Black-capped Chickadee on pine branch
I seem to be on an endless hunt for new perches for photographing birds at my backyard set-up. Fortunately, there are several woodlots I can easily access and during storms I tend to have lots of small dead branches fall from the Ash trees on my property. When selecting the perch I tend to avoid a plain old looking stick unless it has some interesting shape to it or other features that may prove interesting. Most often I am looking for small branches that are not much more than the thickness of a pencil. Perches with lichens, moss or small pinecones tend to work very nicely for the species I get at my feeder set-up, but I have also had luck with rose hips, mullien seed heads and even dried burdock, that are readily available along the side of the roads around my home. Occasionally larger moss covered stumps will work well, especially if they have a hollowed out area to fill with various feed, depending on the species, in your area, that you wish to attract. This year it seems like the most frequent visitors to my feeders are Chickadees and Tree Sparrows, however, the Red-bellied Woodpecker continues to arrive daily and I have been lucky with additional photos of it that I will post in the future. Here is a small assortment of additional songbirds from my backyard set-up with various perches.
Black-capped Chickadee on moss covered perch
Black-capped Chickadee on small pine branch
You’re lucky that these birds find their way to your backyard. I have a humming bird feeder in my yard and have been experimenting with capturing these fast fliers. Any tips on a good set up?
Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated. I have had some luck by attaching a tiny twig to the bottom of the hummingbird feeder and making only one feeding station on the feeder itself accessible to the hummingbirds.
Thanks for the tip! I will try your method.
Fantastic images Andrew, you have a way with those compositions!!
Thanks for the kind words Denise 🙂
Hi Andrew,
Great images as always!
Looked into the Lee filter holder for my 14 to 24. No one has them as they are on back order.
I did find another system that I think I will purchase. Google in Lucroit.
I think this system is what every photographer is looking for. You can even mount it on a 77mm. The grad filters are 165mm X 200.
Singh-Ray said that they can make me a Glass 10 stop ND filter 165 square because I prefer the glass for this holder. Hope that will help everyone looking for a great system for their 14 to 24 Nikon lens. If you want to see some of my new projects go on Facebook and type Michael De Martino.
My website is old but reaching more clients on facebook.
Again, Keep shooting thoes great images. After April 16, I’l send you some waterfalls.
Michael