Up close and personal!

[jbird]

The weathers really freakin cold! -35 wind chills. Amazingly, the birds are out in force. I assume food=energy=warmth.

I set up a home made seed tray on one of my windows which brings the birds up close. I close the curtains with nothing but my lens poking thru. Unfortunately, the image quality suffers a bit shooting thru a double pane window. Tho I have been getting some NICE stuff!

A male cardinal landing on the perch I have stuck into my feeder to obtain something natural to perch on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_9188.jpg

A blue jay contemplating the feeder.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_8821.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_8875.jpg

This is where things start getting crazy close!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_8993.jpg

Female cardinal

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_8998.jpg

A male cardinal, showin off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_9133.jpg

This is something I have really been trying to pull off and I think its pretty cool. A perfect snowflake, visible on the feather tips!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_8946.jpg

Here again. Blue Jay portrait

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_8980.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_9062.jpg

[Langenbeck]

Jay: Excellent!!!

[Larry S]

Jay,
I second what Gordon says. That blue jay looks particularly cold! Probably thinking "this is the year I should have
gone south."
A little wet stuff in San Diego today; 1/4" or so causing the PGA golfers to bring out the rain gear.
Stay warm.
Larry S

[Ben J]

Your birds pics are always amazing.... and so is your avatar:cool:

[Mark Kranhold]

Beautiful shots as always Jay! Really like that up close face shot of the male cardinal with the snow flake on him....awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[k.hanley]

Love that first shot Jay -- frozen flight. I enjoy them all though bud. Man those Cards are on fire! Brilliant colors.
Cheers, Ken

[jbird]

Thanks guys for the nice comments. I actually dialed down the saturation on the cardinals a tad in post processing. They were so bright red, the detail was actually blown out in spots almost like an overexposure.

[Kneedeep]

killler pics, jbird! Thank you.

[Darian]

-35 degree wind chill factor!!! Yikes!!! :eek: Makes ya wonder how they keep warm when they're roosting at night.... :confused:

Beautiful birds and photo's. :cool:

[Mike McKenzie]

Though I'm envious of your bird collection there in Wisconsin, there's an exception being that, no matter how much I hate hot weather, I'm not willin' to trade excellent shots of hungry winter birds for -35° temps.
I'll just continue enjoyin' them vicariously....

Thank you and keep 'em comin'!

Mike
Out here where the coldest thus far has been all the way down to 20°!

[daveiam]

These are just great photos.

[mems]

Nice Pics Jay!, last time I was in the great north woods at -35 the Yukon Jack started to turn to slush. I am still working on your koa wood pieces. I think I can get a price tomorrow. I was on Oahu last week. I will let you know, Don.

[jbird]

Thank u Don. no hurry, no worry :)