Hoary Redpoll

Gallery: AvianPosted February 5, 2015119 views5 comments

Just a photo of lots of sticks and a rare winter visitor. The bird is a hoary redpoll that was resting near some feeders at the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is a significant crop and unfortunately, not a whole lot I could do to isolate the bird from any of those branches. The pose is not ideal due to the eye being shaded, but it shows the unstreaked white rump, white edged feathers and small bill which are necessary field marks for identification. K10d, 300mm f4 (1/250 sec at f6.3, ISO 400).

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on February 5, 2015 at 10:20 PM

I think that the large photo is a must, as it shows the really beautiful detail that you got on your cute subject. The two large twigs on the right are sort of distracting - have you tried a vertical crop to try to get them off the frame?

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 6, 2015 at 7:00 PM

Thank you Alberto. I attempted a vertical crop and am not sure if it improved anything.....................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on February 8, 2015 at 11:24 PM

Jim, I prefer the horizontal comp to the vertical, even though I would have suggested the change also. Very fine detail and colors. Viewing the larger image is a must, I agree. Nicely take, thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 13, 2015 at 12:40 AM

Both Common and Hoary Redpolls commonly perch deep in the branches. I assume it's some protection from Shrikes and Sharp-shinneds. Good to see the bird relaxed.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on March 23, 2015 at 4:40 PM

Sweet shot. Think it might be improved with a tighter crop from the right for a vertical look and better focus on the bird.

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments