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, Salt Lake County, UtahFemale 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.