robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Another shot from my sunset series on 8/18 just after 7 PM.
I have a ton of females and immature birds with a few males coming to my feeders now. The flocks of males have thinned out since the ladies made their choices weeks ago. The different finches look so much alike when immature (to me-birders can probably tell them apart) that I am just assuming they are all house finches. Very few sparrows now, the finches seem to have won the territorial battle for now and a few Lesser Goldfinch females and young still coming.
I am using my blind set up so I get them in good light late in the afternoon (inside that blind is HOT in the middle of the day and I sleep too late to have it on the East side of the feeders to shoot in the morning before it gets hot)

80D, 100-400L mk II @ 400, 1/250 @ f/5.6, ISO 1000 just after 7PM about 20 minutes before sundown, hand held at 13'8" (I was saying 15' but decided to measure for the detail freaks. It is 13'8" from the opening in the blind to the perch this bird is on.) Center point focus, silent burst and AI Servo. On sitting birds I usually do a 3 or 4 shot burst if they are still and 6-10 or more frames if they are fidgeting.

PP in Lr for crop, vibrancy, saturation and clarity - then to NIK Viveza for a touch of structure.
I have found if I run the clarity out to where I like it the most then back off a little and use Viveza's "structure" just a bit I like the look more - I may be nuts, but it seems to work for my eyes.
Disclaimer I us PS to put in my ID, I pick a color from somewhere in the image and type in the "RobertJerl©xxxx". A bit slower than using LR export watermark but I can use a huge range of colors to go with each image.

(Download)

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

Beautiful sunset shot of your hungry little house finch, Jerry, and a wealth of info in your narrative. Super post!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks very much.

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

A beautiful shot, Jerry.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks

CLF Loc: Raleigh, NC

Jerry, excellent and I have the same feeder.

Greg

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

What a beautiful image, Jerry!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thank You

Got it free, neighbor's house being redone and she put a lot of stuff out for anyone to take. My wife was across the street talking to her and saw the feeder, brought it back for me to add to my bird cafeteria. 6 seed feeders, 3 hummingbird, one oriole, two bird baths plus several places where I put feed or peanuts on block wall etc.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thank You Sue.