Winter Cardinals

With the snow we have been having this winter, the numbers of birds at the feeders have been really plentiful this winter. In fact during some snowy weather the other day we had about a dozen cardinals at one time. I have been wanting to get a blind just for taking pics but I am too cheap to go buy a blind just for that. However, I was lucky enough to receive a Frabill portable ice fishing hut for Christmas this year and I gotta tell you it makes an excellent birding blind. I simply remove the velcro window from the side and shoot away. Lots of room to move around without the birds getting spooked and stay nice and warm. Here is a few shots from it.

The Male

http://mikebons.zenfolio.com/img/s8/...61503038-4.jpg

http://mikebons.zenfolio.com/img/s2/...61503140-4.jpg

http://mikebons.zenfolio.com/img/s2/...61503070-4.jpg

The Female

http://mikebons.zenfolio.com/img/s8/...61503514-4.jpg

*yes, I know the stick coming down is distracting, but I was feeling a little lazy during PP*
http://mikebons.zenfolio.com/img/s8/...61503566-4.jpg

http://mikebons.zenfolio.com/img/s2/...61502826-4.jpg

What a nice color contrast between white and red.

Lovely set Mike. Really like that snow in the pics, and the dof used to make the Cardinals really stand out from that nice smooth background. Nice exposure control in that last one especially.

Nice set. With that dof and bokeh they stand out beautifully. The snow adds to it for me as well.

I love how the birds stand out against the background, plus the addition of the snowflakes.

Gee they are colourful little guys. Lovely shots. As has been said before the background, the snow and the perches too all add to the shots for me.

Extraordinary set. Is that sumac I see in a few of these?

Very, very nice set Mike.