Dark Eyed Junco

Just prior to departing from E Sussex for four months I'd like to request some feedback on how to tackle small subjects that tend to move very frequently and just do not settle more as a kind of defensive/protective action. This Dark Eyed Junco is a prime example.

Our garden provides plenty of trees and shelter coupled with feeders and spring migration is a month or so away.

1D3 1/2500sec f/7.1 ISO 800 at 800mm

RAW to lightroom to PS to resize.

Any tips Advice Critique Comments most welcome.

Thanks for looking.

Barry

Looks like an Eastern Phoebe to me Barry - upright 'flycatcher' pose, dark upper parts, long tail...if nothing else, Juncos have a pale, stout bill.

Phoebes will hunt from open perches, so provide one near a good source of insects and where you can set-up with good light and background.

Juncos (and many North American sparrows) are mainly ground feeders, but will hop up onto low perches above and near food.

Warblers & Kinglets - 'pishing' will get them out of the thick cover - experience will help you guess where they will move to!

In drier areas, water is often a bigger draw for birds than food.

Good luck - spring migration on the East coast USA is one thing I will miss when I move back to the UK.

Mark

Thanks I have been known to get the ID wrong before so many of them.

Barry

Mark

I stand corrected this I think is the Dark eyed Junco.

Barry

Now that one is a Junco

I am getting about 20 Dark eyed Junco's in my garden now, I have a flat table feeder-12x12'' ply on a pole and a twig strapped above and i have a log with a split in it that i put food in-they soon learn where the food is and it becomes easy especially when there are so many

Dave