I arrived at Robyn and Kenny’s at 6:40AM (thanks for inviting me to your house so early! It’s probably a good thing we’re all morning people 😉 ) Kenny had the bird watching site set up in front of a kitchen window with a clear view of the feeder. He covered most of the window with a towel since the cardinal had been skittish the day before. He left it open just wide enough to fit the camera. Robyn and I crouched down and waited, while Kenny kept watch from a window upstairs.
When Robyn and Kenny pointed out the dark spot in the bush behind the feeder, I was like a little kid at Christmas! 🙂 So exciting! It was 7:10 – the cardinal was right on schedule. The light wasn’t the best for a photo op – PEI November mornings are dark – but I set my ISO to 3200, steadied my camera on the kitchen windowsill, and snapped away
Here’s what the Govt of PEI website says about Northern Cardinal sightings on PEI
| Spring March 16 to May 31 (northerly migration) |
Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season |
| Summer June 1 to August 15 (nesting season) |
Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season |
| Autumn August 16 to December 14 (southerly migration) |
Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season |
| Winter December 15 to March 15 |
Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season Uncommon, 1 – 12 birds per fortnight |
He only stayed for about 10 minutes and then flew away. What a thrill! Now I’m looking forward to some photos of him in the snow – won’t that brilliant red be gorgeous against the white snow?
Lucky for me there’s a storm on the way tomorrow 😉
He is lovely! Here in Kentucky he is our state bird…and I generally end up having 15 male and females at my feeders. …when snow is on the ground. I call them my winter Valentine’s:-)
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What a thrill indeed! I love your perseverance!
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Well look at you, you got your cardinal! Way to go getting us so early! He’s lovely.
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I always love coming here…watching how you so quietly can steal away the breath of standing still and capturing those rare moments. I’ll be watching for that winter storm.
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Not many people are excited about a coming storm! LOL.
You do such a good job capturing birds with your camera!
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He’s beautiful indeed! We have one at our feeder sometimes and we even had a family of them nest here last summer – they are one of my favourite birds for sure. I had no idea that they were so rare in PEI. Enjoy and I hope your storm wasn’t too severe (saw the weather reports for your area – eek!).
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Yaay! You got your red cardinal! He is a beauty. Against snow, he should be particularly vivid. Happy Thanksgiving.
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Yay!! I’m so excited for you Kathie. Congrats.
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Thanks Pam! It was so fun!
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AHHHHHHH, you’re so lucky!!!! Isn’t he beautiful? Great pic!
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You’ll have to pop down and see him Kim! Such a gorgeous bird!
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