Young Female Cardinal & Moth

[Bishop]

Got a couple of fun shots today.

This young female was feeding only a few feet from me, she was very brave, her siblings did touch and go landings but were to afraid of me and the camera.

http://LAFreed.smugmug.com/photos/315526227_rx8YS-L.jpg

And this beautiful moth was hanging out on the fence by my barn. It's a
The Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a member of the Saturniidae family, or giant silk moths. This is a female. Unfortunately she will live only about one week. All she'll do at this point is lay her eggs, if she hasn't already.

http://LAFreed.smugmug.com/photos/315526231_uXkzu-L.jpg

[marshall2]

Very nice Linda, I love the moth shot. Great colors and clarity.

[Bishop]

Thanks Brad. I posted a little more info about the moth. Sad that she'll only live about a week.

[marshall2]

It is sad. Her fur or whatever it is called reminds me of those expensive short, silky, furry blankets with the beautiful pictures on them. We have moths that size and bigger on the outside wall of the bathrooms at the racetrack. It's rare to see one with such a design, But it's really quite amazing to see moths that big. They can be quite vicious too!

[yellalablady]

Great captures, Linda. I love the moth. The colors are wonderful. I don't think the Cardinal is so young. If she was young, her bill would be brown. I think she's a molting adult female.

[rkunderhill]

Wonderful captures, Linda. The clarity on the moth is excellent, very beautiful.

[Bishop]

Thanks Monnie.
Thanks Robin.

I guess I have a lot of molting birds right now, most all the cardinals look like this. I have a couple big males that aren't molting and they are much bigger than these other birds, that's why I thought these were youngsters.

[yellalablady]

All my adults are molting right now. Check the bills of your big birds. If they're brown, they could be from this year. That's why they look so good.

[Wayne Wood]

Love the Moth Linda , but I think your young female Cardinal has way to much Red on her ,,, young male I think ;-)

[Bishop]

Thanks Wayne, I do think it's a young one. There are about five of these that are coming now, and several adult birds stick around and watch them feed. I'm confused now as to it's sex.

[yellalablady]

Linda, check out #s 12 and 28 on this page: http://imageevent.com/hawksridgeimages/hawksridgeimagesfirstalbum;jsessionid=18itwtreb1.t iger_s

Notice the dark beak.

[Wayne Wood]

The only reason I thought it was a male was the amount of Red that I see on his chest area

[viv1969]

That moth is stunning!

[yellalablady]

This is a close call. Now that I look at it on my good monitor, there is some dullness in the bill. If it were later in the year, I'd definitely say it was one of this years crop. Usually the males are brighter red than this when their bills begin to turn. I'll have to get some pics of our fledglings and our molting adults. The poor adults are rather scragglely looking. Some haven't begun to molt yet. While others are in full molt.

[TonyBB]

Great, in both senses of the word, moth - I like its "eyes".

Regards, Tony

[Skippy]

These are great Linda. Love the colors in the moth. The cardinal is so clear and sharp. Really nice.

Skippy

[Bishop]

Monnie, all my cardinals were out there again today. I'm 99.9% certain these are young birds, this years hatch. They all have very dull, brownish bills but with hints of color coming. They all look pretty ratty right now as well. One sat right outside the kitchen window today, within two feet of me inside the house, and you could see the adult feathers and downy feathering around his face/head still.

These birds are quite the clowns as well, doing things that the adults just don't do. It's fun to watch them. :)

[Bishop]

Thanks Skippy! Appreciate the comments.

[Ron77]

Nice shots, man your getting some really great images! Nice!!! Sharp and great color :-)