Using my cabin as a blind at Christ in the Wilderness retreat in Stockton, Illinois, I followed this American Tree Sparrow as it returned again and again to a nearby feeder that the owner had installed.

Late in the day, a snowstorm approached and the birds were making frequent stops for food. I was able to find a branch that I liked - it reminds me of a smile - and create the composition, waiting for this little guy to land. I love the snow falling in the background, the few flakes on the crown of the sparrow's head and the single snowflake clinging to the tip of the branch. To me, it adds the perfect amount of visual tension to the photo with the sparrow looking at it and makes for a more compelling photo than just "bird on a branch".

Canon EOS 5D, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5/5.6L IS @ 400mm, 1/160 sec @f/6.3, ISO equiv 800, Calumet 8000 Carbon Fiber Tripod, Gitzo G1276 Ballhead