Paddling Source Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park was incredibly enjoyable and resulted in great views of several Common Loons.
In my last blog post,Looking Forward To A Season Of New Opportunities In 2020,I talked about my purchase of a travel trailer and relocating close to Algonquin Provincial Park for the season. During the recent heatwave, I have done most of my exploring by water in my 14′ Swift Prospector pack boat. This canoe-kayak hybrid provides a stable platform to photograph wildlife from while the cool breeze off the water makes exploring this amazing park more comfortable.
With my boat not yet in the water, this Common Loon passed by about 20 feet from the dock.
Earlier this week, I decided to paddle Source Lake along the Highway 60 corridor. In fact, all of my paddling so far has been on lakes and rivers with easy access from this major highway as I figure why not start where access is quick and simple? When I made the decision to move up this way, one species I was hoping to photograph more was the Common Loon. After unloading my boat from the car and placing it on the dock, a loon appeared and swam past a mere 20 ft away. Following a few images, I donned my life jacket, slipped my boat into the water, stepped in, and began paddling. With such incredible views already of an accomodating loon, I had a feeling it was going to be an amazing day on the water.
Female Common Merganser
Heading up the near shore, a female Common Merganser flew in and landed adjacent to a patch of Pickerelweed. I have always enjoyed watching mergansers swim along with their faces in the water in search of fish and other food. As this bird snorkeled along, the lush green vegetation provided a beautiful backdrop.
Common Merganser and her fluffy offspring.
Rounding a point on the main lake, I noticed another female merganser sitting on a fallen log along the shoreline. This particular duck had three fluffy young babies with her and was an incredible sight as they rested in the cool shade.
Source Lake is a decent sized lake but it was my intention to paddle around the perimeter while I enjoyed the sights and sounds along the way. High up in the trees I could hear a wide variety of songbirds including White-throated Sparrows, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Red-eyed Vireos to name a view. Also heard was the eerie call of the Common Loon from further up the lake.
Great Blue Heron
As I paddled past a weedy bay, a Great Blue Heron flew past at close range. With a fast shutter speed, I was able to capture a series of images of this brief encounter. By now I was incredibly happy with my decision to paddle Source Lake and was already thinking about a return visit.
Under good light conditions, the iridescent colours on a loon’s neck become apparent.
Further along, I could see the silhouette of a Common Loon out in the middle of the lake just off a small island. Deviating from my course of following the shoreline, I proceeded closer to the bird to see if I could get a better view. As has been the case with most of the loons I’ve encountered so far in Algonquin this one was not shy at all and I was able to get within a boat length. When viewed at such a close distance, and in good light, you can really notice the iridescent green and purple hues of a loon’s plumage around their necks. In my opinion, the Common Loon is an iconic bird of the Canadian wilderness.
Flying low overhead and calling repeatedly led me to believe this Herring Gull was not happy with my presence.
As I was enjoying the tremendous view of the loon, a pair of Herring Gulls began circling and squawking overhead. I could see a young gull swimming close to shore so assumed these were its parents and I was not welcome near their young despite still being a considerable distance away. It is never my intention to put undue stress on any wildlife for the sake of a better view or photo and these gulls seemed agitated so I backed off. This is a perfect example of the motto I live by when enjoying nature if my behaviour changes their behaviour than I am too close. With me now down the bank, the adult Herring Gulls retreated to the comfort of a large rock on the side of the island and were once again calm and content.
Using my Swift pack boat I was able to photograph several loons on Source Lake.
Having already paddled for several hours and the hot afternoon sun now beating down, I decided to cut my trip around the perimeter of the lake short and head back to the dock. In total, I only managed to cover about half the shoreline of Source Lake but will definitely be returning. Having started this voyage in a clockwise direction, I’ll paddle counterclockwise on my next visit to cover the areas I have yet to see. There was certainly plenty of wildlife around this beautiful lake and being able to navigate it by water made for some great views. If you find yourself in Algonquin Park and have access to a canoe or kayak, I highly recommend paddling Source Lake. This beautiful lake combined with my Swift pack boat certainly offered a great source of fun in the outdoors.
This pair of Great Horned Owls were observed in a forest clearing keeping a close eye one their fledglings.
Last Friday, I awoke to steady rain. The forecast was calling for showers and thunderstorms into the afternoon so birding that day wasn’t on my radar. I was moving pretty slow enjoying my coffee and still in my pajamas. By mid-morning, the rain had stopped and the sun was out. I quickly got dressed, grabbed my camera and binoculars, and headed out the door. I planned to check an area close to home for warblers as birding immediately following rain can be highly rewarding as the showers tend to push birds close to the ground resulting in amazing views. Some of my best days birding have been during similar conditions.
A flock of Blue Jays harassing this adult Great Horned Owl alerted me to its presence.
Shortly after arriving, I tallied a multitude of warblers moving through the low trees and shrubs slightly higher than eye level. Blackburnian, Magnolia, and Bay-breasted were all observed within a matter of minutes. As I made my way into a clearing in the forest, I heard a flock of Blue Jays calling aggressively. To my delight, I saw a Great Horned Owl perched in a tree being mobbed by the jays.
One of two young Great Horned Owls observed on this day.
Raising my camera, I captured a few images of the owl perched in a large tree. All of a sudden, something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a young owl flying past eventually landing in a nearby tree. As the young owl again took flight, the adult followed making their way to another tree. Looking with my binoculars I saw a second adult and young owl deeper in the forest. I was pretty excited to have stumbled upon this family of owls.
Within a few minutes of spotting the first adult bird, it became apparent this was an entire family of Great Horned Owls.
As I watched the family of owls it appeared the young ones were possibly learning to fly or hunt. I stood motionless under a tree and watched as the owlets made short flights from tree to tree while the parents watched carefully. One of the adult owls stayed close to each juvenile at all times never taking their eyes off them.
Adult Great Horned Owls keeping a close watch on their offspring.
Watching the eyes and heads of the adult owls move in unison as the owlets flew around was almost comical. This spectacle reminded me of the emphatic motions of synchronized swimmers performing a well-choreographed routine.
As I stood motionless in the forest the adult Great Horned Owls were more interested in the whereabouts of their owlets than my presence.
Not wanting to put added stress on the adults or young owls during what was seemingly a vital life lesson, I carried on after watching for only a few minutes while quickly capturing photos. Despite being a brief encounter, it is one I will always remember. Out of respect for the birds, I do not share owl locations but I will say these are not any of our over publicized owls here in the city.
Finding this family of Great Horned Owls is certainly a highlight of birding this spring.
As I carried on through the forest, my focus once again turned to warblers. As more and more of these colorful songbirds came into view, I kept thinking about the amazing encounter I had just had with these Great Horned Owls. This is one of the elements of birding I love the most, you never know what you are going to see. I look forward to getting out again this week for more adventures and the endless possibilities they may bring and sharing my experiences in nature with each of you.
Great views of Eastern Towhees and a variety of other spring migrants have been achieved while birding an underutilized area.
Birding this spring has certainly been unique. Unique in the sense that with provincial parks and many conservation areas closed the obvious destinations for taking in spring migration have been off-limits. As a result, I have found myself frequenting an area that remains open and is underutilized to get my fix of spring migrants.
Yellow Warblers are one of the earliest arriving warblers in Southwestern Ontario and can now be readily observed.
Now when I say underutilized I don’t just mean in regards to birding I mean underutilized period. This area has been almost absent of birders, dog walkers, runners, you name it. If fact, having spent all day at this location multiple times this spring the busiest day saw just three other users over the course of the entire day. I’ve had this area virtually to myself all day and the birding has been great.
Brown Thrasher
All of the migrants I would expect to see the first week of May have been present with some seen in greater numbers than others. On one visit, I saw more Brown Thrashers in a single day than I have before in my entire life. Warblers, orioles, grosbeaks, as well as a plethora of resident species, have also been plentiful.
On one visit to this area, I was greeted to the calls of a Wood Thrush as I exited my car. After scanning with my binoculars I located the bird foraging under a spruce tree.
Wood Thrushes, a species currently listed as special concern on Ontario’s species at risk list, have been surprisingly prevalent at this location. These birds along with the aforementioned Brown Thrashers, Eastern Towhees, and White-throated Sparrows could be heard scratching in the leaf litter on the forest floor.
Gray Catbirds can be a challenge to see due to their propensity to frequent thick cover. Fortunately, their cat-like call helps reveal their location.
Working my way along the dense thickets at the edge of the forest, the cat-like meow of Gray Catbirds could be heard. Fortunately, some birds could be observed on top of the thickets feeding on berries affording me the opportunity for a photo or two.
This Black-and-White Warbler is one of the many warblers I have observed while birding in this area.
Most of the warblers that return the first week of May have been recorded including Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Palm, and Black-and-White. Large numbers of Chipping Sparrows have also been seen and heard from around the property.
The White Trillium is the provincial flower of Ontario. In the underutilized area I have been birding lately these gorgeous wildflowers are abundant. Red Trillium also known as the Wake Robin
This area is home to a multitude of wildflowers including Trilliums, Trout Lillies, Mayapples, and a host of others I have yet to identify. Wildflower identification is something I continue to work on with the help of myPeterson Field Guide To Wildflowers. The sight of the forest floor displaying a rainbow of colours was something to behold.
Red Admiral Butterfly
Mornings last week started cool but each day the temperature quickly climbed and the birds and wildlife became more active. As the mercury rose Red Admiral, Mourning Cloak, and Eastern Comma Butterflies were observed flying in and around the forest.
The bold white eyering of the Least Flycatcher helps separate it from other Empidonax flycatchers.
With Doug Ford announcing the opening of provincial parks and conservation areas next week I imagine many birders will be flocking to Rondeau, Komoka, and the Pinery as well as everyone else who has been missing these great parks. I think I’ll sit this spring at the usual hotspots out and continue to physical distance just to be on the safe side. After all, I have found an underutilized area I have enjoyed all to myself and plan to return this week.
Baltimore Oriole
Normally I am happy to share where and provide directions to the areas I bird, but given the current situation I’m keeping this area a secret and I hope you support my reasoning for this. If you get the chance this week, head out for some birding and enjoy the great outdoors. Remember we still need to physical distance as we are not out of the woods yet. The second week of May is typically the best week of spring migration and I’m curious to see what species will appear at this amazing location. Stay safe and as always
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains an Amazon affiliate link. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*
*I’ve uploaded a new video to my YouTube Channel titledBirding At My Local Patch. In this video, I find several species including warblers, Wood Ducks, and a Bald Eagle to name a few.*
Patch briding is all the rage these days given the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Patch birding certainly isn’t a new term but one we are hearing a lot more lately given the COVID-19 pandemic. With provincial parks and other natural areas closed until further notice, many of us are resorting to patch birding. This phrase simply means birding regularly in an area close to home. This could be a park down the street, around a neighbourhood stormwater pond, or even your own backyard. For me, the majority of my birding would be described as patch birding anyway even if we weren’t experiencing a pandemic.
The wetland at my local patch is home to several Wood Ducks.
Lately, I have been visiting a couple of patches on alternating days to give me a bit of a change of scenery. The variety and number of birds present at both these locations are quite impressive and I have been more than satisfied with my observations. The nice thing about patch birding is I can pop over to my local patch on short notice and at any time during the day to see what birds are active.
Red-tailed Hawk
The mixed habitat at my local patches attracts a wide variety of resident birds and migrants with songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, and even shorebirds present. Being walking distance to one of these areas and only a short drive from the other means I am not spending much on gas getting to my birding destinations which is nice since I have been without work for almost a month.
The rapid notes of the Downy Woodpecker’s call can be heard in both the patches I regularly visit.
Regardless of where you live a local patch exists nearby. As mentioned earlier, this could be your local park, backyard, or for those of you who live in a more rural area even walking past a wooded area or meadow on your county road. The nice thing about patch birding is there are endless possibilities to find an area all to yourself where you can enjoy the great outdoors while practicing physical distancing.
Northern Flickers love ants and as such are often observed feeding on the ground.
With several area bird festivals already canceled and others sure to be, it looks like we will all be patch birding during the peak of migration in May. Now is a great time to get out and search for your own patch for when the big wave of migrants arrive.
Mallards and other waterfowl have now paired up in preparation of the upcoming nesting season.
Normally I am happy to share my locations with blog subscribers; however, given the possibility of these areas becoming too crowded, I have chosen to keep them to myself. I would encourage others to keep their patch a secret too.
Eastern Phoebes are the first of the flycatchers to return to our area each spring and are once again present.
If you find yourself not getting out enough lately with the closure of provincial parks and other natural areas, find your own patch and discover the abundance of birds present within it. Remember to practice physical distancing while outdoors and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature that surrounds you. Let the simple things in life remind you of what is really important and guide you through these difficult times.
Carefully choosing my settings for both the amount of light and my subject helped me capture this image of a Green Heron.
Whether you are a professional photographer or simply a hobbyist, the goal of everyone who photographs birds is the same, sharper images. What many beginners often fail to realize is that sharp images have more to do with knowing how to properly use a camera and getting the most out of it than the price tag on it. Camera settings are what make or break a photo, and in this post I am going to share with you four settings you may not be using that will help improve your final images.
Capturing this image of a Common Tern moments after passing a small perch to a youngster required the proper camera settings.
1. Use Aperture Priority Mode Or Manual Mode To Set Your Exposure
Every great image starts with proper exposure. If your exposure is off these photos are destined for the recycle bin. Getting the correct exposure in-camera is key as this results in the best image possible. If you have to adjust your exposure in Lightroom or other photo editing program after the fact your image quality is going to suffer. The more you adjust the more it suffers. For anyone still shooting in automatic mode, the sooner you move out of this mode the sooner your images will improve. Remember when shooting in automatic mode your camera is calculating your exposure for you based on the amount of available light. Light is only part of the equation when it comes to an image. What about your subject? Isn’t that after all the purpose of taking the photo to capture the subject? Since your camera cannot identify your subject or whether or not it is moving leaving elements of the exposure such as shutter speed up to the camera is a bad idea. In order to get sharp images, you have to set the parameters of your exposure based not only on the amount of available light but also your subject and the only way to do this is by taking control of your settings.
I photographed this Black-crowned Night Heron using aperture priority mode while paying close attention to my histogram. Learning how to read your camera’s histogram will ensure proper exposure and help capture the most detail especially in a bird’s white feathers.
If you are new to photography and a bit overwhelmed by exposure, I recommend starting with aperture priority mode. In this mode, you select the aperture and ISO and the camera will automatically select the correct corresponding shutter speed. By doing this you can choose a wide aperture and high ISO which results in a fast shutter speed thus freezing the action of a fast-moving bird. Whenever the light permits, I like my shutter speed to be at least 1/1000 to ensure sharp images. Many will ask why not use shutter priority set at 1/1000? There are several reasons I do not use shutter priority. First, in aperture priority mode I have control of depth of field which allows me to better isolate my subject from the background. Second, in low light, I would have to shoot at a very high ISO to achieve 1/1000 shutter speed and my image would be too noisy. For anyone shooting with a full-frame camera, this option may work for you but on my APS-C sensor, I would not be impressed with my final images. This is one of the few instances where I would delete a photo due to noise. In low light situations with aperture priority mode, the camera will choose a slower shutter speed but with good technique, I can still freeze the action. If the light is really poor and the bird is moving I may end up with a blurry image but this is a limitation of my gear and the reality of photography some times. The only way to overcome this would be to invest in a full-frame camera capable of shooting at a much higher ISO.
Far too often images are underexposed when shooting in fully automatic mode. The only way to ensure proper exposure is by taking control of your settings.
The other option is to shoot in manual mode. In this mode, the photographer chooses all aspects of the exposure shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Manual mode is a bit trickier as there is one more element to factor in but once comfortable you have full control and can really fine-tune your exposure with even the slightest change in light. Regardless of which of these two modes you choose, be sure to check your exposure on your histogram and adjust your settings accordingly to get the proper exposure.
Despite not being an overly fast-moving subject, I still chose an ISO of 800 to ensure my shutter speed was fast enough to freeze these Sandhill Cranes as they moved across a cornfield.
2. Carefully Select Your ISO
Regardless of whether you choose aperture priority or manual mode selecting the proper ISO is imperative. Too high and ISO and you end up with noisy images, too low an ISO and you won’t achieve a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action. One misconception many photographers have is that their camera is not capable of sharp, noise-free images at 800 ISO or higher. In my experience, any DSLR on the market today is quite capable of noise-free images at 800 ISO and even slightly higher if you get the exposure right. The problem is when you get the exposure wrong in-camera and start making adjustments in Lightroom, especially when you try to brighten an underexposed image. This accentuates the noise rendering the photo unusable. If the proper exposure is achieved in-camera very little noise is seen when opened in Lightroom and can easily be removed with the noise reduction slider.
A higher ISO results in a faster shutter speed which is required to freeze the action of a fast-moving bird. Digital noise can easily be removed in Lightroom or similar programs.
Whenever I am out in the field, I always start at ISO 800 as this typically results in a shutter speed of 1/1000 with a wide-open aperture even on cloudy days. If it is really cloudy, early morning, or other low light conditions I will bump my ISO up to 1250 or even 1600 and have no issues with noise provided I get the exposure correct. When I botch my exposure these images quickly get deleted upon returning home. I don’t even bother trying to adjust the exposure in Lightroom as I know these images will appear too noisy. When this occurs, and I fully admit it does, I think of the old saying you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. This is not the fault of the camera, the blame is solely on me for choosing the wrong settings or not being able to adjust them fast enough for the changing conditions. On sunny days I set my ISO lower but usually cannot go below 400 and still achieve a shutter speed of 1/1000. The bottom line is don’t be afraid to up your ISO. Sharp images with a bit of noise are better than a blurry image with no noise. When exposed properly you will miss more shots due to motion blur, a result of a shutter speed that was too slow, than you will because an image is too noisy.
Photographing an Osprey while it balances on a narrow perch seconds after it lands it much easier shooting multiple frames simultaneously.
3. Choose High-Speed Continuous Shooting
Cameras these days are capable of some pretty impressive burst rates now over 10 frames per second on newer models. However, if your camera is set to one-shot or single shooting you are not taking advantage of this feature. The only way to achieve a flight sequence of a bird of prey or waterfowl is to obtain focus and hold down the shutter, thus utilizing your maximum frames per second. This setting also comes in handy with slower-moving subjects like a shorebird running down the beach or a flitting songbird.
Those of you familiar with the Sora will know they are not an easy bird to see or photograph as they often stay well-hidden. Tracking this bird until it stepped out into the clear allowed me to achieve this image.
4. Use AI Servo (Canon Shooters) or AF-C (Nikon Shooters) Auto Focus
Obtaining focus on a moving bird is certainly challenging but fortunately, this setting will help. When using AI Servo, or AF-C for you Nikon shooters, your camera will continuously focus on a moving subject as long as your shutter button is held halfway down. This allows you to track a bird in flight or a small songbird as its hops from branch to branch while maintaining focus. When you see the shot you want, hold the shutter button down and take advantage of the high-speed continuous shooting I mentioned earlier.
Conclusion
Choosing the right camera settings can seem overwhelming and a bit confusing especially if you are new to photography. Anyone can achieve sharper images regardless of how much your equipment cost; however, this requires you to step outside your comfort zone and adjust a few of your camera settings. If you are not certain how to make these adjustments consult your camera’s manual. With the press of a few buttons, these changes can be easily made.
Bird photography is supposed to be fun, not frustrating. Making sure you are using the best possible settings is the first step in capturing stunning images. If you haven’t already, give these camera settings a try and I’m sure you will see an improvement in your final images.
Good birding,
Paul
*Curious about what camera, lenses, and other equipment I use for nature photography? Be sure to check out my gear page for more details.*
Yellow Warblers are among the many migratory birds found in our area long after spring migration has ended.
May was truly spectacular when it came to birding. Having booked the first two weeks off work to enjoy migration, I certainly saw and photographed my fair share of birds. Huge waves of birds may no longer be moving into the area as they were earlier this spring, but that doesn’t mean I have put my binoculars and camera away for another year. Late spring offers some great birding albeit views can be more challenging now that the trees have leafed up.
The American Redstart (female pictured) is one of several warblers that breed in Southwestern Ontario and remain in the region until they migrate south for the winter.
Several warblers species breed across our are which means we can enjoy them throughout the summer months until they head south in the fall. Yellow Warblers are most commonly seen and heard, but looking and listening closely can reveal Chestnut-sided Warblers and American Redstarts to name a few.
Great birding post-migration often takes place in our own backyards. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are easily attracted to special feeders containing a mixture of sugar and water.
Many of the birds we waited months to see in our own backyards will remain until late summer or early fall. Hummingbirds and Orioles are easily attracted to special feeders containing a mixture of one part sugar and four parts water. There are conflicting reports on whether or not food colouring is harmful to birds. My feeling is anything potentially harmful to birds should be avoided and therefore do not add colouring to my mixture. It has been my experience that the colour on the feeder itself is all that is required to attract the birds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
It is important to clean the feeder and change the mixture every couple of days especially during the warmer weather. Many of the new saucer style feeders are dishwasher safe making cleaning a breeze. Keeping a pitcher of the mixture in the fridge means it will be ready when you need it and allows the chlorine to dissipate from the water. This mixture can be kept in the fridge for up to ten days.
House Wrens have a beautiful song and are one of the easiest backyard birds to attract to a nest box.
Another backyard frequenting migrant is the House Wren. These tiny birds can be a challenge to see as they love cover, but reveal their location with their loud song. Wrens readily accept a properly placed nest box which will help you locate these birds. If your yard is particularly shrubby with lots of hiding spots, there’s a good chance House Wrens are present.
Great-crested Flycatcher
Insect-eating birds including swallows and flycatchers are readily observed post-migration. Swallows can be found feeding on the wing over bodies of water while flycatchers can be observed in forests, open meadows, and field edges.
Pileated Woodpecker extracting a meal from a fallen log.
Resident birds are abundant at this time of year with some of my favourite being woodpeckers. Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, and American Goldfinches can be found just about anywhere, so there is no shortage of birds for viewing. Birds of prey are also present which are always a treat to observe.
Female Baltimore Oriole pulling on a piece of material as she intricately weaves her nest.
With so many species nesting across the area, it is not uncommon to see birds gathering nesting material or constructing their nests. I recently observed a female Baltimore Oriole as she methodically wove her sock-like nest. Not wanting to disturb or put added stress on the bird, I only watched briefly while capturing a few photos.
It’s not just birds that can be observed while out birding. These Painted Turtles were photographed while visiting a local pond.
We call it birding, but in many cases enjoying nature might be a better term. When out with my camera, I focus on all aspects of nature including mammals, reptiles, butterflies, and amphibians and don’t limit myself to birds. In my opinion, observing and enjoying all aspects of nature when out in the field only adds to the experience.
Monarch Butterfly laying an egg on a Common Milkweed plant.
Already this year I have noticed several Monarch Butterflies. Most of these butterflies have been observed laying eggs on Common Milkweed plants some of which are only 6″ to 8″ tall. Seeing a beautiful Monarch fluttering over a meadow always puts a smile on my face.
The beauty of Northern Cardinals and other resident birds can be enjoyed year-round in Southwestern Ontario.
We are fortunate in our area to have a huge population of birds throughout the year. Whether they are migrants only here for a few months to raise a brood or resident birds present year-round, great birding is available despite spring migration having come to an end. Obtaining clear views of birds is certainly more challenging with leaves on the trees but just because birds are no longer in plain sight doesn’t mean they are not there. Using your ears to listen for birds will give away their location which will make getting eyes on them easier.
Lesser Yellowlegs begin their migration south as early as late June.
I hope this inspires you to get out and do some post-migration birding as there is plenty to see when heading out. If you prefer birding when waves of migrants are on the move, believe it or not, you don’t have to wait long as some shorebirds including Least Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs begin their migration south in late June.
Snowy Owls are one of the many birds that can be found overwintering in our area.
With March now here and spring on the horizon, many of the birds that overwinter in our area will soon be heading north to their breeding grounds.
In a recent postReturning To Greenway Park After A Lengthy Hiatus From Photography, I mentioned easing myself back into things while dealing with a recurring and nagging back issue that saw me take a break from photography while on the mend. I am happy to report things continue to improve and I am getting out with my camera more frequently, albeit for shorter durations and distances. Over the past couple of weeks, I took advantage of the cold weather and remaining days of winter to search for some overwintering birds before they vacate the area.
The rusty cap, yellow lower bill, and dark chest spot are key field marks of the American Tree Sparrow.
I started my search atFanshawe Conservation Areawhere several sightings of an Evening Grosbeak have been reported on eBird. According to the observations of others, this bird has been frequenting the start of the Tamarack Trail right next to the parking lot. Admission to this conservation area is free during the winter months and well worth a visit.
Dark-eyed Junco
Arriving at my destination, I immediately noticed an abundance of birds feeding on black-oil sunflower seeds someone had spread at the start of the trail. I watched for a few minutes and counted a few overwintering species including Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows. A few more minutes passed when suddenly appearing in one of the lower branches of a large spruce tree was the Evening Grosbeak. The bird quickly dropped to the ground and began feeding among the other birds.
Sadly, the Evening Grosbeak was added to Ontario’s Species at Risk list late last year.
Evening Grosbeaks are infrequent visitors to our area during the winter months and are not present every year. It is only during years when coniferous and deciduous seed production to our north is poor that these birds venture this far south in search of food. In fact, I had not seen an Evening Grosbeak in our area since I was a child. On August 1, 2018, the Evening Grosbeak was added to Ontario’s Species at Risk list due to their declining numbers. With this in mind, I was very pleased to see and photograph this bird.
Male Redhead preparing to set his wings after preening.
Next, I visited Springbank Park in the city’s west end. An abundance of birds and paths that are plowed daily by park staff make this one of my favourite winter birding hot spots. Each year during the winter months, the small pond adjacent to Storybook Gardens provides great looks of some interesting waterfowl, for those who sort through the hundreds of Mallards to find something different. This winter alone, striking views of a Ring-necked Duck, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintails have been had from this small pond.
On my visit, I enjoyed watching a male Redhead make repeated dives as it fed on submerged vegetation.
Common Redpoll letting out a soft call from alongside the Thames River.
As I admired this beautiful duck, I could hear the calls of Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins. In this area, alder trees grow along the bank of the Thames River and the seed pods found on their branches are a favourite food of these finches during the winter months. Hoping this was where the calls were coming from, I turned around and approached the bank.
When not feeding on alder seeds, the large cedars provided excellent shelter for the group of Common Redpolls.
To my delight, I found several redpolls and siskins feeding at eye level within the branches of the alders. Getting a clear shot through the maze of limbs from the various trees lining the bank proved to be a challenge, but I was able to find a few openings where unobstructed views were achieved.
This was one of four Snowy Owls observed in a small area west of the city. Each year, these large owls can be found overwintering at this location.
Finally, my last destination took me just outside the city in search of Snowy Owls. A well-known annual overwintering area for these owls is only a 30-minute drive away. I don’t always make a point of finding and photographing these birds each winter, but on this day I was meeting my good friends from Swift Care Ontario in Komoka for coffee and decided to head out a bit early as the area supporting these owls is only 10 minutes further down the road. As I drove along the two lane highway heading west I could see a large white object sitting on a hydro pole. I pulled off to the side of the road and snapped a couple of pictures of this beautiful Snowy Owl as it perched motionless in the morning light. Continuing west along the same road I came across another Snowy Owl and then another. Great views were had from my car as I slowly and safely pulled over onto the shoulder at each owl. Turning north onto one of the county roads I quickly came across a fourth Snowy Owl.
As I drove around in search of Snowy Owls, I couldn’t resist stopping to photograph the hoarfrost on this tree.
I photographed all four of these Snowy Owls from my vehicle, as I always do so as not to stress or disturb the bird. While the images captured were not overly exciting or scenic, I never get out of my vehicle and approach these birds. I live by the adage if my behaviour changes their behavior than I am too close and never flush birds from a perch in hopes of capturing a flight shot. I left these owls exactly how I found them, perched calm and comfortably for others who pass by to enjoy.
Evening Grosbeak feeding on the ground with Dark-eyed Juncos.
With the first day of spring now only two weeks away, time is running out to observe these overwintering species in our area. These birds will soon be heading north to their breeding grounds not returning to Southwestern Ontario until late fall or winter. If you wish to see any of these birds in the near future and you have the chance, I recommend visiting one of the aforementioned locations sooner than later.
This Red-headed Woodpecker was one of several species observed while birding at Rondeau Provincial Park.
The summer of 2018 has certainly been a hot and humid one. With more of the same in the forecast, I was wanting to do some birding while escaping the humidity. Knowing that the humidity would not be quite as high closer to the Great Lakes and with a predicted southwest wind off Lake Erie, I decided to make the drive to Rondeau Provincial Park.
On this day a few shorebirds were observed along the beach including a Ruddy Turnstone.
Arriving at the park just after 8 a.m. it was already quite warm; however, significantly less humid than when I left London. The breeze was not as cool as expected, but conditions were certainly more comfortable than if I stayed closer to home and birded within the city.
Red-eyed Vireos were abundant throughout the park.
With fall migration in full swing, I was optimistic there would be a nice mix of birds throughout the park. Beginning at the maintenance loop, a variety of warblers were seen flitting high in the canopy. Magnolia and Yellow-rumped were the most prevalent. A single Ovenbird was observed near the start of the trail and a Carolina Wren could be heard deeper in the forest. By far the most abundant songbird on this day was the Red-eyed Vireo.
Heavy shadows made photographing this Red-headed Woodpecker and other bird species a challenge.
One of the biggest challenges of trying to photograph songbirds in a forest at this time of year are the light conditions. Even when the birds are in clear view, leaves and branches regularly cast large shadows resulting in less appealing images. I never let this bother me as I am a birder first and a photographer second, so observing birds through my binoculars is rewarding enough and any images captured are a bonus.
I was happy to locate several Sanderling, my favourite shorebird while hiking along the beach.
After wrapping up at the maintenance loop, I jumped back in my car and drove to the South Point Trail. With several access points to the large beach, it was my hope that I may locate my favourite shorebird the Sanderling. Sure enough, at the end of the trail where the forest gave way to the beach, a large group of Sanderling was seen.
A flock of Sanderling and one Ruddy Turnstone were observed along the beach.
Following the group of Sanderling down the beach was a lone Ruddy Turnstone. As I stood motionless in the sand these birds passed by within about ten yards. As I was shooting into the sun I increased my exposure to avoid silhouettes. Happy with my observations and images, I decided to make my way back down the trail towards my car.
Eastern Kingbird
As I made my way north along the trail, several species were seen feeding on the berries of a large tree overhanging the path. Enjoying the bounty of fruit were Red-eyed Vireos, Eastern Kingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and American Robins. As I photographed the vireos a Red-headed Woodpecker landed in the same tree. After clinging to the trunk for a few seconds it too began feeding on the red berries. Just behind the tree, two juvenile Red-headed Woodpeckers came into view.
Monarch Butterfly resting on the leaf of a Tulip Tree.
With Monarch migration also underway, several of these beautiful butterflies were seen heading south across the dunes. Other non-bird observations from the day were the hundreds of Northern Leopard Frogs crossing the various paths.
Northern Leopard Frog
All in all, it was a pretty productive day birding with a total of 38 species observed. I likely could have added a few more birds to the day’s count had I walked a portion of the Marsh Trail. This habitat often yields several species not found in other sections of the park.
Sanderling foraging at the water’s edge at the end of the South Point Trail.
September is a great month to get out birding as fall migration continues. While some species will see their numbers decrease over the course of the month, others will increase. For example, raptor migration peaks in our area mid-month. Look for tens of thousands of these birds to make their way across Southwestern Ontario in the coming weeks. If you are searching for a great place to partake in some late summer/early fall birding, consider giving Rondeau Provincial Park a try.
This bee covered in pollen on a purple coneflower was the first image I was really proud of that I shot with a macro lens. To my delight, the image was featured in National Geographic’s Daily Dozen.
During the summer months, I like to put down my telephoto lens from time to time and focus on shooting with a macro lens. With so many possibilities in macro photography, one doesn’t have to travel far to find a subject. I prefer to focus my macro efforts on insects as they are prevalent anywhere I go and are fairly simple to shoot provided I follow a few easy steps.
Shot with 60 mm macro lens, this uncropped image of a Monarch Butterfly demonstrates how close these amazing lenses will focus.
1. Get Close
When shooting with a macro lens my goal is to capture as much detail as possible. Like any other any lens, the closer you get to your subject the more detail you will capture. Macro lenses are designed with a much shorter minimum focusing distance than other lenses which allows the photographer to get incredibly close. The lens I shoot with will focus at 7.87″ allowing me to get close enough to fill the frame with even the smallest insects capturing incredible detail.
Since most subjects in macro photography do not move overly fast, a lower ISO can be selected resulting in images with less digital noise.
2. Lower Your ISO
In my previous posts and during my workshops, I encourage photographers to increase their ISO when photographing wildlife. This is because in most situations when trying to capture images of birds and other fast moving subjects a higher ISO results in and a faster shutter speed, thus sharper final images.
In macro photography, the majority of subjects including flowers and insects are either stationary or slower moving and therefore I can get away with a much slower shutter speed. In most cases, I find a shutter speed of 1/250 to 1/500 plenty fast enough to freeze the action of bees and other small insects as they crawl about gathering pollen and nectar. Depending on the amount of available light I generally shoot at ISO 400 or less which results in a sufficient shutter speed while leaving less noise in my final images.
By strategically choosing my aperture I was able to keep my entire subject (the bee) in focus while blurring the coneflower background.
3. Carefully Select Your Aperture
Depth of field is where I really struggled when I first picked up a macro lens. My subject was always out of focus due to choosing too wide an aperture. Ultimately, depth comes down to personal preference and capturing the image how you want it to appear. For me, when shooting wildlife I like the entire subject in focus from nose to tail whenever possible. There are two ways to control depth of field. The first is by changing your physical distance from the subject and the second is by adjusting your aperture (also known as f-stop). When I am photographing insects with my macro lens I want to capture as much detail as possible and typically shoot between f/8 and f/11 even when I am at my minimum focusing distance of 7.87″. This ensures the entire insect is sharp and in focus capturing the most detail, which is the look I am trying to achieve.
When photographing flowers or something more abstract, perhaps a more blurred foreground, background or even subject would be more appealing. In these cases selecting a wider aperture of maybe f/4 or f2.8 (remember smaller f-stop equals wider aperture) will achieve a more interesting image. The nice thing about photographing flowers and other stationary subjects is they aren’t going anywhere so take plenty of images at a range of apertures and see which one you like best.
A pleasing composition is easily achieved by following the rule of thirds.
4. Think About Your Composition
Composition is one of the most important elements of photography as this is what draws our eyes to and through a photo. Spending a few minutes before pressing the shutter and imagining how you want the image to appear is very important. Composition really can make or break an image so take the time to line up your shot. Just like any other genre of photography following the rule of thirds applies to macro work. If you are not familiar with the rule of thirds, simply imagine a grid similar to a tic-tac-toe board over top of your image. Try lining vertical subjects up with the vertical grid lines and horizontal subjects up with the horizontal lines. Ideally, you will place your subject where these imaginary lines intersect and in the case of wildlife, the subject should be looking across the frame. Many cameras allow you to turn this grid feature on displaying it on the LCD screen while shooting in live view to assist with composition.
Shooting at eye level can capture a perspective of a subject we are not used to seeing.
5. Shoot At Eye Level
Often times insects and flowers can be low to the ground. It is important to kneel down or crouch in order to photograph the subject at eye level. In most cases, an eye-level view will result in a much more appealing image than something shot from below or above. That being said, don’t be afraid to get creative. Sometimes the underside of a flower or bee with a blurred out expansive background can look pretty cool. I always wear clothes that I don’t care if they get dirty whenever I am out with my camera as I regularly find myself kneeling in dirt or laying on my stomach in order to get the best angle.
Achieving the proper exposure in camera will ensure the most detail is captured.
6. Check Your Histogram
This applies regardless of what you are photographing in order to achieve the proper exposure. On sunny days, flowers and insects will almost reflect the light which results in highlights being overexposed and a significant loss of detail. This lack of detail negatively impacts the final image. I get asked all the time “can’t I just fix that in photoshop?” In my opinion, “fix” is not the correct word to use in this situation. You can certainly change this by moving the highlight slider in post-production in an attempt to recover detail, but this will not result in the same capture of detail as checking your histogram and making the required adjustments in camera.
By shooting in aperture priority mode exposure compensation can easily be adjusted by a few clicks of the camera’s dial resulting in proper exposure and preserved detail. I personally don’t mind taking macro shots during the midday sun and typically shoot between -1/3 and -2/3 of exposure compensation to control the highlights and preserve detail. Watching for shadows is paramount to ensure the subject is well lit. Often waiting just a few seconds for the light to change or the subject to move, even only a few centimeters, can make all the difference in the world.
Canon’s EF-S 60 mm macro lens is an affordable option for anyone looking for a great macro lens.
My lens of choice for macro photography is the Canon EFS 60 mm F/2.8 Macro USM. This lens is incredibly sharp and focusses almost instantly. The lack of image stabilization is not an issue for me and all of my macro images are shot handheld. If you are a Canon shooter and considering a macro lens, I would definitely check this one out. Just remember this lens is an
EF-S mount and only works on crop sensor bodies and not on Canon’s full-frame cameras.
Macro lenses allow subjects to be photographed up close capturing detail otherwise missed with other lenses.
I cannot say enough good things about this lens including the price point. Canon’s next model up in their macro series comes in at $300 more while their L series professional lens is double the price making this a great macro lens at a more affordable price. The focal length and wide aperture of this lens also make it a great portrait lens providing more bang for your buck; however, I won’t bore you with family photos in this post.
This hatchling Snapping Turtle was only about the size of a toonie but with a macro lens, I was able to fill the frame and capture all the detail of its tiny shell.
If you enjoy macro photography but are not seeing the results you had hoped for, give these 6 easy steps a try. A few simple adjustments are often all it takes to capture the image of your dreams.
Red-headed Woodpeckers are one of the many birds found at John E. Pearce Provincial Park.
Here in Ontario we are fortunate to have a magnitude of provincial parks many of which offer great birding opportunities. In Elgin county, only about a 30-minute drive from London, there is a small provincial park that over the past few years has quickly become one of my favourites.John E. Pearce Provincial Park located on Lakeview Line is a hidden gem when it comes to great areas for birding. Each time I have visited this park, I have been impressed with the assortment of birds observed within its 68 hectare area.
When I visit John E. Pearce Provincial Park there is one species in particular that I hope to observe, the Red-headed Woodpecker. Often confused with the much more common Red-bellied Woodpecker, the Red-headed Woodpecker is currently listed as special concern on Ontario’s species at risk list and populations seem to be limited to isolated areas throughout southern Ontario. Fortunately, John E. Pearce Provincial Park happens to be one of these isolated areas. In fact, I have yet to visit this small park without adding one of these beautiful woodpeckers to my daily list.
Within minutes of arriving at the park, this Red-headed Woodpecker landed on a telephone pole at the north end of the parking lot.
Early June is my favourite time to visit John E. Pearce Provincial Park. The birding at this time of year there is great, and I have always had rewarding days. This past week, I made the short drive down to the park for a day of birding with the hopes of observing a Red-headed Woodpecker. In a previous blog post,How To Prepare For The Image Of A Lifetime: A Step By Step Approach I talked about the importance of being ready when a shot presents itself. After arriving at the park mid-morning I was a bit hungry so decided eating an energy bar would be a good idea before getting started. Fortunately, I had already performed many of the preparation steps mentioned in that post because as I was standing beside my car enjoying the bar a Red-headed Woodpecker landed on a telephone pole at the end of the parking lot. With my camera at the ready, I was able to quickly raise it to my face and capture several images of the bird while clenching half the bar between my teeth. Though not the most orthodox style of shooting it does demonstrate the importance of having your camera and settings ready.
June is my favourite month to visit John E. Pearce Provincial Park in search of the Red-headed Woodpecker.
Having had an encounter with a Red-headed Woodpecker only minutes after arriving at the park, I knew that it was going to be a special day. In my previous visits to John E. Pearce Provincial Park, all of my Red-headed Woodpecker sightings have been within close proximity to the parking lot located next to the Backus-Page House Museum, so very little walking is required for anyone wishing to locate and photograph these birds. After circling the old barn located on the museum site, I noticed a second Red-headed Woodpecker in a large tree on the other end of the property. With two of these beautiful birds located in this small area, I spent much of my time here observing and photographing them.
This Brown Thrasher was among the many birds observed within the park.
Wanting to get a walk in, I decided to hike the 1.5 km Spicer Trail that runs through the Carolinian Forest. Several other bird species were observed including great views of a Brown Thrasher. House Wrens and Baltimore Orioles were also abundant. A nice variety of flycatchers were seen with Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, and Eastern Phoebe all being recorded. Yellow Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Gray Catbirds, and Chipping Sparrows rounded out the birds that were easily located.
A curious fawn was an added bonus to an otherwise great day of birding.
As I walked through the forest, Eastern Chipmunks and White-tailed Deer could be seen on either side of the trail. At one point, I came across a doe with two young fawns. Watching these small deer was quite enjoyable and an added bonus to an already amazing day. Below is a short video I recorded of one of the fawns. For best quality, be sure to choose HD from the settings in the bottom right corner and make sure your speakers are on to hear the accompanying bird sounds.
A birding first came for me while visiting John E. Pearce Provincial Park. This did not come in the form of a new bird for my life list but rather I observed all seven woodpecker species found in our area at one location. Red-headed, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Northern Flicker were all seen within the park and as someone who loves woodpeckers this was a pretty awesome experience.
If seeing a Red-headed Woodpecker is on your bucket list, I highly recommend planning a visit to John E. Pearce Provincial Park.
John E. Pearce Provincial Park is a great destination for any birder and I cannot recommend it enough. On this day I had the park to myself and was treated to some amazing encounters with nature as I have on all my visits. There is no fee to enjoy the park and amenities including washrooms and picnic tables are available for park users. If you are looking for a new place for your next birding excursion, one that is home to an abundance of species including the uncommon Red-headed Woodpecker, give John E. Pearce Provincial Park a try, I think you will be glad you did.
