Today we’re highlighted a young wildlife photographer who has taken some nice photos, Jamie Blilie, the 12-year-old son of James Blilie, whose own photos we’ve featured regularly. It’s time for the next generation:
Here are some photos my 12-year-old son took. He just got a Canon Powershot SX530 (super-zoom camera) and he loves it! He’s very interested in photographing birds right now.Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) preening on our back fence (they are nesting in one of our birdhouses):
House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) feasting on the oranges we put out for the orioles:
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), bothering our neighbors’ house. Red-necked seems a more appropriate name!
Orchard orioles (Icterus spurius), male and female:
Chickadee, taking a bath in our fountain [JAC: species unidentified, readers can help]:
I’m pretty sure the last photos are: black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus).
Love that last picture of the chickadee! Somebody should hand it a towel and a hairbrush. Isn’t that just how so many of us look when getting out of the shower!!
Outstanding.
These are gorgeous photos….
all the birds look so busy going about their day
All popular birds around these parts. 12 years old you say. Makes me feel really good…
Beautiful action photos.
The orioles look like Baltimore orioles to me (Icterus galbula). The females can be difficult to tell apart in the field, but male orchard orioles have a much darker breast.
Congrats on the great tree swallow shots, they don’t sit still for long!
I concur – Baltimore Orioles…..and Black Capped Chickadee
Yes, on second viewing, I agree with Baltimore (aka Northern) Orioles (Icterus galbula). We have orchards too; but these are Baltimore.
Those are fine lively shots. Good eyes!
Indeed, good eyes! This is where he has it all over his Mom and Dad. 🙂
He sees everything. And he’s very interested in all of it, which is very gratifying.
As I’ve told him many times: He knows more birds by sight and by call than almost any adult he knows.
Great photos Jamie. Keep up the good work and remember….. Always follow your passion(s)!!!
+ 1
the orioles look like Baltimores to me (not Orchard)
These are gorgeous photos, Jamie. Thanks!
Jamie says, “I’m really happy [to see my photos posted]!”
late the the party, but very good pictures!
Now, maybe set yourself to taking pictures of insects…? That will stretch your wings!
Indeed, I’m sure that will be next!
I concur on Baltimore Oriole. In my limited experience (I live in SoCalif where both are uncommon vagrants), young male Orchards can be yellow, breeders are a brownish, but never orange.
Black-capped & Carolina Chickadees are very similar and their ranges overlap. I’m not convinced that the photos which incompletely show plumage are sufficient for a positive ID, but then neither of them are SoCalif birds, so I’m far from experienced in differentiating these two species.
It’s ALWAYS helpful if – when seeking an ID – one gives location (not merely “my back yard”) and date. Plumage can change several times within a year, and knowing the bird was in Chicago (for example) and not Key West can be very helpful.
Suburbs north of St. Paul MN, late May – early June 2016.
We are about 20 minutes by road from downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis (so close in).
“A woodpecker ‘bothering’ a neighbor’s house” reminds me: my mother’s house had a “faux” chimney on it made of sheet metal. One Spring I heard a metallic “BRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTT; BBBBRRRRRRRRT” from the roof. Walking outside, I saw a woodpecker up there (I don’t remember what kind it was) and thought, “How could a woodpecker be so stupid as to peck on a metal chimney?” Then I realized that it was a male woodpecker using the chimney to “call” to potential mates, just as they will “drum” on hollow trees to do the same! He did it off and on for about a week, and was back at it every Spring for about 4 years.