NATURE CLICKS #619 - PURPLE FINCHES

Male Purple Finch, Little Maquoketa Valley, Iowa

Purple Finches with their big beaks are winter guests here in eastern Iowa that have their breeding territory further up in North America. We used to see a lot more of them 15-20 years ago but it seems like that House Finches outnumber them more and more. However, we still had a few Purple Finches all winter long and during the last few days with warmer weather their numbers increased slightly.

Female Purple Finch

This weekend the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place and people report bird observations in order to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world. I spent quite some time during the last couple days with the camera outside and counted every bird I saw in our front yard this morning at the feeders, bird baths, and in the surrounding woods. Six Purple Finches were among 17 other species that showed up.

Male Purple Finch

Female Purple Finch

All images: Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x

SHOOTING FROM A BLIND

Male House Finch

I was invited this evening by my photography friend Kevin for some photo shooting behind his house on the south side of Dubuque, Iowa. He had set up a tent that served as a blind at the edge of his woods and minutes after we entered it, and had the tripods in place, our shutters were rattling. This is a great location with an abundance of birds. We had wonderful natural light (no flash needed today), and shooting with Kevin is always a great pleasure.

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker

I only have used my car as a mobile blind so far and shooting out of a tent blind was a first for me. The advantage is, you can get really close to our feathered friends. The downside is the partly loss of peripheral vision due to the tent walls and roof over the head. Not a big deal today. We had at least 14 species of birds on site and I was able to capture nine of them during our one and a half hour photo shoot.

American Goldfinch

Kevin chose the location for the blind very wisely in regards of the incoming light and had prepared the “backyard studio” with good perch facilities for the birds. A couple feeders were placed in a way that we were able to keep them easily out of the frame. Some big trees are in the background and allow to aim the lens at woodpeckers or nuthatches that crack a seed in a gap of the bark.

A pair of House Finches

No, it is no myth, our front or backyards can be some of the best places for wildlife photography. With relatively little efforts a lot can be accomplished within a short period of time, a fact that should be considered by everybody who tries to shave off time during a busy week. Special thanks to Kevin again for this opportunity today!

All images: Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head.