Feb 20, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, Dark-eyed Junco, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3
Northern Illinois | 2/06/2020 10:19 am Local Time | Light Snow 27°F Moderate Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Dark-eyed Junco The Dark-eyed Juncos are one of the most abundant forest birds of North America. Juncos are the “snowbirds” of the north that come down to middle America to winter. They look they are wearing little suits.
The Back Story Keeping the camera on a table near the window pays off. This image was a simple click at coffee break time.
Quick Facts…
| Dark-eyed Junco … Slate gray with with belly.
|
| Habitat | Conifer & mixed woods. Open woods, undergrowth, brush, woodland edges, thickets, etc. |
| Range | Common in Winter in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Almost always on ground & well hidden under overhanging grass, under log, rock, etc. |
| Diet | Mostly seeds in the winter and insects in the summer. Frequents bird feeders in winter. |
| Behavior | Forages mostly on the ground. Comes to bird feeders, but forages on the ground under feeder. |
| Size | Length: 5.5-6.3 in | Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz | Wingspan: 7.1-9.8 in |
Feb 19, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, Downy Woodpecker, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3
Northern Illinois | 1/27/2020 11:15 am Local Time | Light Snow 30°F Light Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Female Downy Woodpecker The Downy Woodpecker is smallest woodpecker in North America. These small birds dart around quickly. They don’t sit still for very long. This images shows their relative size against the tree.
The Back Story This image was a simple click along my usual trail through the wood. Just before a crossing over a small stream, this woodpecker was going up a tree truck. Always keep the camera ready to make that simple click.
Quick Facts…
| Female Downy Woodpecker … checkered black-and-white, head striped. Males red patch on of head.
|
| Habitat | Forests, woodlots, willows, river groves, orchards, shade trees, etc. favors deciduous trees. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Nest is a cavity in dead limb or dead tree. |
| Diet | Mostly insects. Beetles, ants, caterpillars, etc. Also eats seeds and berries. Seeds at bird feeders. |
| Behavior | Forages on trunks and major limbs of trees as well as minor branches and twigs. |
| Size | Length: 5.5-6.7 in | Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz | Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in |
Feb 18, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Coyote, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3
Northern Illinois | 2/14/2020 2:48 pm Local Time | Fair Skies 15°F Light Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Coyote Running This Coyote was probably tracking a vole in this area. In the winter, voles make up a good portion of a coyote’s diet. Coyotes are very good at finding the voles. They can hear them in their underground burrows. Notice his shadow against the snow helps give the image perspective.
The Back Story What was I doing capturing images on Valentines Day? Took my daily walkabout early to celebrate later. Actually, I had not noticed the coyote until he jumped and started running. He must not like people all that much. My Nikon 1 V3 with the 70-300mm (810mm after crop factor) lens was ready. I quickly raised it to my eye and simultaneously squatted down to get to coyote eye level and clicked the “on” switch. Then, with a quick burst of clicks, the coyote was gone out of sight.
Quick Facts…
| Coyote Running…Long,coarse fur grizzled buff above & whitish below, legs reddish.
|
| Habitat | Almost anywhere; plains, forests, mountains, deserts, tropical climates, cities |
| Range | Year around in Illinois |
| Nest | Dens consist a hollowed-out tree stump, rock outcrop, existing burrow or hole.
|
| Diet | Omnivore eats almost anything; rabbits, rodents, fish, deer, insects, snakes, fruits…pets. |
| Behavior | Good hunters. Have sharp vision, strong sense of smell & run 40 mph. Will hunt in packs. |
| Size | Length: 32 – 37 in Tail: 16 in | Weight: 20 to 50 lb |
Feb 17, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Black-capped Chickadee, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3
Northern Illinois | 2/17/2019 4:36 pm Local Time | Wintry Mix 25°F Light Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Black-capped Chickadee These small birds dart around quickly. To capture an image, you must be ready. They don’t sit still for very long. The bush provides context.
The Back Story This image was a simple click through a window.
Quick Facts…
| Black-capped Chickadee … Black cap & bib; white cheeks; gray back, wings, & tail; & whitish underside
|
| Habitat | Mixed & deciduous woods; willow thickets, groves, shade trees in open woods & forest edge. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Hole in tree, enlargement of small cavity in rotten wood, old woodpecker hole or nesting box. |
| Diet | Mostly insects, seeds, and berries. |
| Behavior | Forages by hopping among twigs and branches getting food from surface. Feeder seeds in winter. |
| Size | Length: 4.7-5.9 in | Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz | Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in |
Feb 16, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3, Robins
Northern Illinois | 2/13/2019 11:32 am Local Time | Fair 14°F Moderate Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Winter Robin The little Robin red breast was my mom’s favorite bird with the possible exception of a Cardinal in the winter snow. She always loved it when the Robins first appeared while it was still winter because she knew spring was not far behind. Back then, they seemed to go south for the winter. Now, we see a few of them all winter long. They don’t eat seeds, but they will eat berries if worms are not available. They seem to like the crabapples. A little ice added to the surroundings.
The Back Story Small birds are a challenge to capture. This image was a simple lunch click.
Quick Facts…
| Winter Robin … gray-brown birds with warm orange underparts and dark heads.
|
| Habitat | Cities, towns, lawns, farmland, forests; in winter, berry-bearing trees. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Tree or shrub 5-25′ above ground. Cup of mud, grasses, twigs, debris lined with grasses & fibers. |
| Diet | Mostly insects, berries, earthworms. |
| Behavior | Forages on the ground, running/pausing on open lawns; locates earthworms by sight. |
| Size | Length: 7.9-11.0 in | Weight: 2.7-3.0 oz | Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in |
Feb 15, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3, Sparrow
Northern Illinois | 2/12/2019 11:26 am Local Time | Light Drizzle 33°F Light Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Male Sparrow Sometimes, we forget about common species. Sparrows are very common in Northern Illinois year around, so many photographers pass them over waiting for a less common creature. They can still make a nice photo. Sparrows tend to live close to people so they are always close at hand to capture an image. This male Sparrow seems rather stoic. Maybe it’s too rainy to be playful.
The Back Story Small birds are a challenge to capture. The Nikon 1 V3 with the 70-300mm lens allows for a 810mm effective focal length. It’s a long, not so fast lens at f5.6, but a very sharp lens. Still, it takes some practice to get a tack sharp image shooting handheld. For more insight, see Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story.
Quick Facts…
| Male Sparrow … grey cap, brown back, chestnut wings , white wingbars. undersides grey, black bib.
|
| Habitat | Found around man made structures like cities, towns, & farms, but not natural habitats. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Grass, weeds, twigs, trash, often lined with feathers. |
| Diet | Mostly seeds particularly weed & grass seeds or waste grain. Occasionally, eats some insects, |
| Behavior | Forages while hopping on ground. Also, likes bird feeders for a wide variety of seeds. |
| Size | Length: 5.9-6.7 in | Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz | Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in |
Feb 14, 2021 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3, Vole
Northern Michigan | 2/06/2017 4:56 pm Local Time | Fair 25°F Light Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Vole Scampering This meadow vole sometimes called the field mouse or meadow mouse, is found across Canada, Alaska, northern United States. It is active year-round; usually at night. It digs underground burrows, where it stores food for the winter and where the females give birth to their young. After I captured several clicks, this particular vole ran to the bank of the lake and into its burrow along the lakeshore.
The Back Story After a nice walk on the frozen lake, I did not find any birds close enough to photograph. However, this vole out scampering in the snow covering the ice, maybe 30 feet from the shoreline. The photo was, of course, a simple click. The vole did not seem to be afraid of me, although I kept some distance.
Quick Facts…
| Vole Scampering … grey or brown fur, short tail & legs, blunt nose, tiny eyes, fur-covered ears.
|
| Habitat | Thrive in various habitats with dense ground cover. |
| Range | Year around in North America |
| Nest | Dig several burrows to use for shelter, protection, and nest. |
| Diet | Herbivorous: feed on grass, seeds, roots, stems, and leaves of plants. |
| Behavior | Active at all times of the year, day and night. Tthey do not hibernate. |
| Size | Length: 4-9 in | Weight: 2 oz |
Feb 13, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3, Sparrow
Northern Illinois | 1/24/2019 11:43 am Local Time | Light Snow 1°5F Moderate Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Female Sparrow Sometimes, we forget about common species. Sparrows are very common in Northern Illinois year around, so many photographers pass them over waiting for a less common creature. They can still make a nice photo. Sparrows tend to live close to people so they are always close at hand to capture an image. I think this bird is a female House Sparrow, but I’m not a birder. Please give me a comment if you think I’m wrong.
The Back Story Small birds can be challenging to capture even with a long, fast lens. The Nikon 1 V3 with the 70-300mm lens allows for a 810mm effective focal length. It’s a long, not so fast lens at f5.6, but a very sharp lens. Still, it takes some practice to get a tack sharp image shooting handheld. For more insight, see Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story.
Quick Facts…
| Female Sparrow … plain buffy-brown overall with dingy gray-brown underparts.
|
| Habitat | Found around man made structures like cities, towns, & farms, but not natural habitats. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Grass, weeds, twigs, trash, often lined with feathers. |
| Diet | Mostly seeds particularly weed & grass seeds or waste grain. Occasionally, eats some insects, |
| Behavior | Forages while hopping on ground. Also, likes bird feeders for a wide variety of seeds. |
| Size | Length: 5.9-6.7 in | Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz | Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in |
