OK, so I have been lamenting the subbing I have been getting from the local red birds for months now. This weekend, on a whim, I decided to take an old Corel plate and put it on top of a ladder. I thought it would make for an interesting angle and let me get more sky and trees instead of porch in the background. I have two tray feeders on the porch as they are OK, but being in the shade they can make focusing a challenge on some days. It turns out that all the red birds wanted was a private table with a view – at least that is what one red bird wanted. I think I have a new friend and I think I’ll call him Johnny Bravo.
I first posted photos of Johnny Saturday. To be honest I was having lens issues, and while I was thrilled to capture so many birds, focusing was a struggle. Sunday’s light was a bit better and I felt like I was able to do Johnny justice.
Johnny seems to have gotten dressed up for me in his Sunday best…
Johnny seems to like the view from his private table…
Johnny seems happy with the menu…
Well, mostly happy…
Well, maybe not completely happy…
“See that orange crap! Take it back to the chef and tell him it’s garbage! It’s inedible!”
Of course, Mr. Bravo, the customer is always right.
Before it was over Johnny had moved all the orange pieces off the plate and onto the next rung of the ladder. Apparently Johnny did not appreciate all of the components of the much more expensive Scott’s Songbird Mix. I tasted them and thought they were pretty good.
Johnny flew off the handle and left me without a tip. I guess cardinals really are ungrateful snobs after all.
the eff stop 
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He is gorgeous!
He is, and he seems to know it. 🙂
love that red colour!
He’s so flashy!
goddermn it, i never thought i could enjoy bird pictures so much. but, truly you take the best i have ever seen… xo, sm
Gee, thanks sm – I started shooting birds about a year ago to improve my framing skills – making quick decisions. I am officially obsessed.
At least you got even by proclaiming his bad habits to the world! Nicely done.
Maybe so, I feel better. Thanks 🙂
These are great photos… and his attitude and demeanor are enhanced by you words… I love this post… funny that he took one type of seed and moved it off the plate, instead of just ignoring it… great captures…
Thanks Bulldog. He really was an odd one. Mostly the feed and fly, he was taking charge of that plate of food.
Oh my gosh, how many cute expressions can one bird have! Love you Mr. Bravo!
He has a pretty wide range – who knew you could make so many faces with a beak.
I always enjoy good photos of red cardinals and yours are great of Johnny. We don’t have them around my neck of the no woods, so thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks – I love a bird with color. I sure miss those mountian bluebirds out west.
One of those guys got stuck in my chicken coop one morning. I decided to go help it out by freeing it. It thanked me by taking a chunk out of my finger. My finger is burning looking at these pics…but they are gorgeous pics nonetheless! Looove! 😀
Wow – I always knew they were ungrateful! My SIL raises exotic birds and I have had my share of bites, but never from a cardinal!
I can see, this one so special to you, to us too. lovely.
Thank you – he is a lovely bird, isn’t he?
This is so funny and Johnny is gorgeous!
Thanks – he is quite the looker. I’m thinking he looks a bit like Vanilla Ice only cool.
Johnny is so beautiful – Great shots!
Thanks – I think he’s pretty handsome too:)
Reblogged this on dou ♥ dou and commented:
What an awesome shot!
Love those red cardinals.
I was going to say I wish we had bright.y coloured birds like that when I remembered all the rainbow lorikeets I photograph at the zoo, Botanic Gardens and even occasionally, in the city.
We actually have a lot of brightly coloured birds in Australia, but I think the little finches at the zoo are the only ‘small’ brightly coloured birds.
These guys have always lived in my woods and I only caught fleeting glances of them before I started feeding seriously – they are stunning in person – I made no color adjustments to these shots at all – these are jpgs right out of the camera.
I love him, so red and cheeky
He really was the lord of the yard that day.
Johnny looks like he primped. That head feather is quite extended — looks like it’s been teased.
Teased yes – and I think he has used some serious product.
He’s probably the elder. He does look like he is keeping a watch on you though. 🙂
He really has made a lot of eye contact – I was inside a doorway and stayed very still, but he could see me. He even chased away a titmouse.
Wow, with that raised crest, he was on “high alert.”
I thought that was what the crest meant – it was very windy so that’s why it slants that way. He stuck around a long time and has been back every day. The other males are not so bold.
Pretty handsome guy – gotta love that ‘do’. We have a yard full of male cardinals – all starting to divvy up the territory – soon courting will begin. hope you are feeling better – K
I have only see one female in the last week – the guys are all around, this one is the boldest of the bunch and the most red – I wonder if that means anything.
What a dude!
He’s rocking that hair gel.
Maybe they are ungrateful snobs, but they look good doing it 🙂
Johnny’s really eye-balling you!
And they know they look good doing it…