![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/american-goldfinch-9311b-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-goldfinch-9311b-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nSubtitle: “They went thataway”.<\/p>\n
Looking back I’m a little surprised I don’t post American Goldfinches more\u00a0often. I think they’re attractive subjects even in their winter plumage so maybe it’s because they’re so strongly associated with feeders and I don’t shoot setups. If so that’s a hang-up I need to overcome.<\/p>\n
Three days ago I found a few of them at Bear River MBR and even though they were only marginally cooperative I did get one shot that makes me smile.<\/p>\n
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1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n They were feeding on this plant (a species I don’t recognize) along the refuge auto-loop road and usually there were other stems blocking the\u00a0goldfinches\u00a0but I caught this one out in the open. I noticed the bird look to my left and thought it might take off in that direction so I fired off a quick burst and\u00a0got a single frame\u00a0as it began to lift off.<\/p>\n The incredible speed and reflexes of birds always amaze me. This one was perched on the stem at such an angle that it couldn’t open its left wing as it took off to our\u00a0left\u00a0(the wing was blocked by the stem)\u00a0so it simply didn’t and used only its right wing. My timing was perfect to get that wing in a position I like a lot, the bird is looking in the same direction the wing is pointing which I believe enhances the photo and I had enough shutter speed to freeze the incredibly fast action.<\/p>\n I don’t think it’s a\u00a0great image but I do think it’s “cute” and\u00a0I always enjoy “they went thataway” poses…<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n PS – We finally have snow and lots of it! <\/em><\/p>\n It snowed all evening and during the night and it’s still coming down as I type this at 5:22 AM.\u00a0There appears to be about 10″ of fresh snow on my deck and I couldn’t be happier about that. Life will be tough for our birds for a while but it’s a good thing for them in the long run. My bad back will likely pay a price when I clear snow off my driveway, patio and\u00a0sidewalk but the alternative (no snow) would be much, much worse. Hallelujah!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We finally have snow and lots of it!<\/p>\n