Okay… here’s the story. I put up a suet block in the backyard to see if I could start enticing the birds into my yard. I figured if that worked I could start looking for good sites for feeders and the like.
But, of course, the first thing that I found out was that birds are not the only critters out there that might like suet. Treerats (a/k/a squirrels) are not only likely customers, but are much more likely to find the suet first. The results of THAT can be found here.
But I’m working at home today, went downstairs a few minutes ago, and happened to glance out the window. There, on the suet block, was a pair of gorgeous cardinals, one male, one female.
I grabbed the camera, tossed on my new 100-400, ran to the back door, eased it open and they were still there! I fired off as many shots as I could. And yes, I confess, I chimped, and what I saw in the brief glances I took as I shot was terrific!
You know how this story ends, don’t you? I have now resolved never, repeat never, never ever again, to take a card out of the camera without putting a new one in. Yep, no card. I have also resolved to read the manual this afternoon and find out how to set the camera not to take a picture if there is no card.
Of course, while I was discovering this, the gorgeous male flew away.
Fortunately, the female stayed around and let me get my first shots of my first backyard bird:
Female cardinal
Female cardinal
Then she left and the suet attracted another visitor — a white-throated sparrow:
White-throated sparrow