exciting to see birds I’ll never see over hear.
Oh, yes, those Starlings are giving me a fit and the House Sparrows worry me since I had intended to put nesting boxes up for Bluebirds and Wrens. We’ll see how it goes!
I had a small flock of juvenile Starlings visit my feeders last summer and you are right! They pestered the daylights out of their parents. It was quite a sight!
It is nice to know you!
Mary
Hi there, Mary 🙂
Good to meet you and Thank-you!
I particularly enjoy being able to share my garden birds with visitors who won’t see them in their gardens. I too love to see birds that I will never see in my own garden – like the cardinals.
You will laugh here! I have a terrace Nestbox specially designed for house sparrows as they are on the endangered list over here. Guess who has used it – the Blue Tits 😀
You just can’t totally predict who will use what in the garden – but hey that’s the fun of it! Enjoy your garden and your visiting birds. I’ll pop by soon to see what’s going on with you 😀