Saturday Morning Visitors

Lets brighten up peoples live with all those lovely pictures of the world around us!

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MapleRidge
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Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by MapleRidge »

Good day everyone...

An overcast day here so not much solar astronomy to be done, but we did have a numerous visitors to the bird feeders this morning. Getting some breakfast on a cold winter day ;)

We have had regular visits from Blue Jays and Downy Woodpeckers over all the years we have lived here, but this week had the first appearance of a Northern Cardinal to our yard. We have only seen one male and it likes to perch on the feeder which is the least opportune to get pics. I grabbed a couple of it up in the trees, and then we were lucky to have it come to the feeder closer to the house:
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Cardinal.jpg
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The Blue Jays have been staying out of easy camera view as well, so after leaving the tree I was only able to get the tail feathers of this shy one ;)
Bluejay-2.jpg
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Bluejay.jpg
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The final visitor is a Downy Woodpecker feasting on the suet block:
Downey.jpg
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The birds have kept the snow below the feeders littered with spilled seed and we regularly see a pair of very fat black squirrels and each morning fresh rabbit tracks show signs of another visitor. I have had fleeting glimpses of the bunny in the day (it is living under the deck at the observatory) but I have seen it below the feeder on a few moonlit nights as well. The field east of the house has lots of rabbit tracks in the snow, as well as coyote tracks too. I hope the bunny makes it through the winter ;)

I hope you enjoy these!

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
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Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by Montana »

WOW!!! what a star bird! so bright, he's a bit of a dazzler :hamster: and all the other shots are beautiful too, I really enjoyed these and they made me smile :band2

Alexandra


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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by MapleRidge »

Alexandra...

Glad to hear these inspired a smile !!!

I have always thought it odd that we have not had Cardinals in the past...most to the other common birds for the area but not those. My father has them all the time at his feeders. I'm hoping they stick around into the future too.

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by rsfoto »

Hi Brian,

Excellent images. I ahve also seen here at my place but they are sporadic and do not stay long. Interesting.


regards Rainer

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San Luis Potosi Mexico

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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by JochenM »

That's some nice shots there, Brian.

Especially love the cardinal. Really wish we had them over in these parts; such a beautiful bird.


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MapleRidge
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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by MapleRidge »

Rainer and Jochen...

Thanks for your comments on the bird pics :bow

Interesting to know you see Cardinals in Mexico as well, but I looked up their range and they do extend that far south.

Jochen, they are impressive to see and they are a new sight at home for me. It is unfortunate that they do not extend into Europe for you.

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Exquisite images Brian and the colouring of the birds is fab.

Thanks for sharing the information etc.
Terry


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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by MapleRidge »

Thanks Terry !!!

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by SimonM »

Brian, the Northern Cardinal probably thinks, like you, that a little sunshine, goes a long way. He is probably saying "I spend all this time getting the kit (the feathers etc.) looking good and for what- it's overcast?". Pictured in the sunshine, he looks a zillion (cardinal) times better. Great to know that you are taking care of their dietary requirements.

Simon
Last edited by SimonM on Sun Feb 14, 2021 8:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by Highbury Mark »

Excellent captures Brian. The cardinal is spectacular. You jays are bluer and prettier than ours in Europe, which are more crow-like. Always nice to see a different species of woodpecker - we only have three in the UK, (greater spotted, and green are fairly widespread, lesser spotted is very rare). Thanks for sharing them


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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by ffellah »

Excellent photos, Brian. The cardinals are beautiful, we have them here all the time. They are too large to get in our feeder but pick up seeds from the ground. Bluejays are also common here, as well as many types of woodpeckers.

Franco


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Re: Saturday Morning Visitors

Post by MapleRidge »

Thanks everyone :bow

It is interesting that we have some common birds across the wide geography that we cover, and always nice to see the species that are not in our own locations.

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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