Adult American Robin on a gate post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I only had two birds in my viewfinder yesterday morning on my journey up to the Wasatch Mountains. My best images were of this American Robin on a gate post.
Strangely, I almost drove straight past this American Robin. It wasn’t because these robins are such a common bird. It was simply that the breast of the robin blended into the reddish color of the mountains behind it. As soon as my eyes detected the bird I backed my Jeep up a tiny bit. When the distant green leaves of a stand of trees were behind the robin that helped it stand out more. I took a nice series of the bird before it dove down to the road.
Signs of impending colder weather
Yesterday morning I saw a low of 30°F. I could tell that the onset of cooler temps has affected the number of bird species that I have been finding on my mountain journeys. Migrants have been gone a while now. The year round residents aren’t as noisy as they were earlier in the year. In some of the lower areas of the canyon I saw frost covering the grasses and I felt the nip in the air even stronger in those locations.
Before long my trips up into the mountain canyons that I have grown to love will dwindle in numbers and finally cease when the snow starts flying. I’ve had some pretty wonderful and almost magical days up there this year. I’m grateful for each and every one of them.
I’ve been fairly wordy of late with my recent posts so I am going to finish this up now by saying that I am so glad that I live on this amazing planet.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Robin photos plus facts and information about this species.
One of my earliest memories is of Robins pecking around our yard for yummies. It never ceases to amaze me how you capture such depth and detail in your shots. And, of course, the colors in this pic are extraordinary. Thanks Mia.
Thank you (as always) for this beauty.
So glad you’ve been able to spend time in the mountains. I finally went up to cook for my old camp a few weekends in September and definitely regret not going up earlier in the season. The beautiful robin is the cherry on top!
Certainly one of the nicest Robin (a bird I ignore way too much) pics I’ve ever seen .. way to go!
Superb portrait! Hope we see them soon down here. Still finishing a bit of hurricane cleanup. Flood waters beginning to recede and should leave some nice soft mud for migrating shorebirds.
Your sentiment is fully supported: Life IS good!
Very nice image, alert with wings extended. That was a good strategic move to change the background.