![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/american-goldfinch-7781-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-goldfinch-7781-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nYesterday morning in the mountains was one of those days when I saw quite a few birds but photos I’m proud of were few and far between. But a male goldfinch still in fine breeding plumage helped to make the trip worth it.<\/p>\n
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1\/6400, 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 When he landed on this spindly perch it drooped under his weight and he just went along for the ride so his body is at an angle that I don’t often see with perched birds. While he was here I took many photos of him hoping he’d either turn sideways or take off while I had him in my viewfinder.<\/p>\n Eventually he chose the latter and my timing with the shutter button was just about right.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/6400, 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 He launched partially in my direction but thankfully my active focus point kept up with him so his face and the front half of his body are sharp. Typically with a shot like this I’d have sharp legs and a sharp perch but much of the bird would be soft, especially the face.<\/p>\n Generally I prefer lateral takeoffs but even coming more toward me like this I have light on his face, a catch light in his eye, I didn’t clip any body parts and I like the natural setting so for me this shot is more than just a keeper.<\/p>\n Besides, I love the perfectly placed shadow of his head and bill on the leaf. I even like its composition because there’s room on the leaf for the shadow to fly into… \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A male goldfinch in fine breeding plumage made yesterday’s trip to the mountains worth it. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/american-goldfinch-7807-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-goldfinch-7807-ron-dudley\\"")
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