Such a common little songbird, yet it has been 25 years since I've lived in a place where I can photograph them. On Vancouver Island we only had the Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and in Val Marie we have no chickadees whatsoever. So what a pleasure it has been to watch them at my friend's feeders for the past two and a half weeks. They always grab the sunflower seeds; nuthatches go for the peanuts. Now if only the Hairy Woodpecker would co-operate...
Photographed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus wildlife bird songbird passerine perched perching winter cold backyard urban city Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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Back in town where I'm house-sitting, the nuthatches continue to visit the backyard feeders...
Unlike the White-breasted Nuthatch uploaded yesterday, these guys will land three feet from my elbow, closer than I can focus. I suspect they know that the neighbourhood cats are their real enemy, not us slow-moving, dopey humans!
Photographed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis wildlife bird perching bird backyard winter cold urban city Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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Not all of the South Saskatchewan River is iced over. Walking across one of the city's many bridges, I noticed these reflections.
Photographed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: water reflections blue yellow abstract river flow beauty wild outdoor wow South Saskatchewan River Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page surreal surface texture
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My temporary work station, while I'm house sitting, is surrounded by large windows looking out to the backyard. Bird feeders hang here and there; these days they attract Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches.
The birds are wary of neighbourhood cats, but will land very close to me. I spent the first few days trying to find a good angle through an open door or window, before I discovered I can simply walk outside, pick a spot, and wait. The only drawback, of course, is the cold - but we're having a reprieve of sorts, with temperatures hovering around 0 degrees Celsius, and expected to roast us at plus 3 this afternoon.
Difficult lighting with my subject in shadow against a bright background. I did pop a flash on some shots, but generally preferred the ones without. Have to admit that flash is not my strong suit. If I lived near forest I might invest in some good flash gear, but out on the open prairie I really don't need it. I haven't used flash extensively since the early Nineties when I was photographing insects and arachnids with a reversed 24 mm and trying to startle my students awake by projecting gigantic spider faces for their viewing pleasure.
Photographed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis wildlife bird songbird vertical beautiful pretty wild urban backyard nature Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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I haven't wandered urban streets with a camera for a long time. Years. It isn't my favourite habitat or locale, but here I am in Saskatoon for a couple of weeks... so I did just that the other day. Everyone photographs the bridges here; there are a lot of bridges. I'm just not that interested. I do like the trees, though, and especially the shadows thrown by trees, so here are three shots on this theme that caught my eye.
Photographed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: city street shadow tree urban environment buildings downtown Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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