I have been trying to get pictures of this shy little bird since it decided to be a daily regular in my yard this past November. The white throated sparrows are very shy and will only go to feed underneath my feeders when there are other types of sparrows on the ground. I am convinced it can sense my presence at the window because whenever I go over there to take a photo off he flies.
Now with my new camera I can actually zoom into where he normally feeds which is underneath the wild blackberry bushes He is eating something under there, but I can't quite figure out exactly what it is.
I am thinking maybe a sunflower seed that has blown over there from under my feeders.
Here he is high up in my funky pod tree. I actually had to squint to find him and then tried to locate him with my camera. One thing I have learned with this new camera is that sometimes it is easier to locate a small bird through your eye piece. What I do is look at the location of the bird and then put the camera up to my eyes similar to what you do with binoculars. I then zoom out until I can see any kind of movement what so ever and then zoom it. It works much better than trying to locate them through the little screen you get on the back of your camera. I wish he were a little closer to me, but this will do for now.
Such handsome little birds and I feel honored that they decided to spend the winter in my back yard.
14 comments:
I love these little guys. They are fairly uncommon here, but I am lucky this winter to have two visiting frequently.
Nice shots! I like these guys too!
P.S. YOu have wild blackberry bushes?! I am so envious! I have to search out in the backcountry of northern michigan to pick them each summer. I love to make blackberry jam. I think I'm just going to try to plant some again and try to keep them alive.
Trying to focus on little birds in bushes can be a real pain as you found out. Pretty good pictures considering all the obstacles. I use the eye piece more then the screen particularly if trying to get flight pictures. Practice on switching to manual focus when they are in the bushes.
Beautiful sparrow, Kallen. I've never seen one--or at least I don't remember seeing them. Love that white throat. Are they common????
Have a great evening.
Hugs,
Betsy
NW, I love the header of your blog with the white throated on it. They are so cute. It has been difficult for me to get to know their personalities because they are so shy though. This one was more adventurous today. Perhaps he can sense we will be getting some snow.
Shelley, I have two wild blackberry bushes in my yard. I have a feeling the people who used to own this house prior to myself were as lax at landscaping as I am. My yard is filled with trees and shrubs that most people with McLawns would find appalling such as Privet (invasive), wild blackberry (invasive), mulberry (invasive), evening night shade (invasive) and pokeberries (invasive). When I first moved in I kept saying I would take some of it down. Now that I see how much the birds love it, I wouldn't dream of cutting one branch. I left most of the blackberries for the birds this summer and am kicking myself because I have some many that a lot went to waste. I am thinking of picking a bunch this summer to freeze for my own use and to put out for bird food in the winter.
Thanks Richard. I will remember the eye piece for flight pictures as well. I am going to have to google manual focus because I have no idea what it means. HA, like I said this is all new to me. All I know is that sometimes when I am taking a picture, the camera will put a green box around the specimen I want to photograph. I am astounded that the camera knows what it is before I even tell it. Cameras have come a long way since the Instant Polaroids I tell you. LOL
Betsy, from what I have read they are fairly common here in the Northeast during the winter. Like I said they are rather shy though so I bet many people have them in their yards and don't even know it.
Hey Kallen,
Nice photos. White-throated Sparrows are my favorite of the sparrows. I love their song.
Glad your getting familiar with your camera. I know it's a lot of fun!
I love them and I haven't seen one yet this winter...
I miss all the white throated sparrows at my sisters home in NC...she had loads of them..I havent tried to take pictures of them yet.
I seem to have a hard time capturing those little birdies.
great job with your photos!
Your photography has improved so much. The camera helps a lot but your eye for the shot also is improving. Good work!
He's beautiful Kallen. I have never seen one in my yard, though according to the maps, they should be down here wintering.
White throated sparrows are nice birds and so in the white crowned sparrow. I have a collection of photos of both of them that I have taken over the years. And I will have to begin posting them.
I like your photos of these birds in the brush. It is nice to see.
Had to go back to find out what type of camera you had. You may not have a manual focus on camera only an auto fucus. Then the next best trick to to check out your manual on spot focus when shotting in bushes. In spot focus, the camera only focuses on one small spot it the center of the picture. This spot will be on the subject and not the branches around it.
Hope this helped a little bit.
I love their song, too. I've seen it written in "english" words in several different ways in several field guides, but my favorite is "Old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody"
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