Morning Bird Pic

[sleigh]

Denise and I have both noted that the birds that frequent the feeder are becoming less frightened of our appearances. I can understand that with Denise, but my face has been known to crack mirrors and frighten little children. But birds are evidently more forgiving than people. In fact, one of the Carolina Chickadees (see yesterday's pic) was flapping all around the feeder while I was hanging refreshed tubes yesterday, impatient to get something to eat. I've been taking the pictures with a relatively large zoom lens from well back on the deck, but have found that I can now sit on the steps of the deck -- the feeder is set near the foot of the steps -- and if I'm relatively still, the birds will come in. As a result, I've been getting a few very close shots without having to crop mercilessly. Here's one: a crowd of house finches having a go at the seeds.