Sometimes, the bird comes to *you*! I spent many hours this spring and summer outside silently pursuing birds with my camera and zoom lens, hoping to get close enough to get a really good shot. And the birds played hard-to-get, conspiring with each other to keep me from getting what I wanted. Then one day, this gorgeous red cardinal suddenly flew up and landed a few feet from me on our deck! It was like he forgot the rules of the game or something.

His timing was perfect, too! I had my camera in-hand and was ready to shoot. He only stayed for a few seconds, but I got this shot!

[![text](http://i.imgur.com/6GrRUwU.jpg)](http://i.imgur.com/V0hehiv.jpg)


>Canon T5i
55-250mm IS STM lens at 250mm
ISO 400
f/5.6
1/200 sec


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<center>http://i.imgur.com/G23FWYr.png  </center>

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