Late winter is a good time to get some intimate bird photos at the feeder. The birds have had several months getting used to us, and occasionally the weather is mild enough that neither camera nor photographer seize up in a matter of minutes. Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls and Black-capped Chickadees are especially comfortable with a human presence near the feeder. This Pine Grosbeak, either a female or a young male, perched a couple of metres away for its portrait one afternoon last week. [Peter Taylor]