Pine Siskin feeding on Musk Thistle – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I’ve been meaning to share this close up photo of a Pine Siskin feeding on Musk Thistle since last summer and since today is a good as day as any, here it is. It was the middle of August and I was up in a canyon in the Wasatch Mountains sitting and waiting for birds to come in when I saw this siskin fly in from my right to land on a nearby bush, the siskin practically turned itself upside down to clean its bill and I was having a hard time photographing it because my window frame was preventing me from getting good, sharp shots. I was a bit frustrated because those images would have shown some great behavior.
To my surprise the Pine Siskin lifted off from the bush and landed right in front of me and started feeding on the seeds of a Musk Thistle. It took me a few seconds to change my aperture because I want more depth of field for a bird as close as this siskin was and then I focused and took several images before the siskin took off. I didn’t notice until after I took my eye away from the viewfinder that there was another siskin below and to the right of this one and by the time I tried to photograph it that siskin also took off.
I’m not sure I have ever been as close to a Pine Siskin as I was to this one before, I’m glad this siskin decided to delight me with its presence even though it was just for a very brief time.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Pine Siskin photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my wildflower photos along with shrubs and trees.
ahh summer.
Beautiful image. I had a similar experience with a pine siskin, allowing me to get very close, on my way to work several years ago. 🙂
Nice shot! Thanks for sharing.