Spruce Ornament
I just found out today, March 26, that these little beauties have not been seen here in Port Alexander, Alaska, for at least the last 27 years, if ever! I checked with the local bird expert who has lived here for 27 years! WOW!! Rainforest is not their typical habitat. They do live further north in Alaska. Makes me feel like I captured a phenomenon in Common Redpoll migration! They flew in during storm force winds on March 20, 2009. An amazing Gift from Nature!!
FEATURED in Alaska ~ Beyond Your Dreams March 25, 2009
These Common Redpoll are quite pretty sitting in our Sitka Spruce trees.

March 24, 2009
D90 80-400mm Lens, 400mm Manual Exp. 1/2500 f/5.6 -1/3 EV ISO 400
tripod

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Renee Dawson
Flipping GORGEOUS DJ…...........THUD!!!!! – you done good GF. No, NO – you did GREAT!
DJ LeMay replied
Ohhhhhhhh Renee!! Coming from you, the Queen of Chickadees, that means a lot to me! I know it’s not a Chickadee… but it’s nearly the same… Thank you, sweetie! Just took this one a few hours ago… took FOREVER to fix this little bit of fuzz that was in the spruce needles… and then I noticed some were missingon another branch… that was easy to fix compared to the fuzz! Been running outside between snow squalls too… Boy… are these little buggers ever hard to catch… coarse it doesn’t help that the snow is melting, so while I’m standing there, suddenly my feet fall thru several feet of snow… or my tripod does… WHEW!! But… I am having soooo much fun!! :))))))
Lynda McDonald
excellent capture of this beauty DJ !
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you so much, Lynda!!
lorilee
WONDERFUL – the colors and details are absoulely beautiful!!!!!
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you very much, Lori!!
Angi Baker
Stunning Capture, dof and framing
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you for that lovely comment, Angi! :)))
Jan Timmons
Now this is a mighty fine male redpoll—one of the best I’ve seen, in fact. Beautiful color on the sitka spruce, too, DJ. I know that melting snow can wreak havoc with a tripod, but you did a beautiful job.
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you so much, Jan!! What a mighty fine comment coming from you!! I’m all puffed up now!!
I guess I should say it’s a male… I’d never even seen or heard of them of before I saw yours… and I was pouting because I thought we didn’t get such gorgeous little birds here! I did some reading and found out that the altho the females DO have the red on their heads, they don’t have it on their chests, so I did find out the difference. I didn’t think the female’s had any red so I couldn’t understand why all males flew in! Thank goodness for instant info… otherwise I’d have to go dig up my long lost bird book!
As for the melting snow… it’s soooo causing shooting trouble! I’ve been standing beside our lawn table.. which is completely covered in snow… except for one corner… you can see several feet down to the ground right there and I keep thinking one these times I’m gonna go all the way down! Thank goodness I haven’t! I’ve been filling in the holes after I fall thru… it is helping!! Spent quite a bit of time tamping the snow down in my shooting spot today. :)))))
Scott d'Almeida
fabulous;
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you very much, Scott!
Beve Brown-Clark
OMG….<<<<>>>> flip’n A he is a beaut!!! The books say that its rare that you can get him…it must be all the cold weather this year that drove them to your neck of the woods!! Exceptional cpature…love it!
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you gf!! Thanks for the info too… I’m gonna check with our local bird guy too… just been tooo dang busy! I DO hope I get to see them EVERY YEAR!! Maybe they’ll remember me cause they seem to be very comfortable around me… ‘cept when the neighborhood big dogs, who also love me, come around to play! ;) had to take a time out for awhile today and toss a stick around the beach to keep them happy… and side-tracked! ;)
Paul Gana
great shot, nice DOF, good colors
DJ LeMay replied
thank you, Paul!
BarbaraManis
Stunning work, love it, DJ!
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much, Barbara!!
Béla Török
Brilliant work, DJ!
DJ LeMay replied
thank you so much for the kind comment, Bela!! :))
DesImages
Great shot! There is excellent clarity and detail here.
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much, Denise!
Richard Veal
Beautiful capture and great DoF DJ.
DJ LeMay replied
thank you kind Sir Richard!!
Lyn Evans
THUD!!.....collapsing on top of Renee….ooohooohoooo…now THAT’S FANTASTIC!!!! Fab composition, great dof…ooohoooohoooo a fave for me.
DJ LeMay replied
Oh Lynnie! I finally made ya collapse in a heap! Made my Day!! Thanks so much, hon! :))))))))
khadhy
Wonderfully captured.
DJ LeMay replied
thank you, khadhy!! :)
Sharon Mau
Congratulations on your feature in Alaska ~ Beyond Your Dreams sweetheart, this is very beautiful and I adore your title!
DJ LeMay replied
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! WooooooHooooooo! thank you very much, sweet hostess!! :))))))))))
Munggo
This is just great, really like this, well shot.
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you very much, Munggo!!
Antanas
lovely done
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much, Antanas!! :)))))
Sandra Heath
Absolutely beautiful! Worth freezing for!
DJ LeMay replied
thank you, Sandra! :))
David Clark
wow amazing photo
- wow -When I lived in Montana during a really cold winter I would get them at my feeders- but never saw too many of them -wonderful – daveDJ LeMay replied
gosh I think about 30 or so of them flew in on the last gales! You shoulda seen them all crammed into the feeder on the day they got here… there were seeds flyin everywhere! And it was blowing snow sideways! LOL! they musta been starving! I’ve fattened them up quite good now… taking good care of my beautiful little models! :) thank you very much, David!
BigD
Excellent camera settings
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much, BigD!
Jonicool
Beautiful capture!
DJ LeMay replied
thank you, Joni! :)))
carlosramos
Absolutely beautiful and true perfection in all aspect !!!!!!!!!!!
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much for that awesome comment, Carlos! You’re very kind! :)))
Lois Bryan
Honey, this truly is such an adorable capture!!!!! Wonderful close up of this precious little darling!! FABULOUS detail!! Love the shock of the red against your glorious greens!!!!
DJ LeMay replied
thanks so much, Lois! xox
Lois Bryan
... and congratulations on your FEATURE!!! WHEEEEE!!!
DJ LeMay replied
Oh yes… will be dancin with the wind in the snow tonight!! Whirlin ‘n whirlin!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! :)))))
LudaNayvelt
awesome shot
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much, Luda!
dinghysailor1
fabulous pose and perfectly captured… gorgeous work
:)
DJ LeMay replied
I’ve just gotta find some Christmas ornaments modeled after these gorgeous little beauties!! won’t THAT be pretty?! :))) Appreciate your comment very much, Maggie! thank you! :))))))
Franklin Lindsey
extraordinary species. Never saw one before. Great setting for this beautiful capture.
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much, Franklin! I’d never seen one before they blew in here six days ago, either!! they look like very special sparrows!! I loved the way their little feet just wrapped around the spruce needles, not the branch… lit-tle ti-ny feet hangin on to those lit-tle ti-ny needles, lol….sooooooooo precious! So adorable! :))))))
Jan Timmons
Had to look again. This is one of the best shots (better than mine, yes, I admit it) I’ve seen of the male. You rock, DJ!
DJ LeMay replied
Not better than yours… we have different styles… and certainly not better than your gorgeous female!! drab!! She doesn’t have a drab fluffy feather on her!! ;) You rock too, Jan!!
DJ LeMay replied
And… I forgot to do it yesterday… but I was going to add a link here to your fine female!
Pondering female drabness in Alaska
Karen Tillotson
Exquisite!
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you very much, Karen!! :))
Lois Bryan
Oh, DJ … that info from your expert is soooo cool!!! now, if you treat them right (as in lotza birdie goodies) maybe you can get them to STAY!!!! WHEEE!!!
DJ LeMay replied
I’m sure tryin Lois… fillin that feeder THREE times a day!! I’ve tried to count them all… it’s impossible!! But I estimate there to be at least 30 and possibly up to 50 of them!! WOW!! Yes! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
Renee Dawson
Now doesn’t THAT make this beautiful image that much more special. How cool is that DJ!
DJ LeMay replied
It certainly does, Renee!! Certainly DOES!! It’s just one of the coolest things ever!! Jan Timmons and I think that perhaps they flew outta the area up north because of the volcano eruption… don’t think they meant to come here but probably got caught in the storm force winds! Toooo coool!!!! :)
Eivor Kuchta
Wonderful lighting and colors! Excellent capture!
DJ LeMay replied
thanks so much, Eivor!! I’ve fallen in love with these little rare visitors! (rare here anyway!)
Jan Piller
Perfect bird portrait! just beautiful!
DJ LeMay replied
thank you so much for that wonderful comment, Jan!
AnnDixon
This is a beautiful little bird and a really perfect picture,
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much for the kind comment, Ann! Such a pleasure to see your lovely images here on RB, too! -DJ (SeawitchinAK on WS – taken my images off of there, tho)
Ginger Barritt
LOL! You must have been so excited!!! Not to mention it is a perfect photo!
DJ LeMay replied
Oh yes… you shoulda seen me rolling around in the snow the other day… one foot went thru… up to my waist!!... and I couldn’t get out! I had to lie down in the wet snow and roll around till I could pull it out! Of course… it started snowing during this fun activity! WHAT FUN!!
Thank very much for your lovely comment, Ginger! :))))
Gene Walls
What a great story behind this superb picture! I love this shot, it is so sharp and vibrant! It is even better to know that it was such a rare sighting of an absolutely beautiful bird! Gorgeous portrait, by any measure!
DJ LeMay replied
thank you for such a lovely comment, Gene!! These little guy’s are STILL here… Man! Do they ever have an appetite!! Our groceries only come once a week on the mailboat and I’m starting to think that two bags of seeds may not get me thru the week! I may have to start hiking around and gathering seeds off of the alder trees! Gathering seeds for birds… while it’s snowing… it just sounds like toooo much fun, eh?!! lol
Adam Gormley
Beautiful capture, such brilliant details and colours in this little guy!! Perfect DOF and lighting! :)
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much for that wonderful comment, Adam!
Heloisa Castro
excellent capture
DJ LeMay replied
thank you very much the visit and comment, Heloisa!!
Rachel Stickney
Wow, fantastic capture, DJ! And knowing how rare this bird is in your area, is even more special! Excellent comp, dof and color! Love it!!!
DJ LeMay replied
Oh Rachel, that’s just a marvelous comment!! Thank you very much, dear!! You’ve made my day!! :)))))
Rachel Stickney
Oops, and I forgot to say Congratulations on your extremely well deserved feature!!! :-D This is just superb!!!
DJ LeMay replied
I must have FINALLY turned off the ‘puter and caught some zzzzzz’s last night before I saw this!! Sooooooo very sweet of you to have come back to give me those wonderful congrats! You’re the best, Rachel! Thank you so much!
ilpo laurila
Really beautiful, great captured.
DJ LeMay replied
thank you, ilpo!!
John44
On a moment like this.. looking at this majestic shot I am proud to be your photo friend
One of the 10 best since weeks!
John
DJ LeMay replied
Ahhhhh… what a WONDERFUL comment, John!! Thank you very much!
bevanimage
Now he is just gorgeous! And doesn’t he just think so, too. The colours are brilliant and you’ve really captured his expression.
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you so much for that lovely comment, Bevan!! He certainly does display an air of “aint-I-SOMETHIN!!”, doesn’t he?!! LOL!! He thinks he’s as special as I thought HE WAS!!! :)))))
GCAPARO
WOW …............ absolutely wonderful, a favourite if ever I saw one.
Graham
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you very much, Graham!! I sure appreciate your comments!! :)))
Louise Robinson
Beautiful colours!
DJ LeMay replied
Thank you, Louise!! :))
LudaNayvelt
wow, fantastic
DJ LeMay replied
thanks very much, Luda!!
RockyWalley
awesome capture…
DJ LeMay replied
thank you, Rocky!!
Zachary Golus
Beautiful! :)
DJ LeMay replied
thank you, Zachary!!
artisandelimage
gorgeous capture !
my best, francis.
DJ LeMay replied
I’m pleased that you like this one! Thank you very much, Francis!
Rick & Deb Larson
He stands out so beautifully against the green of the spruce boughs, A Beautiful capture DJ!! Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)
DJ LeMay replied
thanks so much for that wonderful comment, Deb! :~)
Tim Sanders
This is Fantastic , well done Indeed…...:)
Tim
DJ LeMay replied
thank you! I appreciate your visit and comment very much, tim! :~)
CarolM
Wow! This is wonderful. Love it. Beautiful saturation of color.
DJ LeMay replied
Thanks so much for the visit and comments, Carol! Very appreciated! :~)
hsien-ku
just superb. the dark background is perfect and you have SUCH amazing clarity. beautiful composition too. what a triumph!
Shelly Harris
Very beautiful photo!
Marjorie Wallace
Rick & Deb Larson
HEY DDDDDDJJJJJ…looky, looky!! CONGRATS (from the Kenai River) on your much deserved feature with this beautiful redpoll capture. Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)
Carolyn Bishop
Magnificent capture, DJ! Wow!
Shoaib .
this is amazing
almeidacoval
so beautiful…
OldBirch
Beautiful shot! Lovely portfolio!
Jeff VanDyke
WOW!! Fantastic shot!! Love the colors!!
Rajdev D less than a minute ago
Gorgeous photography, superb DOF and sharpness.