Today’s post features some images I captured over the weekend. The Eastern Bluebird, Missouri’s state bird, is a beautiful bird to watch and photograph. During their nesting season (often up to 3 clutches per season) a lot of opportunities exist to photograph this gem.
Here are a few of the images I’ve edited so far … more to come, later!
A male bluebird approaching the nest box:
A female bluebird approaching with a caterpillar:
Later, the female arrives in a tree above the nest box, with another caterpillar for the young birds:
… and just before entering the box, she perches on top of the box with her “carry-out” meal:
I’m already looking forward to another visit at this nest box in the next few days. As the young birds grow, they are not unlike our “teenagers” … always hungry! This increases the activity of the parents as they strive to keep up with the increased food demands, creating great photographic opportunities.
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 7D Mark 2 camera
- Canon 500mm, f/4 IS telephoto lens + Canon 1.4x TC
- Vanguard Alta Series 70 tripod, with a Wemberly gimbal head
- ISO 250 to ISO 800
- Aperture f/4 and f/5.6
- Shutter 1/400 to 1/6400 sec.