Spring is in the Air

  Birds & Berries © 2017 Claudia Ward 

The first day of Spring has come and gone and the days are now officially longer than the nights. The croci are croaking, the daffodils are dawdling, and the birds are returning. This winter it appears that the robins remained up north. Apparently, robins migrate more in response to food than to temperature. Fruit is the robin's winter food source and these robins found a veritable feast on our neighbor's holly tree.

Robin Soaring © 2017 Claudia Ward

Some of you may recall that I first saw this feasting frenzy four years ago, was mesmerized watching the flock of robins darting in and out of the 25 foot holly tree, and photographed the scene as best I could. I've hoped to see it every year since and this year my patience was rewarded. Armed with a better camera, a longer lens, and a sturdy tripod I spent one February day parked on our back stoop capturing as much of the action as I could. Four years ago the preponderance of my images were of the birds perched on the snow covered branches snapping up berries as quickly as possible. This year these are certainly some of those images but more rewarding to me were the images I captured of the robins in flight. I hope you enjoy this slide show as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Photos and Slide Show © 2017 Claudia Ward
Music: "Boeuf Bourguignon" by Alexandra Desplat from Julie & Julia
 

 

Comments

[Barbara Schwartz]

What a wonderful slide show. I love the robin with the berry surrounded in it's beak. H

[Robert]

Fascinating! Love the inflight captures and the selected music...you have truly gone to the birds!

[Paul]

Beautiful -- can't wait to see your spring floral pics.

[Debra Cobb]

I just loved this. My father was a bird enthusiast and I've gradually become fascinated by them, particularly the last few years while in the UK and in NC. Have you ever seen the magazine Birds & Blooms? I bet they would publish some of your photos.

[Emily Ecker]

Lovely. I had never really noticed that Robins had white rings around their eyes. Your Frozen slide show was gorgeous.