Plus an update on my lens repair.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is an older photo of a Red-breasted Nuthatch taken just over two years ago in the mountains of the west desert. The nuthatch had been foraging for Douglas Fir seeds in the cones but I knew from this posture, with ‘him’ also looking down, that he was about to take off and try his luck elsewhere. At this point timing is crucial for a photographer like me who’s nearly always after takeoff and flight shots so I kept firing off short bursts in the hope of catching him in flight. But this time, as so often happens, he waited until I paused between bursts to take off so I missed the opportunity. But I was still pleased to get this photo and a few others similar to it.
Because of our drought I’m worried about the supply of Douglas Fir seeds this year and by extension our nuthatches and other birds and critters that feed on them. The fir cones have been opening late this year and I’ve yet to see a single nuthatch foraging for their seeds. I’m concerned that the seeds within the cones might be unusually small or somehow less nutritious or appealing to birds, causing the nuthatches to not show up, or at least not stay long when they do. I tend to be a worrywart but I am concerned.
This morning I had hoped to make another trip to this area in the mountains to check on the nuthatches but those plans evaporated last night with an electrical problem with my home that requires an electrician so I’m staying home in the hope of getting an electrician here sometime this morning.
Potentially this could mean a very expensive upgrade of my electrical panel so wish me luck. With all the money I’ve spent on home upgrades and repairs recently I may have to smash my piggy bank.
Ron
PS – Yesterday I finally heard from Canon about my lens repair. I know from experience that these early contacts with the repair facility often reveal very little about what was wrong and what they did to fix it. All I know at this point is that they “Cleaned and checked all functions and repaired to good working order”. I should know more with the paperwork that comes with the returned lens. I’m hoping that they ship it off to me today.
The (relatively) good news is that they “only” charged me $231 for the repair and apparently no new parts were required. It could have been much more expensive. The other side of that coin is that any money I saved with my lens repair, and probably a lot more, will almost certainly be going into the pocket of today’s electrician. They get you coming and going...
When doing anything on a boat $660 is a “boat unit”. The cost is then the number of “boat units”. Plumbers and electricians also charge in “boat units”
Then, based on how much they charge, they should be called “ship units”. Maybe “aircraft carrier units”.
They do seem to know when you’ve let your guard down, don’t they. I’ve been reading Mia’s descriptions of the Douglas Fir issues, among others, and it is a sad, sad situation. I’ve actually watered my giant Liquid Amber to push it along seed-pod-wise to be ready for the migrating birds (I was having too many immature seed pods dropping off.).
Hope you’re out this morning trying the lens and having nothing but success — both lens-wise and subject-wise!
Whoops — just read your response to Wally. Sorry they haven’t shipped your lens yet.
Marty, I was hoping they’d get it shipped yesterday afternoon but no such luck. I haven’t been having any luck on multiple fronts lately.
Nuthatch! One of my all-time favorite birds. And a challenge to photograph, for me. You, apparently, don’t have such an issue. Great shot!
Fingers still crossed for swift return of a fully repaired camera.
Thanks, Wally. But I certainly DO have the same issue, especially this year when there seems to be so few nuthatches around.
It’s looking like the lens return isn’t going to be particularly swift. Canon still hasn’t shipped it back to me.
Love your nuthatch pictures – we seem to be seeing primarily White-breasted Nuthatch. However, I’m not as mobile since the pandemic probably the reason!
Thank you, Dick.
Of course the nuthatch took off when you weren’t firing. It is a rule.
I feel for them with the impact of drought. It is a killer.
Good luck with the electrical repairs.
Fingers crossed that your lens is back (fully functional) in your hands very soon.
“Of course the nuthatch took off when you weren’t firing”
EC, when I’m in the field that’s probably the single event that causes me to cuss more than any other. It seems to happen ALL of the time…
Great shot of a very cute and always busy little bird! I like the interesting dark shadows (kind of cross-hatched) on his wing from needles and cones.
Sorry about the electrical issues — having just spent a small fortune on a variety of maintenance items around this old house (and not done yet), I feel your pain!
Thanks for pointing out those shadows, Chris. Somehow I missed them and you’re right, they’re kinda interesting.
I love the contrast between the deep blue background and the brightly lit cones. Good shot of the busy little guy. I love red-breasted nuthatches—reminds me of growing up camping and hiking in MT.
Haven’t had an electrician at the house yet this year, but we did have plumbers over to install a new external tankless water heater. My husband suggested he stand outside our door and hand out a $100 bill every time a plumber walked by.
Very curious to hear about the lens. Here’s hoping you’re back in the saddle toot sweet!
Kathryn, in the last 50 years or so I’ve owned four houses and this is will be the first time I’ve ever had to use an electrician. I guess it’s about my turn.
Such a little acrobat. I get dizzy just looking at him looking into the abyss.
Would have been nice if Canon had said they found the problem. Especially for $231 plus shipping plus your membership.
I got a call yesterday that the heat pump we ordered came in. Installing it will require plumbers, HVAC techs, electricians, and permits. I expect financially I won’t know whether I’m coming or going. Mostly going. To the bank.
Lyle, I suspect Canon may have found the problem, they just didn’t mention what it was in their initial report to me, which is par for the coarse with them. I should know more in the paperwork returned with my lens.
Actually, Canon paid the shipping both ways. If you belong to CPS Gold, as I do, they normally only pay return shipping but this time they also sent me prepaid shipping to get it to them. I’m not sure why but maybe they were trying to make amends for ‘losing’ my lens for two days the last time I sent it in for repair. I certainly pointed it out to them…
The CPS 20% discount on labor also saved me $54.
Good luck with your heat pump costs.
I think every photo of a Nuthatch I have is when they are upside down. Don’t the birds always know to take off between bursts? Good luck with the electrical repairs and camera repairs.
Everett, I actually have some photos of nuthatches where they’re not upside down. In fact I almost posted one of them this morning instead of this shot.
It IS neat photo of the Nuthatch – yes, food supply IS a concern particularly this year tho, amazingly, it’s “not bad” here given the ongoing drought.
Electrical issues are nothing to be messed with for sure! And yes, they DO get you coming and going – just hope the lens is actually fixed.
Thanks, Judy. Today should be a telling day, on both the electrical and the lens fronts.