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First of 2008 !


First of 2008 !
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1331 W: 108 N: 4848] (21470)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/8, 1/320 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-01 10:09
Viewed: 507
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
First shot of 2008 ! And guess what ? Another snow storm ! Here's a brave little Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis 14-16 cm) in the storm checking for seeds !

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

A widespread and common small sparrow, the Dark-eyed Junco is most familiar as a winter visitor to bird feeders. It comes in several distinctly different looking forms, but all are readily identified as "juncos" by their plain patterning, dark hood, and white outer tail feathers.

Description
top
Medium-sized sparrow.
Unstreaked gray or brown, no wingbars (usually).
Gray to black hood.
Belly white.
White outer tail feathers.
Eyes dark. Legs pink.

Size: 14-16 cm (6-6 in)
Wingspan: 18-25 cm (7-10 in)
Weight: 18-30 g (0.64-1.06 ounces)
Sex Differences
Sexes similar, but females average paler and browner.

Sound
Song is a musical trill. Calls a hard "tick," "smack," and a short twittering trill.

»listen to songs of this species
topConservation Status
Common.

Other Names
Junco ardois� (French)
Junco ojo oscuro (Spanish)


Cool Facts


Juncos are the "snowbirds" of the middle latitudes. In the eastern United States, they appear in all but the most northern states only in the winter, and then retreat each spring. Some juncos in the Appalachian Mountains remain there all year round, breeding at the higher elevations. These residents have shorter wings than the migrants that join them each winter. Longer wings help the migrants fly long distances.


The Dark-eyed Junco includes five forms that were once considered separate species. The "slate-colored junco" is the grayest, found from Alaska to Texas and eastward. The "Oregon junco" is boldly marked blackish and brown, with a distinct dark hood, and is found in the western half of the continent. The "gray-headed junco" has a brown back and gray sides and lives in the central Rocky Mountains. The "white-winged junco" is all gray with white wingbars, and breeds only near the Black Hills of South Dakota. The "Guadalupe junco" of Baja California is dull and brownish. Two other forms may be distinguishable: the "pink-sided junco," a pale version of the Oregon junco, living in the northern Rocky Mountains, and the "red-backed junco," a gray-headed junco with a dark upper bill, found in mountains near the Mexican border.


The Dark-eyed Junco is a common bird at winter bird feeders across North America. Data from Project FeederWatch show that it is often the most common feeder bird in an area, and it is on the top-ten lists of all regions except the Southeast and South-Central (where it is 11th and 12th, respectively). To view the top-25 lists of feeder birds from across the continent, go to the Project FeederWatch
nglen, eqshannon, fartash, mesquens, mirceax, Luis52, jaycee, pankajbajpai, Adanac, ramthakur, uleko, angela926, vanderschelden, CeltickRanger, loot, marhowie, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1706 W: 242 N: 5635] (20049)
  • [2008-01-01 10:14]

Greetings from Bulgaria!
This is a cracking shot Mario!
There was heavy snow this morning as we skiid down the mountain!
A cute little bird that looks very cold and vulnerable.
The detail is incredible and so is the clarity!
Good lighting and you've handled the exposure expertly.
Good composition.
Well done my friend,
Joe

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 364 W: 0 N: 164] (2206)
  • [2008-01-01 10:16]

It's wonderful that you begin the year with so beautiful picture. Very good composition, amazing sharp, nice background

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1149 W: 254 N: 2555] (11569)
  • [2008-01-01 10:17]

Hi Mario,

Happy new year,as I can sea the junco was not the only brave one inthe snowstorm,well captured with good colors and detail as usual,tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 5 N: 5602] (21160)
  • [2008-01-01 10:28]

Hi Mario. When i see your snow i think we are so lucky it may be dull but its mild too.well you start the year with a great close up of the Junco, good detail and natural colours. well done TFS. interesting notest as all ways.
Nick..

A llthe bast for 2008.

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1032 W: 26 N: 3016] (10874)
  • [2008-01-01 10:54]

Hi Mario, what a great way to enter 2008! Superb sharp detail as always, with excellent exposure and a great composition, very well done!
Paul

You wanna see a snow storm? Direct flights from Montreal to Spokane...the airport is only 10 minutes from my place. I hear planes landing quite regularly...This bird is getting a minor dusting..but it really adds to the image..Winter shots..I think I'll take a break and go back by the deck and meditate until a bird comes along...
Bob

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1009 W: 6 N: 2729] (10145)
  • [2008-01-01 12:02]
  • [2]

Tres belle image du nouveau annee'..les oiseaux dans la neige sont vraiment exceptionelles,merci,Luciano

  • Great 
  • fartash Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1058 W: 54 N: 2789] (10187)
  • [2008-01-01 12:15]
  • [2]

Hello Mario
Excellent First shot of 2008 :o)
Perfect focusing,composition and BG,Welldone.

Best wishes for 2008
Fartash

Hi Mario
Great shot, very nice.
TFS
Raimundo

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1215 W: 68 N: 2524] (8319)
  • [2008-01-01 13:04]

Hello Mario,
Very beautiful photo to start with in the new year. The weather is bad, but the colours are very clear with a lot of details.
Great composition and BG.
I wish you a very good (photografic) and healthy 2008,
Peter

Bonjour Mario,

Superbe capture de ce petit oiseau dans une atmosphère hivernale, parfaits détails et composition.
Je te souhaite à toi et ta famille une merveilleuse année 2008 avec beaucoup des belles photos.

Merci et Felicitations !!

Mircea

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 881 W: 23 N: 927] (4997)
  • [2008-01-01 14:03]

Bonjour Mario, bravo pour cette belle composition de saison et avec une jolie lumière malgré la bourrasque de neige!! C'est prometteur pour la nouvelle année!! Félicitations et Bonne et heureuse année 2008, Didier.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2008-01-01 14:43]

Hola Mario. Exelent photo to begin this year.
The bird and the snow looks just beautiful.
Very clear and sharp. I like the colors too.
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1799 W: 8 N: 4669] (15091)
  • [2008-01-01 15:23]

Hi Mario,

Congratulations on you being first with a picture taken in 2008. This poor Junco caught in the storm looks very cold. You captured him very well with good details and a good background.

Jane

Hello Mario,
Beautiful 1st shot for 2008!
Excellent captured with the brave cuttie in snowing!
perfect sharpness in every single details of the bird!
well done and will see many more coming!!
best regards
Tony

hello mario,
lovely begining and hope to see more of your work in 2008, this is a wonderful shot, liked the pov , composition , nice eye contact,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1052 W: 1 N: 4179] (14054)
  • [2008-01-01 19:24]

Hello Mario,
Well managed exposure and excellent focus results in this beautiful composition with nice point of view. Superb work Mario my friend.
Rick

A briliant first shot of 2008, Mario.
The stormy ambience has been very well captured. The brave bird looks undisturbed and sure of its mission despite the inclement weather.
Superb sharpness and lively colors under the circumstances.
Wish you and your family a joyous, enriching and successful New Year!
Ram

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1718 W: 24 N: 5002] (16380)
  • [2008-01-02 0:38]

Hi Mario,
Outstanding beginning to the new year. Wonderful shot. Wish you give us such beautiful images to enjoy throughout 2008, MF. I eagerly look foward to every moment here on TN with you and our entire community.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and a GREAT COMING 366 DAYS.
Regards.
Sumon

Bonjour Mario,

Belle photo de ce junco. Bonne composition et bon contraste avec le blanc de l'arrière plan. Parfaite netteté.
Bonne journée,

Mariki

Hi Mario, splendid first shoot of 2008, lovely bird with elegant plumage and wonderful details, great sharpness, good presentation and beautiful blurry BG, very well done, have a great 2008, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2475 W: 168 N: 7514] (23734)
  • [2008-01-02 6:45]

Hello Mario,
Another lovely capture of the little Junco in the snow. At least the snow brings enough light to do some photography and this is excellent. Very sharp details and I like the background and the gentle light.
Many thanks, Ulla

Hello Mario,
Very good shot! excellent composition and good pov, very good sharpness and clarity, good depth of field, nice colors and very good detail, i love the snow in the background and on the wood. well done!
Angela

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hello Mario,
Beautiful one...
Very good details.
I like the composition, perching, pose....
Well done
TFS
Annick

Preciosa Mario, es una toma que por sus colores y tonos tiene un atractivo especial. Excelente enfoque y buena pose del ave.
Saludos: J. Ignasi

salut Mario

dans cette superbe photo il y a deux choses que j'aimes
deux choises qui sont presque identiques,

cette espèce de dégradé que l'on vois de blanc à gris
dans l'arrière-plan qui se répète aussi aux plumages de l'oiseau,
j'aimes également ces flocons de neige qui sont dans le focus

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5726 W: 605 N: 3416] (9137)
  • [2008-01-03 10:45]
  • [3]

Hi Mario

A lovely capture of this brave little Junco. Imagine searching for food with a blistering snow storm raging around it. Just shows that life goes on even though conditions might not be favourable and a bit of snow is never enough to stop the pangs of hunger eating away in any living being. The drive for survival remains one of the strongest instincts in all animals.

A cool composition (pun intended) with lovely sharp details, great natural colours, superb DOF providing a well isolated BG, and excellent exposure control.

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Excellent winter Junco capture, very well exposed without flash. Great detail, color, DOF, and POV, with the snow falling through the frame a nice touch :)
Howard

Bonsoir Mario,

Une belle image de ce Junco ardois qui ne semble pas être dérangépar la neige. La prise de vue permet de voir avec précision les détails et les couleurs de l'oiseau. Le sujet est aussi bien cadré. Une belle réussite, merci du partage.

Pierre

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