Gray Catbird

[Bob_B]

One of the gray catbirds that summers in my yard. I know this fellow by his leg bands. He's come back to my yard for the last three years, where he attracts a mate and builds a nest in a fragrant olive bush near my garage. He's not at all shy and can be approached to within a few feet. I always know summer has arrived when he shows up.  C&C welcomed. Thanks for viewing.

Bob

[Rainer SLP]

+1

Like it 

[Kevin Gallagher]

 You've gotten some good detail in the feathers Bob, what equipment did you use?

Kevin in CT

[thierrylegros396]

You've gotten some good detail in the feathers Bob, what equipment did you use?

Kevin in CT

+1

What was the lens mounted on your 7D ?

Thierry

[polaris-14]

The detail on the feather is amazing, Bob. I have no knowledge on birding whatsoever, but what does the leg band mean?

[Bob_B]

You've gotten some good detail in the feathers Bob, what equipment did you use?

Kevin in CT

Thanks Kevin. I used a Canon 7D, Canon EF 70-200mm lens, 1/400 @ f/4.5, ISO 400. Post done in LR.

[Bob_B]

+1

What was the lens mounted on your 7D ?

Thierry

Hi Thierry: Canon EF 70-200mm (version 1). It is a pretty sharp lens (for a zoom).

[Bob_B]

The detail on the feather is amazing, Bob. I have no knowledge on birding whatsoever, but what does the leg band mean?

I don't truly know, but guess those bands are part of the USGS bird banding program (https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/) out of the Patuxent Wildlife Center. If you go to that link, it provides a form for sitings. I haven't been able to get the full set of numbers on the left leg band, as only part of them are visible in the photos I took. If you zoom in, you might be able to make out "...242... and ...155..." on the metal leg band on the bird's left leg.

[maddogmurph]

The story line makes this fun.  Also it says something about how we study so much that is still unknown about nature and the world around us.  It could easily be an editorial for global warming with type across the picture along the lines of, "How much do we really know about the world around us?"

[Bob_B]

Amen brother maddogmurph. You're preaching to the choir. Part of the joy of photography is how it sheds new light on previously unnoticed aspects of nature.

[NancyP]

Nice portrait. It is unusual to be able to get the whole band number on a live bird by photography.