A ‘bonus bird’ while I was photographing the male kingfisher two days ago.
For me kingfishers are a prized subject so when I heard a chickadee in a tree quite close to me, while I already had the kingfisher in my viewfinder, I was torn between the two subjects. At first I stayed with the kingfisher but when the chickadee kept calling, as if begging me to make ‘him’ a star, I caved in and took some photos of him.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I’m glad I did, in part because in several of my photos I caught him in a calling pose with his bill open. At first I thought I could see food in his mouth but when I zoomed in on the high-resolution version of the image it turned out to be his tongue.
I always enjoy photographing chickadees in natural settings like this, rather than at or near a feeder. And I think the gnarly old peeling perch adds interest to the image. I’m less fond of that big ol’ branch coming out of this back but it took me a while to even notice it in a negative way so it must not be a big deal, at least for me.
Today the internet will be flooded with “Superb Owl” photos and I briefly considered joining in and posting one of my own. But I’ve never been one to join the crowd, literally or figuratively, so you get a chickadee instead.
Ron
What a handsome fellow!
Glad you think so, Arwen.
Beautiful little chickadee, Ron. We have Carolina chickadees in North Carolina which are a little bit smaller then the black cap. They are fun to watch at a bird feeder and a suet theater. Thank you for the photo! The limb in the background does not bother me the least little bit.
Thanks, Melanie. I’ve pretty much forgotten about that “limb”. Probably shouldn’t have even mentioned it.
It’s a great shot Ron. Don’t thing the branch you referred to significantly detracts from the photo.
Thank you, Michael.
Since I never get to see them here in SoCal, I’ll gladly take your #SuperbChickadee! 😉
Good!
You know I love those Black capped Chickadee. They are at my feeder every day. Interesting they fly in and grab one black oil sunflower seed and flit to my pine tree or another bush 30 feet away. Then they are back again. They spend so much energy going back and forth. They are very polite with each other, if two come in at the same time, one will general leave and return. I just love watching them from my front door.
Trudy, what you describe is very typical behavior for them.
Total sweetness, chickadees! Thank you for including this little one. We had a pair nest last summer in an old apple stump outside our kitchen window. It was an unforgettable science lesson – from nest excavation thru fledging! Just the best!
That must have been a fun experience, Carolyn – especially right outside your window.
Chickadees are adorable. While in St George area I stopped by a pond and heron rookery. There are four active nests all with one heron sitting on them that morning. Not much action but the top of their heads. A common male merganser swam close to me in the pond and started bathing so I switched to photographing him. At that fraction in time two of the heron mates flew in and they greeted each other. I missed the fly in but had great photos of the mating displays as they switched nest sitting duties. Sadly all images lost in the card malfunction. I learned my lesson and will empty the card when I can at home before using it again to capacity. I hope I stop kicking myself soon, I am just getting sorer about the loss!
I’m sorry that happened, April. I’ve never been one to delete photos in the field so I’ve never had that problem.
Chickadee dee
on a peeling perch,
a picture of joy and mirth.
If we, like them, could get along,
and sing their song,
there might be peace on earth.
“If we, like them, could get along”
Fat chance for that to happen, Lyle. We can only wish.
I adore your little poem, Lyle. Thanks for the smile.
What a fine fellow he is! He looks like he’s singing his little heart out. I’ll second the motion for a sound clip. We don’t have chickadees down where I am, although I do see lots of Mountain Chickadees when I’m up at music camp.
I’m also marveling at the amount of feather and bark detail you have in this shot. Viva Ron and his R5!
Thanks, Marty. Now I’m really lamenting not including a sound clip. I thought about it, but didn’t.
No worries. I did a little “foraging” and found this video with the different calls labeled. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LfMsUuU9KtQ
Wonderful image! Our chickadees have started singing their two-tone, fee-bee, song. It’s a welcome sign of spring.
Joel, I didn’t hear that particular call from this bird yesterday. But they have an expansive vocal repertoire.
Loved to see this dapper little guy ! Goldfinches and chickadees have seemingly disappeared from my neck of the state. I had never heard of the “Superb Owl” celebration, and I AM SO SLOW that it took me a while to “get it”……duh !
“Goldfinches and chickadees have seemingly disappeared from my neck of the state”
I hope not permanently, Kris.
Very nice Ron. I have never seen nor photographed a Chickadee, but would sure welcome the opportunity. In our Birds of Prescott book it does show Mountain Chickadees so guess I am just not in the right place at the right time.
Later today I will be rooting for some other birds – my Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Been a fan since 1948 when I was ten years old and the famous Eagles then were Steve Van Buren and Pete Pihos.
Thanks, Everett. We have both chickadee species around here but I see Black-capped most often.
Good luck to you and your “Eagles”.
Luv chickadees even tho they are VERY common here year round. Great capture of it singing……. 😉
Thanks, Judy.
I love your Chickadee post, Ron, because they are such a cheerful little bird & I never see them here is South East Florida. I wish you had sound so we could all hear this special little bird.
Jo Ann, I considered including a link to a sound clip but I figured chickadees are so common and widespread that most everyone hears them often. But based on your comment, next time I’ll try to remember to include one.
Nice perky little bird. I usually have trouble catching light in their eyes– titmice and bushtits also.
“I usually have trouble catching light in their eyes”
Kenneth, I often have the same problem with this species. In the unprocessed version of this photo the catchlight was barely visible but when I sharpened the image it solved the problem.