![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/pine-siskin-8076-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"pine-siskin-8076-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nCedar Waxwings and a Pine Siskin. Sort of a mixed bag today.<\/p>\n
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1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 800, 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 You know me, I’m always looking to get takeoff and flight shots. This Pine Siskin spent most of its time buried in the willows as if it was taking its cue from the Yellow Warblers that hang out in there. But I captured it in flight soon after it took off and the photo caught my eye for a couple of reasons. It’s my first flight or takeoff shot of the species and until I saw this photo I’d never before seen (or at least noticed) the pale yellow in the underwing of the species.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/8000, f\/6.3, ISO 800, 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 Once again I tried for decent Cedar Waxwing flight shots and once again I failed but I did manage to catch this one during takeoff. The angle is pretty steep but I like most everything else about the photo.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/5000, f\/5.6, ISO 800, 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 I sure wish I hadn’t been so close to the birds for this shot and a bunch of others I took when the waxwing at bottom flew up to challenge the bird up top. At this close distance at f\/5.6 I was very surprised that both birds were sharp like they were in all of my shots.\u00a0 But I didn’t have enough room in the frame for them both so this photo with one cut off tail was the best one I could manage.<\/p>\n The aggressor here never actually attacked the other bird but it sure made a nuisance of itself like this for quite a while until the recipient of the annoying behavior had enough and flew off. It’s also possible the “aggressor” was only begging for food (both birds are adults) but either way I don’t blame the other bird for leaving.<\/p>\n These waxwings and others in the area were hawking insects from the willows but I’m worried about one of their primary food sources this year – berries. We had a late frost near the end of May (the same one that nipped my tomatoes at a much lower elevation) so this year’s berry crop is only a shadow of its usual self, especially when compared to last year’s bounty of berries. About the only berry crop that looks like it’ll be relatively untouched is the elderberries but even in good years they’re far less abundant than the others and they don’t ripen until later.<\/p>\n It’s looking like a tough late summer and early fall for berry-eating birds and bird photographers alike.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cedar Waxwings and a Pine Siskin. Sort of a mixed bag today.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/cedar-waxwing-7976-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"cedar-waxwing-7976-ron-dudley\\"")
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