Red-Shafted Flicker

Gallery: AvianPosted November 13, 2011241 views11 comments

I recently moved to Northern California and haven't had any time to post in the past several months. I have no idea what this tree is in our backyard, but it seems like every bird visits it for the berries. Flickers come every morning and I had up to 8 in this little tree the morning I took this. I have never seen Red-Shafted before, but I think they are a pretty attractive bird. I wish I had more room at the top, but this is almost full frame.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 600mm f/4
AvMode, ISO 400, 1/640 @ f/8, -1/3 Eval Meter
LR 3.3: crop, sharpen

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 13, 2011 at 9:08 PM

Wow, this is really nice, bright and cheery! He gave you a nice head turn and is nice and sharp. I love the habitat! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on November 13, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Nice looking Flicker -- If it were mine I would try a vertical just to see what that would look like.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 14, 2011 at 1:09 AM

Wonderfully coloured bird and a very nice perch, I agree with Scott's idea of a vertical, but then you would lose those glorious berries

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 14, 2011 at 5:06 AM

Bryan, this is a California pepper tree. Very nice image of the ficker. Great head-turn, fine detail, and interesting habitat.
Sandhills are at the Sacramento NWR, if you're interested.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on November 14, 2011 at 12:36 PM

Wonderful image, nice complementing colors and a great species. Should your ethics permit this, I would consider cloning out the vertical branch coming from the main branch. But: Well done, cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on November 14, 2011 at 5:19 PM

Hey Bryan, one of the nicer Flicker image that I have seen.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on November 14, 2011 at 7:57 PM

Thanks Sandy, I heard there are tons of waterfowl up there too. The paper said over 700k snow geese as well as some Ibis. If I only had more time!! Thanks for the tree ID. The birds LOVE it.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 14, 2011 at 9:19 PM

Great light, nice perch and cool colors. I'd love an image like this of a Northern Flicker

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 15, 2011 at 2:27 AM

Wonderful capture, and a great setting. The comp is terrific, with the peppers on the left and the head angle, bill and branch slanting up to the right. Excellent.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on November 16, 2011 at 11:05 PM

Wow, excellent detail and colors on the larger image, looks like you have a good backyard, these flickers have some amazing feather patterns and color, the larger version was a pleasure to view, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 17, 2011 at 6:19 AM

Great catch, the colors are wonderful!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments