Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ, USA
Date: September 2002
Equipment: Nikon N90S, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (= 600/5.6), SB28, tripod
Film: Fuji Sensia 100
Exposure: Aperture priority matrix metered, fill flash @ -1.7
Scan: Minolta Dimage, 80% of frame

Commentary: Taken near a running water feature at my favorite AZ park, where I sit quietly in the open about 15 away and wait for birds to come in to drink. The tanagers and grosbeaks usually just stay high in the surrounding trees and don't come to the water.

This image leaves a lot to be desired, but so far this bird is the only one I've had any luck with. Perhaps I need to bait it in with an orange as many photographers do to get close shots.

This female can be identified as a tanager and separated from orioles of similar color by the wing bars and by the size and shape of the beak.