Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/04/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Two species in the genus Zonotrichia typically winter in the Sacramento area, the White-crowned Sparrow and the Golden-crowned Sparrow. When they first arrive in the fall their plumage is mostly drab and worn, but by the time they head north in the spring their plumage is fresh and colorful (or, as colorful as these birds get). I spent a few hours today photographing the fresh spring plumage of these birds, while testing my "new" 560mm Novoflex Telyt and the new blind I made from a damaged backpacking tent (ebay, US$11). White-crowned Sparrow, nearly always more numerous: http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/emberizidae/wcspar08.html http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/emberizidae/wcspar09.html Golden-crowned Sparrow, a little larger, a little more wary than the White-crowned Sparrow: http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/emberizidae/gcspar03.html http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/emberizidae/gcspar04.html These birds were lured within camera range with bird seed scattered on the ground. Technical stuff: R8/DMR, 560mm Novoflex Telyt, tripod & blind. All comments welcome. Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com