Excellent shots. If the first tw are anything like the smaller members of the tit family in the UK you have done really well to catch them - they are virtually never still.
Dave
Thanks Dave, yes...they do not perch...they pause. Which is what gave me a bit of issue being cloudy and needing more speed the third shot is a little to thin DOF wise....little soft in the face and seed. That little guy is the fastest in and out of them all! Then I got surprised on the last two shots with a hole in the clouds. The light came and went as fast as the birds. Fun half hour of practice.
Like it Paul, a very succinct description of exactly what they do.
I don't think you have long tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) in the USA but they make the rest of the tit family look pedestrian. They arrive in small groups and tumble through the tops of bushes; one day I hope I'll get one.
BTW the Towhee is brilliant. I can't identify the fourth one, other than the catch all of 'LBJ'
Dave
Dave, not sure we have the long tailed tit but we do have bushtits. They are about the smallest we have I think. Their nest hangs lengthwise in thin branches and is elongated like a thin football. {American football} The first two are black capped chickadee, and the fourth I believe is a Northern Waterthrush. I can not seem to ID #3.
The third one is a red breasted nuthatch, I think.
Dave
Good focus and exposure under what would appear to be tricky conditions.
Wonderful close-up of that chickadee! If ever you have an ID question, post your photo:
http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=114
The second is excellent , paul. Well done!!!
Beautiful shots Paul, beautiful.
Thanks everyone, I am starting to get a good feel for this lens. Should be a good season.