Common Redpoll was the first little bird that I ever photographed.

We live in Wyoming, and wildlife is abundant here. So I saved my money and bought the Sony 200 - 600 mm. I had it for two months, and I wasn’t using it because I couldn’t find any big wildlife. Then, one morning I decided to go and try out with little birds.

“Those are easy to find,” was my thinking.

I sat down in my yard, and no birdies came to visit me. So I spend two weekends in my yard and nothing.

I looked at my neighbor’s yard, and her tree was full of common redpolls.

I’m shy when it comes to asking for favors. So I was brave enough to ask my neighbor if I could be in her yard, to which she immediately said yes!

To go sit down in her yard, it passed two weekends. I was shy.

One day I went and sat down in her yard. That decision changed my life forever. I started my obsession with little birds.

My neighbors loved every one of my photos. They even plowed a particular road for me to cross easier to their home.

I love Linda and Michael. I am very grateful for having them as my neighbors for a short time.

All the photos are taken by: Julieta Belmont.