Rich gave me the most awesome lens ever for Christmas!   The weather has been gross (cold front = cold + wind) and so I haven’t been out to Circle B with the lens yet.  But here are a few pictures from around the house…

Every time I get a new lens or piece of camera equipment, my first subject of my first picture is my cat Goldilocks.  We’ve had this tradition ever since 2003.  With the 500mm, I asked Goldy to go all the way on the other side of the house, to get her within my minimum focusing distance of 14.5 feet.

Our Painted Bunting has been coming to our feeder at least twice a day.  Poor little thing, she was sure getting blown around in all the wind today.  This picture was taken with the 500mm handheld and/or balanced on my knee as I sat in the dining room and shot through the somewhat dirty window.  Not bad, huh? :)

Then I moved into the living room and mounted the lens on my tripod.  Two Red-Winged Blackbirds were stocking up on food before the cold weather tonight.  I guess bird parents don’t have the “don’t eat with your mouth open” rule…