Finally, a new bird for me.

[mn shutterbug]

I've been in a bit of a photo rut lately. I just can't seem to find much to shoot these days. Other than birds, there isn't much for wildlife in these parts, and most birds have cleared out. I know, I have tunnel vision. I guess I need to expand my photographic horizons.

I took a very short walk yesterday at the park, and took my good old time and looked for anything interesting, other than stationary subjects. After shooting some skimmers and this butterfly, I stopped by some trees near a bluebird box and played my screech owl call. A bluebird flew out of the box immediately and hid in a nearby tree, to keep an eye on me. I then heard a bird sound unfamiliar to me. I looked for the source of the sound, and the woodpecker showed himself. My first thought was that I had never heard a woodpecker make that sound. I then realized it wasn't a downy or hairy, partly due to the red throat. I just wished I had decent lighting. But then, it was 2:30 in the afternoon with high sun behind the bird. Some times, crappy lighting or not, you take what you get. As soon as I got home, I referenced my bird book and found it was a Yellow - bellied Sapsucker, another first.

[mjs1973]

This is a good find Mike. I have seen a few in my area, but I have never gotten a good shot of one. I think this one looks pretty good, despite the not so great light.

[Canon_Bob]

I think it looks pretty good for being backlit. You got some nice bounce off the leaves.

I was shooting a while back with a big-name nature photographer, and he told me something pretty straight forward: "Great photographers make the ordinary look extraordinary". At the time, we were on Sanibel Island. He had come across the penninsula to shoot with me, and I wanted to treat him to some of the more exotic species we have here. Problem was, he was taking all this time setting up and shooting all the common birds that we see every day! I think he sensed that I was wanting to move on to other places in search of rare birds, but he was as happy as could be shooting common egrets and shorebirds! I finally got the picture. You take what nature gives you! Every time I go out now, I shoot whatever is there. I don't care if I've shot it a thousand times, there's always the opportunity to get a better shot than my last series of that particular species. Don't take your common birds for granted. Shoot them whenever they are there. Strive to improve YOUR collection of that species.

This philosophy also takes a ton of pressure off you, and allows you to better enjoy the moment. And oddly enough....I find that those "unexpected" rare species have shown up more and more since I quit caring if they were there or not. Go figure!

[paulnj]

When I go shooting I will shoot everything that moves, even a domesticated duck or 2 for that same reason Bob states.

Great find on the YBSS!!!!!

[AgingEyes]

Like Paul says, when I go shooting I try to shoot everything that moves, even a domesticated duck or 2. But, usually they get away before I have a chance to focus on them :cryin: :cryin: