Male pine grosbeak

[Steve Foss]

The winter birds remain absent from our feeders up on Finn Hill. Siskins, redpolls, pine and evening grosbeaks, purple finches.

Not a single one.

In desperation, I've done a little work on one from last year in hopes that seeding it in here will bring more birds out there.

Don't know what's wrong with the year, but feeder watchers all over within the city of Ely seem to be having the same problem, while feeders out of town are somewhat better off.

Anyway, enjoy.

[Dbl]

Nice shot Steve, good colors and nice bokeh.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks, Dan. The bokeh is to some degree photoshop-induced. I selected the BG, ran noise ninja and gaussian blur on it, then reduced contrast, all of which made it smoother.

Too much time on my hands, I guess. I keep looking out at the bird feeder and hoping something besides a chickadee will land there sometime this winter. Just had to post something since there are no birds to photograph. Depressing.

[Dbl]

Still looks nice Steve good photoshop work, I hear ya I am ready to move on to spring myself. Baseball for me is only a week and a half away!

[finnbay]

Nice shot, Steve! That creamy green background looks familiar. Still getting some grosbeaks my way, along with redpolls, bluejays, a few goldfinches and nuthatches. Once the Bash is over, if your blinds is still birdless, you can sure set up in mine.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks Ken. I'm going to take you up on that.

[jonny_redhorse]

gotta love the colors in those grosbeaks!...Nothing in the way of grosbeaks in my yard!...chickadees yes...nuthatches,woodpeckers yes...but no grosbeaks....I think they avoid Hibbing ....

[harvey lee]

Great stuff Steve. I almost wanted to reach into the screen and pet the little twetty. Very soft looking feathers. I know thats probably not photography type talk but, it works for Tom.

[Steve Foss]

Tom, if it works for you it works for me. That's why we take pictures in the first place, to not only please ourselves but others. Thanks for looking, buddy.

[Jim Almquist]

I like how you manage to get them to pose for you We have the Grosbeaks around but they come in a flock of 8-12 eat for 5 min. and they are gone for 3 or 4 days. It seems the same for the goldfinch's and the occasional Pine Grosbeak.

[dukhnt]

Very nice Steve. Good luck with getting the birds to your feeder.

[mmeyer]

Very cool Steve. I here ya on the bird feeders. I got some birds for a couple days and now nothing. Hopefully they'll find us again.

Thanks for sharing

Mike

[WifeKidsandDog]

So pretty, the detail around the eye is amazing.

[Paul]

 Quote:

The winter birds remain absent from our feeders

Ya Tell me about it. 9 suet blocks, 4 feeders, and feed on the ground. So far I have seen some chickadees, and 4 squirells. I have not even refilled the feeders since I put them out this year. Normally I have to fill them every other day around here. No Black Birds, nothing.