I was able to get outside in the bitter cold for about an hour yesterday and found myself focused on a female House Finch eating crabapples close to home.
Female House Finch eating crabapples – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The first time I had photographed House Finches eating crabapples was ten days ago after a snow storm went through the Salt Lake Valley.
It was only 14°F when I photographed this female House Finch in the crabapple tree. These bitter cold temperatures followed nearly a week of snow falling every day. Even brief exposures to the cold yesterday morning made my hands hurt but it was worth it to get out with these urban birds. I needed to be with them and to be outdoors.
This House Finch was perched on a small branch above the crabapple that she was eating where she had to bend and twist herself to feed on it. There were times that I laughed out loud while I watched and photographed her mealtime contortions. A few times I thought she was going to lose her grip on the branch and drop to the ground.
I took more than a hundred images of this female House Finch gorging on this single crabapple yesterday morning. In the future I may share more photos of her. I had a rather severe visual migraine yesterday afternoon which knocked me for a loop. After the migraine subsided I didn’t feel like processing many images at all.
These House Finches may have been eating these crabapples every winter that I have been in Utah. I might have just missed seeing them when they have been gorging on them. Paying more attention to the crabapple trees may be a benefit for me!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my House Finch photos plus facts and information about this species.
It seems like I have also only see the Robins going for fruit on a tree, and it was interesting to see your photo of a House Finch eating the fruit. Merry Christmas to you and your followers.
I love this acrobatic charmer. Many, many thanks. And I am very sorry to read about your migraine. They are truly vicious things.
We have two mature crabapple trees on the property and I thought their abundant fruit would last all winter– until a flock of robins arrived and ate about 90% of them within a few days. Had envisioned Evening Grosbeaks and winter finches visiting to partake of them all winter. We do have three new ones in the back garden which did not bear fruit this year. Here’s hoping!
Kenneth, typically I see the American Robins feasting on these crabapples in the month of January here. I am not sure many of them will be left for the robins at the rate the finches are eating them now!