Waxwing

[colin C]

Just trying to see if I can remember to post.

Colin Cross_Berry Feast_ by colin cross, on Flickr

[Trev B]

Fantastic image Colin

[@imagesBV]

Nice!

[tigerburnie]

Fab shot

[Daisy M]

That is so sharp, great shot Colin, glad you remembered.

[Farider]

A really super shot Colin, you haven’t forgotten!

Ian

[colin C]

Many thanks.

Waxwings had been my nemesis for many years.

Whenever I found them, they were very high in the trees, with overlapping branches and shooting into the sky. This time I came prepared with a Leatherman and some string, cut some Rowan berries and tied them lower down on a sapling, where they would be more at eye level and with trees and bushes in the background. My big lens threw the background totally out of focus and all I had to do was be patient. There were dozens of other Togs snapping away at the big tree and they often took pity on me and invited me over to join them, but I already had plenty of images that they were taking and I decided to keep being patient. I had an image in mind and sometimes, patience gets rewarded and the fact that it had a berry in the beak was a very nice bonus. I had about five minutes of photographing with similar shots, the above being one of the better ones, but generally, all pretty good.

Below is one of the best I managed over previous years and broadly similar to what the other Togs would have managed.

IMG_8597 by colin cross, on Flickr

[Bill53]

Excellent capture Colin, lovely detail.

[Wings and Things]

Fabulous birds and a great capture. Feather texture is so sahrp and even the light catching the berry in its beak.

[ST-EOS]

Great image Colin, well done

[antoeknee]

Like you had seen waxwing a few times. Thought I'd never get a decent image as always seemed to happen if I had my camera they were high up in trees and when no camera they'd be at head height.

This year was only time things came right but that was after going to some places where they had been reported only for them to have moved on!

Cracking image.

[El Sid]

Well Colin, that's how to come back with a blast!

Absolutely fabulous shot - a clear case of art meets nature.

[Wrinklyrocker]

A fabulous image Colin, everything came together for you and you made the most of it.

[Colin W]

Excellent photos Colin, well done.