Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

HAB911

(10,240 posts)
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 03:05 PM 10 hrs ago

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

26 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 10 hrs ago OP
Wow, my dear HAB911! These are wonderful! So much color and detail! CaliforniaPeggy 10 hrs ago #1
Breathtakingly gorgeous! SheltieLover 10 hrs ago #2
Spectacular!! Walleye 10 hrs ago #3
Stunning. Great job. Thanks for sharing Raven123 9 hrs ago #4
Nice! Thanks for sharing!! SWBTATTReg 9 hrs ago #5
My favorite! Lucky lucky you! QueerDuck 9 hrs ago #6
Hi. What region does a bunting live in? AKwannabe 9 hrs ago #7
From Cornell Lab - All About Birds erronis 9 hrs ago #8
What a beautiful bird. I'm jealous. Grumpy Old Guy 9 hrs ago #9
I know what you mean HAB911 6 hrs ago #22
Your photos are amazing. Callalily 9 hrs ago #10
thank you! HAB911 7 hrs ago #21
Gorgeous photos of a spectacular bird. Wow! Wish we had them in New England. Vinca 8 hrs ago #11
📌 🐦 Bookmark. TY, HAB911. ❤️ littlemissmartypants 8 hrs ago #12
Absolutely gorgeous TommieMommy 8 hrs ago #13
thanks, glad you enjoy them! HAB911 7 hrs ago #20
Magnificent photos. TNNurse 8 hrs ago #14
Something a little special for you! HAB911 7 hrs ago #17
Just gorgeous! liberalla 8 hrs ago #15
right now HAB911 7 hrs ago #18
Nice! Thanks for sharing these great photos FakeNoose 8 hrs ago #16
thank you! HAB911 7 hrs ago #19
Fabulous HAB911. Really like your first and fourth frames -- dry-head to wet-head! George McGovern 6 hrs ago #23
Wonderful! Thank you! Solly Mack 4 hrs ago #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 2 hrs ago #25
Thanks for posting MustLoveBeagles 1 hr ago #26

AKwannabe

(6,870 posts)
7. Hi. What region does a bunting live in?
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 04:33 PM
9 hrs ago

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

Grumpy Old Guy

(4,169 posts)
9. What a beautiful bird. I'm jealous.
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 04:54 PM
9 hrs ago

Great shots!

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

HAB911

(10,240 posts)
22. I know what you mean
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 07:00 PM
6 hrs ago

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

(10,773 posts)
15. Just gorgeous!
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 05:22 PM
8 hrs ago

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

(10,240 posts)
18. right now
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 06:55 PM
7 hrs ago

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

(39,951 posts)
16. Nice! Thanks for sharing these great photos
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 05:48 PM
8 hrs ago

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

George McGovern

(10,629 posts)
23. Fabulous HAB911. Really like your first and fourth frames -- dry-head to wet-head!
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 07:09 PM
6 hrs ago

And all in between and thereafter!

Deuxcents

(25,314 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
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 11:24 PM
2 hrs ago

Uniquely beautiful 🤩

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Photography»Moving birdbath 3' makes ...