Yellow in the Undergrowth

Here’s a scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)—female, I believe. I captured this image years ago while she lingered in an oak tree just beyond my fence. It was the first time I’d photographed one, and I remember thinking: maybe I’ll see a male someday. Who knows.

If you’re captivated by indigo buntings and other members of the Cardinalidae family—better known as the cardinal family—step into my photo gallery for a visual feast. Come take a look:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife#nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography#ScarletTanager

"A female scarlet tanager perches on a bare, slender branch, mid-frame and mid-thought. Her plumage is a rich yellow—not neon, not pastel, but something grounded. The wings and tail are darker, olive-brown with hints of soot, like the forest pressed into feather. She’s built for blending in, but here she’s caught in a shaft of filtered light, and the camouflage becomes ceremony.

Her beak is pale and pointed, angled slightly downward, and her eyes are small, dark, and steady. She faces left, posture balanced, as if weighing the air. No tension, no flair—just presence. The branch bends slightly under her weight, a quiet arc that anchors the scene.

Behind her, the forest recedes into soft blur. Tree trunks rise like mottled columns, and leaves catch sunlight in uneven patches. The light is ambient, not dramatic—suggesting late morning or early afternoon. No spotlight, no chase. Just a moment held in rhythm.

She is the brightest element in the frame, but not the loudest. Her yellow doesn’t shout—it hums. The image doesn’t ask for attention; it rewards it.

In the bottom right corner, the photographer’s credit reads “Swede’s Photographs”—a quiet signature, like a field note tucked into the margin. Not branding, not intrusion. Just acknowledgment." - Copilot
"A female scarlet tanager perches on a bare, slender branch, mid-frame and mid-thought. Her plumage is a rich yellow—not neon, not pastel, but something grounded. The wings and tail are darker, olive-brown with hints of soot, like the forest pressed into feather. She’s built for blending in, but here she’s caught in a shaft of filtered light, and the camouflage becomes ceremony. Her beak is pale and pointed, angled slightly downward, and her eyes are small, dark, and steady. She faces left, posture balanced, as if weighing the air. No tension, no flair—just presence. The branch bends slightly under her weight, a quiet arc that anchors the scene. Behind her, the forest recedes into soft blur. Tree trunks rise like mottled columns, and leaves catch sunlight in uneven patches. The light is ambient, not dramatic—suggesting late morning or early afternoon. No spotlight, no chase. Just a moment held in rhythm. She is the brightest element in the frame, but not the loudest. Her yellow doesn’t shout—it hums. The image doesn’t ask for attention; it rewards it. In the bottom right corner, the photographer’s credit reads “Swede’s Photographs”—a quiet signature, like a field note tucked into the margin. Not branding, not intrusion. Just acknowledgment." - Copilot

City Royals

Here’s one for the pigeon lovers. These two rock pigeons—Columba livia, if you’re feeling scientific—are regulars in my backyard. I call them officers of the pigeon battalion, part of the morning flock that descends on my bird feeders with military precision. If you look closely, you’ll see what I call epaulets on their shoulders—markings that suggest rank, or at least attitude.

The pigeon in the foreground is easy to spot. He’s got a grizzle effect in his plumage, a genetic quirk that gives him those distinctive white patches. Like camouflage, but for a bird who doesn’t bother hiding.

I used to try discouraging their visits. They’d clean out the seed before the songbirds even got a chance. But nothing worked. So I went with the old saying: If you can’t beat them, join them. Now I just salute and let the battalion do its rounds.

If you're a fan of stunning dove imagery, be sure to explore my photo gallery for a collection of beautiful snapshots that capture their elegance and charm.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife#nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #dove #pigeon#RockPigeons#RockDoves

"Two pigeons stand in quiet proximity, their plumage catching the light with unexpected brilliance. The bird in the foreground is a soft mosaic of light gray and white, its neck shimmering with iridescent greens and purples—like oil on water or the underside of a beetle’s wing. Its head is slightly tilted, and its bright orange eye gleams with alertness, framed by a fine ring of pale skin. The feathers are sharply defined, each contour visible, as if etched with care.

Behind it, a second pigeon lingers in softer focus. Its feathers are darker—charcoal gray with similar iridescent hues pooling around the neck and chest. Though less sharply rendered, its presence adds depth and rhythm to the composition, like a shadow echoing the foreground’s clarity.

The background is blurred into a soft wash of neutral tones, allowing the pigeons’ plumage and eyes to dominate the scene. There’s no clutter, no distraction—just the quiet dignity of two urban birds rendered with the reverence usually reserved for rarer species.

The image invites a second look. These are not just pigeons—they are portraits of resilience, dressed in light and shadow, standing still in a world that rarely does." - Copilot
"Two pigeons stand in quiet proximity, their plumage catching the light with unexpected brilliance. The bird in the foreground is a soft mosaic of light gray and white, its neck shimmering with iridescent greens and purples—like oil on water or the underside of a beetle’s wing. Its head is slightly tilted, and its bright orange eye gleams with alertness, framed by a fine ring of pale skin. The feathers are sharply defined, each contour visible, as if etched with care. Behind it, a second pigeon lingers in softer focus. Its feathers are darker—charcoal gray with similar iridescent hues pooling around the neck and chest. Though less sharply rendered, its presence adds depth and rhythm to the composition, like a shadow echoing the foreground’s clarity. The background is blurred into a soft wash of neutral tones, allowing the pigeons’ plumage and eyes to dominate the scene. There’s no clutter, no distraction—just the quiet dignity of two urban birds rendered with the reverence usually reserved for rarer species. The image invites a second look. These are not just pigeons—they are portraits of resilience, dressed in light and shadow, standing still in a world that rarely does." - Copilot

Hoy el Trepador Azul / Pica-soques blau/ Gabeador azul/ Garrapo eurasiarra / Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

28 Dic 2024

Soto del Real, Madrid, España

https://ebird.org/spain/checklist/S206863062
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitta_europaea

#BirdsPhotography #birds #aves #bird #birding #pajarear #nature #naturaleza#NaturePhotography #wildlife#WildlifePhotography #photography #txoria #paxaro

El ave está perchada en la rama de un roble. El fondo está difuminado y es de color verde azulado con algunos reflejos de luces.

Tiene color azulado, es un ave pequeña, del tamaño de un gorrión, pero de patas robustas, cabeza muy gruesa y pico largo y fuerte. Luce un bello color azul grisáceo en las alas, el dorso y la cola. Sus partes inferiores presentan un tono débilmente anaranjados. Presenta una especie de hueco en el pecho como de plumas descolocadas.

Si estás leyendo este texto es porque tienes dificultades de visión y espero que te haya ayudado a ver la imagen. Si no ha sido así, te agradecería los comentarios.
Si lo has leído aunque ves la imagen sin problemas recuerda que debes poner un texto alternativo en tus archivos multimedia para que todo el mundo pueda disfrutarlos.
El ave está perchada en la rama de un roble. El fondo está difuminado y es de color verde azulado con algunos reflejos de luces. Tiene color azulado, es un ave pequeña, del tamaño de un gorrión, pero de patas robustas, cabeza muy gruesa y pico largo y fuerte. Luce un bello color azul grisáceo en las alas, el dorso y la cola. Sus partes inferiores presentan un tono débilmente anaranjados. Presenta una especie de hueco en el pecho como de plumas descolocadas. Si estás leyendo este texto es porque tienes dificultades de visión y espero que te haya ayudado a ver la imagen. Si no ha sido así, te agradecería los comentarios. Si lo has leído aunque ves la imagen sin problemas recuerda que debes poner un texto alternativo en tus archivos multimedia para que todo el mundo pueda disfrutarlos.

Hoy el Trepador Azul / Pica-soques blau/ Gabeador azul/ Garrapo eurasiarra / Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
28 Dic 2024
Soto del Real, Madrid, España

https://ebird.org/spain/checklist/S206863062
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitta_europaea

#BirdsPhotography #birds #aves #bird #birding #pajarear #nature #naturaleza#NaturePhotography #wildlife#WildlifePhotography #photography #txoria #paxaro #birdsOfMastodon

El ave está perchada en la rama de un roble. El fondo está difuminado y es de color verde azulado con algunos reflejos de luces.

Tiene color azulado, es un ave pequeña, del tamaño de un gorrión, pero de patas robustas, cabeza muy gruesa y pico largo y fuerte. Luce un bello color azul grisáceo en las alas, el dorso y la cola. Sus partes inferiores presentan un tono débilmente anaranjados. Presenta una especie de hueco en el pecho como de plumas descolocadas.

Si estás leyendo este texto es porque tienes dificultades de visión y espero que te haya ayudado a ver la imagen. Si no ha sido así, te agradecería los comentarios.
Si lo has leído aunque ves la imagen sin problemas recuerda que debes poner un texto alternativo en tus archivos multimedia para que todo el mundo pueda disfrutarlos.
El ave está perchada en la rama de un roble. El fondo está difuminado y es de color verde azulado con algunos reflejos de luces. Tiene color azulado, es un ave pequeña, del tamaño de un gorrión, pero de patas robustas, cabeza muy gruesa y pico largo y fuerte. Luce un bello color azul grisáceo en las alas, el dorso y la cola. Sus partes inferiores presentan un tono débilmente anaranjados. Presenta una especie de hueco en el pecho como de plumas descolocadas. Si estás leyendo este texto es porque tienes dificultades de visión y espero que te haya ayudado a ver la imagen. Si no ha sido así, te agradecería los comentarios. Si lo has leído aunque ves la imagen sin problemas recuerda que debes poner un texto alternativo en tus archivos multimedia para que todo el mundo pueda disfrutarlos.