STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Finally had a couple of new visitors to the feeders. The chickadees were super hyperactive - I think they need adderall. The other little bitty bird didn't flit as badly. But I am still, still finding focusing a challenge. I would appreciate help correctly ID'ing. Thanks for looking!

Am I a Carolina Chickadee?


Am I some kind of Sparrow?


If so, what kind of Sparrow might I be?

GWR100 Loc: England

Can you tell us what lens and settings you are using, ane we may have some answers to you problem
Geoff

REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

first one looks just like the one I snapped this morning, Black capped chickadee.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks, Geoff. Focusing has been an on-going problem for me. I have been offered many, many helpful hints and I have been trying them. I need more practice, practice, practice. And I think I am going to have to break down and make that overdue eye dr appt.

These were shot with a Canon 60D and Sigma 150-500, on a tripod. All shot at 500mm and heavily cropped.
Chickadee @ 1/400; f/6.3; iso 400
Sparrow @ 1/125; f/6.3; iso 100

Lately I have been doing some better on focusing than what I have done here. I wouldn't have posted except I wanted an ID. Hopefully they will return and be more patient models. For the past 2 or 3 weeks I have been using a remote shutter release to help eliminate any camera movement, but did not use the remote release today. Also, I've been told to use a much faster shutter speed, but in my anxiety to catch these flitty little things, I simply forgot to bump up the ISO to compensate for a faster shutter speed. But, even so, I STILL have trouble focusing. I appreciate any suggestions you have. The last several days, I have berated myself for not making the eye dr apt -- I'm thinking that may really be a big part of the problem. But, my diopter has been set sans glasses, and I focus and shoot sans glasses. I guess I'm hoping it is the ole eyesight, 'cause otherwise, I'm just hopeless.

NiagaraJim Loc: Niagara Falls, ON

This is a White Throated Sparrow.

autofocus Loc: North Central Connecticut

Ditto on the black capped chickadee, and the other looks like a white throated sparrow..see here:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-Throated_Sparrow/id

washy Loc: Dorset UK

Try using spot metering when focusing on birds, making sure your red (lite) focus point is exactly in the frame where you want it. Which would normally be on the bird.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for looking and responding. When I was looking through my bird book I found both the black-capped chickadee and the Carolina chickadee. I couldn't really tell which it might be but then noticed their respective ranges. The black-capped is in the north, where you guys live. The carolina chickadee is the south, where I live. The only difference I have seen stated is a slight difference in the edge of the wings and that the black-capped is about 3/4" greater in length than the Carolina. Their ranges do slightly intersect, but nowhere near here. Thanks for your help, but I think I snapped the southern brother to your northern bird. Your responses did send me into further searching and I did learn a little bit more about birds. A few years ago I declared that I never wanted to learn another thing as long as I lived (seems like the more you know, the more people expect you to do) and here I am, spending most of my time trying to learn new stuff!

REJ, the picture of the white-throated sparrow in my book does not have the yellow lores so I wasn't sure if what I shot was the same bird. But the link you provided certainly confirms that ID. Thanks!

JerrysPhotos Loc: Arkansas

I think the first one is a Carolina Chickadee. You are in Alabama and I don't think the Black-capped Chickadee are that far south. the second one is a White-throated Sparrow.

fosgood11 Loc: oil city, La.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

The sparrow appears to be the White-throated Sparrow male (white-striped color morph). There is also a tan- striped color morph.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

That's what I was thinking on the Chickadee. It would have to be very discombobulated to be this far south! And all are in agreement on the Sparrow. Thanks for looking and for your input.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Well, I don't really think any of these photos deserved a thumbs-up; but I do thank you for looking and for your kindness. Pardon my ignorance, but which La city is "oil city"?

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for looking and responding. Now I'll get to research about the color morphs. So much to learn!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Are you manually focusing, or letting the Camera/lens do it ?? At relatively closer ranges, you should be using F8. This lens does not do well at f6.3 at 500mm. The lens AF focusing could be off - the Sigma/Canon combo is noted for this. With a 60D you cannot correct this by yourself - you must send it in to be calibrated. If the focus is off, using F8 ( or F9, F10) will help correct......