I’ve spent the last several days out looking for birds.  Songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, it doesn’t matter – any bird will do, so long as it’s within reach of my telephoto lens.  This mission has several driving factors; using the new telephoto lens, enjoying the last days of my vacation, and adding new birds to my list.

Winter is probably the most challenging season for birding; many species have migrated south, and since food is harder to come by, those birds that do remain in the north are spread out over larger areas.  Whereas in the early autumn I could go up to Fords and be surrounded, I now have to search them out.

Despite the difficulty, I’ve been pleased with some good catches.  Doubly so since some of these are shots I couldn’t have gotten before.  There’s a definite art/skill set to bird photography, and I feel that I’m finally starting to show progress along the learning curve.

But then again, that’s part of the fun – the challenge of getting the shot.

Song Sparrow

Blue Jay

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal