Autumn brings its own unique challenges to photographing birds.
It goes something like this….
There’s a bird.
No it’s a leaf.
There’s a bird.
No it’s a leaf.
There’s a bird.
No it’s a leaf.
There’s a leaf..
Lowers camera.
Looks up.
Ah dang it, that was a bird!

Lol! In fact, it’s quite windy and grey outside today in central N.C. Despite this, there’s a lot of bird activity going on in my own backyard.

I spotted this Eastern Phoebe in one of the oak trees next to the house this morning. The wind was blowing so hard that this little one seemed to have trouble staying on that twig.

A year round resident of most of North Carolina, Eastern Phoebes spend their winters from Virginia down to Mexico. Insects make up the majority of summer diet however, small fruits and berries are eaten often during the cooler months. This ability to change their food preferences is an important adaptation for survival when insects are scarce in their northern winter ranges.
Photo by @sally_siko
Canon 5Ds