I spent some time yesterday morning observing, photographing and enjoying the songs and calls of Black-capped Chickadees in a high mountain canyon. Chickadees always bring a smile to my lips and yesterday was no exception.
Bedraggled Black-capped Chickadee on a Common Mullein – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 1250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
One of the Black-capped Chickadees I photographed looked rather bedraggled because some of the feathers on its head, neck and back were messy, I suppose that could be from molting or perhaps it hadn’t finished preening after bathing in a nearby seep. It was busy feeding on a Common Mullein and although the bird is small in the frame I liked the background because of the flowers and greenery.
Black-capped Chickadee on a Serviceberry – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 1250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Later I had the opportunity to photograph a Black-capped Chickadee that landed on a serviceberry very close to me and I jumped at the chance to photograph it as it looked towards me while I sat in a “mobile blind”.
I could have and should have decreased my ISO, I had turned the ISO up earlier in the morning because of low light and had forgotten to reset it to a lower setting but with my Nikon D500 I don’t worry much about unwanted noise at ISO 1250 anyway.
Calling Black-capped Chickadee – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 1250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Black-capped Chickadee called several times while it perched on the serviceberry shrub and although I was focused on taking images of the bird I loved hearing it call too.
You can listen to the calls and song of a Black-capped Chickadee here.
Black-capped Chickadee about to take flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 1250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I took about 50 images of the Black-capped Chickadee before it flew off and I was happy with the quality of most of them. Time spent with a chickadee is always great, the photos I take are a bonus.
Speaking of great… I saw a female Moose yesterday in the same general area as I photographed this chickadee and she had two calves! I sure wish they had been out in the open instead of buried deep in tall grasses, those calves looked adorable.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Black-capped Chickadee photos plus facts and information about this species.
So curious, so cute! LOVE THEM!!!
Thank you for including the link for these charmer’s song.
I hope that Mama Moose brings her babies out to see you soon.
A banditry of chickadees–I LIKE that. Back when I lived in Dallas, the local chickadees would swoop in and snitch a wad of my dog’s hair for their nests. Maggie the Golden Wondermutt didn’t seem to mind much since she was throwing her coats and great gobs of it stood for the taking (despite that I brushed her thoroughly at least once a day!). To this day, any time I see or hear chickadees, I can’t help but break out in a smile that exceeds the width of my face! Sadly, they don’t live here! DARGH!
Chickadees are hard to capture photos of they are so flitty. Have you noticed how the juveniles only sing the “chicka… chicka” part of the song and it takes a while to learn the “deee….deee” part?
Hi sweetie! Beautiful job of shooting these my favorite Birds since I was a child! Thanks for sharing! Have a great day!
Thank you for the photos. I love the little birds. Interesting facts that you posted about them. I hope you post some moose pictures sometime.
Great photos. We seem to be seeing fewer Black-capped Chickadees every year. Scary.
Beautiful photos. Mia
Beautiful series of photos Mia! Love them all but especially the last one with the tail fanned out a bit! 🙂