Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Thunderstorms crossed the Midwest today and gave me a chance to pause my ongoing little construction project for a while, sit on the porch with the camera in my lap and watch birds during the rain. It didn’t take long to spot this first of the season male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. This guy was totally wet and probably a bit tired after the long journey from either Central or South America. This was two days earlier than last year. The grosbeaks enjoy our sunflower seed feeders and I expect to see a few more during the next weeks. I think it is always a good bird to practice wildlife photography. With their black, white, and red plumage, rich in contrast, it is not so difficult to focus on and get a sharp picture even for someone who is new to wildlife photography.