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HAB911

(10,425 posts)
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 04:05 PM Dec 2025

Moving birdbath 3' makes quite a difference

I moved my birdbath 3' to have an angle to catch the full reflection in the water, and it paid off immediately with a Painted bunting. I'll now experiment with different color stones in the bottom that make a shallow support for them. This is dark slate, but I have some white marble somewhere to try.





BONUS BUNTING eating Firespike

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Moving birdbath 3' makes quite a difference (Original Post) HAB911 Dec 2025 OP
Wow, my dear HAB911! These are wonderful! So much color and detail! CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2025 #1
Breathtakingly gorgeous! SheltieLover Dec 2025 #2
Spectacular!! Walleye Dec 2025 #3
Stunning. Great job. Thanks for sharing Raven123 Dec 2025 #4
Nice! Thanks for sharing!! SWBTATTReg Dec 2025 #5
My favorite! Lucky lucky you! QueerDuck Dec 2025 #6
Hi. What region does a bunting live in? AKwannabe Dec 2025 #7
From Cornell Lab - All About Birds erronis Dec 2025 #8
What a beautiful bird. I'm jealous. Grumpy Old Guy Dec 2025 #9
I know what you mean HAB911 Dec 2025 #22
Your photos are amazing. Callalily Dec 2025 #10
thank you! HAB911 Dec 2025 #21
Gorgeous photos of a spectacular bird. Wow! Wish we had them in New England. Vinca Dec 2025 #11
📌 🐦 Bookmark. TY, HAB911. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Dec 2025 #12
Absolutely gorgeous TommieMommy Dec 2025 #13
thanks, glad you enjoy them! HAB911 Dec 2025 #20
Magnificent photos. TNNurse Dec 2025 #14
Something a little special for you! HAB911 Dec 2025 #17
Just gorgeous! liberalla Dec 2025 #15
right now HAB911 Dec 2025 #18
Nice! Thanks for sharing these great photos FakeNoose Dec 2025 #16
thank you! HAB911 Dec 2025 #19
Fabulous HAB911. Really like your first and fourth frames -- dry-head to wet-head! George McGovern Dec 2025 #23
thanks george! HAB911 Dec 21 #27
Wonderful! Thank you! Solly Mack Dec 2025 #24
I have never seen this bird before..I'm sure if I had, it would have taken my breath away..just like your photos Deuxcents Dec 21 #25
thanks! HAB911 Dec 21 #28
Thanks for posting MustLoveBeagles Dec 21 #26
What they all said. Have some ice cream. twodogsbarking Dec 21 #29
That's amazing wendyb-NC Dec 21 #30
outstanding! mike_c Dec 21 #31
Beautiful shots! tazcat Dec 21 #32
AmAYYYYYYZZZING shots! nt Trueblue Texan Dec 21 #33
It's so colorful at first I thought it was AI. Kablooie Dec 21 #34
Wow, great photography! denvine Dec 21 #35

AKwannabe

(6,890 posts)
7. Hi. What region does a bunting live in?
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 05:33 PM
Dec 2025

First I’ve ever seen. So thank you. Very cool bird indeed. Rainbow 🌈

Grumpy Old Guy

(4,301 posts)
9. What a beautiful bird. I'm jealous.
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 05:54 PM
Dec 2025

Great shots!

We had to pull our bird feeder out because the rats were chowing down on the seed the birds were dropping.

HAB911

(10,425 posts)
22. I know what you mean
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:00 PM
Dec 2025

The birds do leave a mess, but the squirrels clean up behind them. The feeder is on a 5' Pvc pole with a cone that keeps them from accessing the feeder, so they patrol the ground all day long and there is no waste.

liberalla

(11,075 posts)
15. Just gorgeous!
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 06:22 PM
Dec 2025

So, I'm curious... As the earth moves throughout the year (longer days, shorter days), the sunlight hits differently and shadows move....
Will you always be able to get the full reflection in the birdbath? Or will you need to move the birdbath again?

HAB911

(10,425 posts)
18. right now
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 07:55 PM
Dec 2025

the sun is very low and I only get direct light on the bath for a couple of hours and even then it is dappled. I will get much more direct light as the sun moves north. Moving the bath not only gave me the angle needed, but moved it more into what light I have. So the answer to your question is, no I will not have to move it again, it only gets better.

I shot at a high shutter speed to catch the water droplets and high aperture for the depth of field to capture the reflection, so the ISO was an astounding 12,800, which made the photos very noisy.

FakeNoose

(41,415 posts)
16. Nice! Thanks for sharing these great photos
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 06:48 PM
Dec 2025

It looks like that painted bunting was having some fun ...

George McGovern

(11,808 posts)
23. Fabulous HAB911. Really like your first and fourth frames -- dry-head to wet-head!
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:09 PM
Dec 2025

And all in between and thereafter!

Deuxcents

(26,691 posts)
25. I have never seen this bird before..I'm sure if I had, it would have taken my breath away..just like your photos
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 12:24 AM
Dec 21

Uniquely beautiful 🤩

wendyb-NC

(4,677 posts)
30. That's amazing
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 12:17 PM
Dec 21

Beautiful photos of the Painted bunting. Thanks for sharing them.

How lucky you are to have Painted bunting in your area, that frequent your bird bath. I'm sure they are around here in eastern NC, but I rarely see them in the garden outside.

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