Second squirrel of the season

GRAY SQUIRREL, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 21, 2011

Pentax K20D
SMC Pentax-F* 300mm f4.5 ED (IF)
1/90 sec. f6.7
ISO 400

While I was laid up recovering from a knee replacement, Deborah Abbott (a k a the Lady Friend) captured this squirrel through the window of our her home office. Ordinary as they may be and ubiquitous as they may be, members of the Sciurus genus always are good subjects. Just hand out some tidbits and they'll come sit for their portraits.

Blue-capped Waxbill

BLUE-CAPPED WAXBILL (URAEGINTHUS CYANCEPHALUS), SKOKIE, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 10, 2011

Pentax K-5
Sigma 17-70 DC at 70mm
1/200 sec. f7.1
ISO 3200

Another exotic African bird found in the Alden rehab center's aviary, this one is also known as a subspecies of the Cordon Bleu waxbill. It's popular among breeders but takes some work to keep reproductively happy, since it likes termites more than any other food. And you know what happens when termites get loose in the house.

Shaft-tail Finch

SHAFT-TAIL FINCH (POEPHILIA ACUTICANDA), SKOKIE, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 9, 2011

Pentax K-5
Sigma 17-70 DC at 70mm
1/200 sec. f8
ISO 3200

This pretty, sparrow-sized bird is native to the dry savanna of northwest Australia. Its export is now banned in that country, so examples have become expensive elsewhere. Fortunately the species breeds readily in captivity and hence is often kept in pairs. This one was captured in the little aviary at the Alden Estates rehab center in suburban Chicago.

Diamond Dove

DIAMOND DOVE (GEOPOLIA CUNEATA) SKOKIE, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 9, 2011

Pentax K-5
Sigma 17-70 DC at 70mm
1/200 sec. at f8
ISO 3200

Another of my rehab center aviary captures, this one is of a sparrow-sized pigeon native to Australia. Not much can be said about it (or any other kind of pigeon), but the vivid eye ring bespeaks a male, or so says the bird book.

Orange Weaver

ORANGE WEAVER FINCH (PLOCEUS AURANTIS), SKOKIE, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 9, 2011

Pentax K-5
Sigma 17-70 DC at 70mm
1/200 sec. f8
ISO 3200

When it's in breeding plumage, the male Orange Weaver (a k a Red Bishop) is about as gaudy a bird as you'll see. The rest of the time this native of Central Africa looks like a sparrow. I captured it after a strenuous trek through the jungle of the Alden Estates Rehabilitation Center, which keeps a small aviary for the amusement of its patients.