Irruption years are great for finding redpolls and other finches.
In birding, an irruption is a large movement of birds from one area to another. Currently, in Southwestern Ontario, we are experiencing an irruption of finches. Finch irruptions occur when there is a poor cone crop to our north resulting in a lack of food. This lack of food can occur for many reasons including disease, parasites, forest fires, and drought. Consequently, huge numbers of finches move south in search of food. Irruptions are cyclical and occur every few years.
Common Redpoll feeding on alder catkins.
Common Redpolls are small finches that have irrupted and can be found across our area in large numbers. Redpolls are identified by their heavily streaked bodies, yellow bills with the males having a red crown and pink chest while the females though very similar in appearance lack the pink chest.
This female Common Redpoll (note the lack of pink chest) was found feeding in a patch of goldenrod.
Finding redpolls can be quite easy by finding their food. Like other finches, repolls are seed eaters and are often found feeding on birch, spruce, pine, or where I typically find them, alder. Redpolls will also consume the seeds of grasses and wildflowers and are regularly found in patches of goldenrod.
Huge flocks of Common Redpolls can currently be found in our area.
It’s easy to overlook huge flocks of redpolls as often times they are high overhead in tall trees. Using my ears and listening for their calls helps me find these colorful birds. Due to the fact that redpolls are often so high up photographing them often proves challenging.
Male Common Redpoll with a female in the upper right corner.
As mentioned previously, I have the greatest success locating redpolls in large patches of alder trees. Alders grow in wet or moist conditions and can be found along riverbanks, ditches, sloughs, floodplain, and other low lying areas.
Common Redpolls feeding on Alder catkins.
Alder catkins are tiny cone-like fruit that becomes woody and opens up releasing their seeds (similar to pine or spruce cones). It is these seeds that redpolls can be found feeding on. So far this winter, everywhere I’ve found alder trees, I’ve found redpolls.
Watching redpolls dangle from alder branches is always enjoyable.
Redpolls will visit backyard feeders and prefer nyjer seed and black-oil or hulled sunflower seed. At a quick glance, redpolls could be confused with a House Finch so be sure to pay close attention if you have finches at your feeder. House Finches are larger and have larger dark bills, with males having more red on their heads than just the red crown of the redpoll. Female House Finches completely lack any red.
Time is running out to observe redpolls in Southwestern Ontario.
During this irruption year, the chances of finding redpolls are quite good. If you are out and about this winter keep an eye and an ear out for redpolls. Be sure to scan patches of alder trees and fields of goldenrod while listening for their calls. It will likely be a few more years before we experience another irruption and these huge numbers of redpolls again in our area.
There are plenty of bird-related activities to do while staying at home.
Last week, the Ontario government issued a stay-at-home order to get skyrocketing COVID-19 numbers under control. What this means is we are only to leave home for essential reasons such as food, healthcare, exercise, and work. For me, not much will change as most of my purchases of food and other goods have been online having the item either delivered or using curbside pickup. I can count on one hand the number of stores I’ve entered in almost a year, and I worked from home before the pandemic and will continue to after.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things we can do at home to get our fix of birds while keeping ourselves and others safe. In this post, I’m going to share several bird-related ideas to do from the comfort of your own home.
Adding a feeder to your yard is the perfect way to bring the birds to you.
1. Put Up A Birdfeeder
Bringing the birds to your yard is a great way to enjoy them anytime but especially when we are encouraged to stay home. Birdfeeders come in all shapes and sizes and can either purchased online or from your local feed supply store. Most local feed stores remain open for curbside pickup as this is considered an essential service. A feeder and a bag of food can be ordered by phone and picked up. I really like the Squirrel Buster line of birdfeeders with the Squirrel Buster Plusbeing one of my favourites. This feeder’s seed ports close off under the weight of a squirrel preventing them from accessing the seed. The large perch ring is perfect for all birds including cardinals. This feeder also comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Warblers, especially females like this Cape May are particularly challenging to identify.
2. Hone Your Identifications Skills
Now is the perfect time to learn how to properly identify some of those hard to identify birds like warblers so you are ready when spring migration hits. In my post, The 4 Best Field Guides To Help Hone Your Bird Identificatins SkillsI share which field guides I use and what I like about each one. If you are wanting to learn bird calls you can listen to the various songs and calls of birds for free at All About Birds.
An Eastern Screech Owl peeking out of a birdhouse.
3. Build A Birdhouse
Birdhouses are easy to build with minimal woodworking skills or tools required. In my opinion, there are few things more rewarding than watching birds raise a brood in a house I built myself. Check out 70 Birds for free plans on how to build birdhouses for you guessed it 70 different birds!
A Birder’s Guide To Everything is a movie about a group of young birders in search of a rare duck.
4. Watch A Birding Related Movie
It’s not a popular theme for movies and there are not many to choose from but A Birder’s Guide To Everything and The Big Year are my two favourites. The former stars Ben Kingsley and is about a group of young friends, one a birding fanatic, who set out in search of a rare duck. The latter stars Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black, and as I’m sure you can tell by the cast is quite funny. I watch this movie every year before heading to Pelee for spring migration.
Planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers in your yard will attract more birds.
5. Create A Garden Design To Attract More Birds
Attracting more birds to your yard is easily done by adding native trees, shrubs, and flowers. By doing so it will provide food, shelter, and areas to nest setting your yard apart from your neighbour’s. I was amazed at the variety of birds that visited my yard after doing a little research and carefully choosing some native species to plant. I found the book Gardening For The Birds: Ho To Create A Bird-Friendly Backyard very helpful in helping me choose what to plant based on the birds I wished to attract.
As you can see there are plenty of ways to get our fix of birds while staying at home. If you find yourself needing your fix, I recommend giving one or all of these ideas a try. Be sure to let me know which ones you try and which ones you like best. Keeping ourselves immersed in what we love and our minds occupied are great ways to stay positive, stay safe, and get us through these difficult times.
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. 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!*
Binoculars make spotting small birds like the Common Redpoll much easier.
Binoculars are something every serious birder owns and shopping for a pair can be confusing. What do all the features and numbers mean, how do you know which ones to buy, and how much do you have to spend to get a good pair? Over the years, I have used several binoculars both good and bad and have found an affordable pair whose performance far exceeds their price tag.
The waterproof design of the Nikon Travelite is perfect for birding by water in my pack boat.
The Nikon Traveilite binoculars have impressed me in so many ways where do I begin. The fact they are waterproof is probably my favourite feature. Some of my best days birding during spring migration have been when rain grounds the birds and not having to worry about keeping my binoculars dry means I only have to focus on the birds. Not only are they waterproof the lenses are fog proof too.
Subtle differences in field marks like those of the White-throated Sparrow are more readily seen with a good pair of binoculars.
Birds appear close with the 8x magnification and a field of view of 330 feet at 1000 yards. I don’t like using binoculars that offer too much magnification as I have a hard time holding them steady and higher magnification magnifies not only the subject but any shake as well. For me, this renders high-powered binoculars useless as trying to identify a bird that appears to be moving up and down is virtually impossible. For this reason, 8x magnification for me is right on the money. The multi-coated lenses deliver clear bright images and I’ve always found multi-coated lenses easier to clean with less streaking.
Quality optics don’t have to cost a fortune, these Nikon’s are budget-friendly.
The adjustable eyecups are great especially if you wear glasses. With a simple twist of the eyecup, you can look through binoculars while leaving your glasses on. The rubber body is soft and comfortable on the hands and at only 12.5 ounces I barely notice them around my neck. These binoculars are incredibly compact and easily fit into a backpack, purse or even a coat pocket. Perhaps the best part is the price, these binoculars are incredibly affordable. The only bad thing I can say about these binoculars is the strap is a bit thin but with their lightweight, a more robust strap is not necessary.
PROS
Waterproof
Fog-proof
8x magnification brings the subject close while easy to hold steady
Multi-coated lenses for brighter images
Twist eyecups are great for eyeglass wearers
Comfortable rubber body
Compact design
Lightweight
Price
CONS
Strap is a bit thin (not really an issue)
Up your birding game with a pair of Nikon Travelite Binoculars.
Whether you are an avid birder or a beginner, these Nikon Travelite binoculars pack in more features than their price would suggest. If you are looking for your first pair of binoculars, a new pair of binoculars, or a lighter more compact pair of binoculars I suggest looking at the Nikon Travelite.
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. 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!*
Harlequin Ducks are incredibly rare in London, Ontario. In fact, this is only the third time I’ve observed this species.
It started as a typical day. I was at my desk at 5 a.m. with a cup of coffee ready to put in a few hours of work before the sun came up. With the sun rising, I decided to take a break for breakfast. As I sat eating my oatmeal I could see it was going to be a nice day with a predominantly clear sky. Having not experienced many sunny days of late I was excited to get outside for a walk with my camera. After a quick shower and donning some warm clothes I grabbed my camera, leashed Molly (my 75lb Bouvier mix and best birding buddy), and headed out the door.
The white cheek spot of this Harlequin Duck caught my eye as it dove repeatedly in the fast water.
We were off for a walk along a section of the Thames River where there are always plenty of birds present. This is an area I recently started birding and have had great success at. I was hoping to get some shots of the Bald Eagles I often observe in the area. I’ve photographed eagles a lot here over the past few months but I was eager to get some shots of these majestic birds against the blue sky.
I found this lone Harlequin Duck associating with a small group of Mallards.
Having walked around for about an hour I had tallied a nice mix of birds and captured a few photos I was happy with. Cardinals, Cedar Waxwings, Carolina Wrens, as well as several woodpecker and sparrow species were among the birds observed. I had seen one juvenile Bald Eagle perched in a tree as well as flying up and down the river but didn’t capture the image I was hoping for.
After watching the Harlequin Duck feeding in the middle of the river it swam over to the near bank and began to preen.
Deciding I should probably get home and back to work Molly and I picked up our pace. Walking by a section of fast-moving water a duck diving in the rapids caught my eye. As I watched the bird dive and surface repeatedly I noticed it had a white spot on its cheek. Could it be? I raised my camera and zoomed in for a closer look. It was in fact a Harlequin Duck.
The faint white body stripes and chestnut flanks indicate this is a male Harlequin Duck.
The eastern population of Harlequin Ducks is listed as endangered and overwinters on the Atlantic Coast making them extremely rare in our area. In fact, this is only the third time I’ve ever seen this species in London. Back in 2015, birders flocked to the banks of the Thames River trying to get a glimpse of a Harlequin Duck that spent several weeks on the river. That bird made headlines in the London Free Press and I was even interviewed by Wei Chen of CBC radio about my experience observing the rare bird.
First-year male Harlequin Duck found on the Thames River.
The Harlequin Duck I found on this day wasn’t a vibrant male like the one of 2015, but rather a less colourful first-year male. At first, this bird resembled a female Harlequin but upon closer look, it faintly displayed the white stripes and chestnut flanks indicative of a first-year male.
Harlequin Duck surfacing after a dive.
Moving slowly along the bank I got into a position where I could photograph this Harlequin Duck. It seemed a little skittish at first but with Molly leashed and keeping her behind my crouched body it quickly realized we were not a threat. As I watched intently, the Harlequin Duck which was associating with a small group of Mallards proceeded to feed and preen unperturbed by our presence. After capturing several images and a few videos of this rare duck, we backed away slowly and left it to go about its business.
Harlequin Duck preening with a pair of Mallards.
Over the years, I’ve become reluctant to give out specific locations of rare birds. With so many social media groups and other on-line avenues for reporting rare sightings these birds often become subjected to harassment by birders and photographers wanting to get a look. Too often I see the best interest of the bird as well as the habitat in which they live not being respected and therefore I no longer share locations of rare sightings. Furthermore, with COVID-19 cases raging out of control in Ontario publically sharing this or any rare bird’s location only encourages non-essential travel as photographers and birders are bound to flock to the area in an effort to get a photo or add the bird to their lists.
What started as a typical day quickly became out of the ordinary when I found this Harlequin Duck on the Thames River.
With any luck at all this Halequin Duck will remain in the area as it seemed to be finding plenty of food and the rapids where I found it was prime Harlequin habitat. If you are out walking along the river in the city of London keep your eyes peeled for this rare duck.
Good birding,
Paul
*Watch my latest episode of Explore The Wild to see videos of this Harlequin Duck.*
Sharp images are obtainable without spending a fortune on a camera and lens. This Redhead was photographed with my Panasonic DCFZ80K a point and shoot camera I bought for $399.00.
Sharp images are the goal of every photographer professional or hobbyist. One of the biggest misconceptions in photography is that you need to own expensive gear to achieve sharp photos. In fact, most images lacking sharpness are not the fault of the camera or lens but rather the photographer. So what are some of the main reasons an image lacks sharpness?
Camera Shake – Moving the camera while pressing the shutter often results in a blurry image. Shutter speed and how steady you hold the camera can help to overcome this.
Subject Movement – When photographing wildlife dealing with a moving subject is inevitable. This too can create blur, a result of your shutter speed being too slow.
Missed Focus – Poor focus is a surefire way to end up with a photo that isn’t sharp. This could be from placing your focus point on something that isn’t the subject, choosing an aperture that results in a depth of field that is too narrow, or even pressing the shutter before your camera has a chance to obtain focus on the subject.
As you can see in the examples above, upgrading your camera and lens to the latest most expensive model isn’t going to solve these problems. Now that we know the blame is on us and not our equipment how do we go about obtaining sharp images?
A Black-capped Chickadee photographed with a Canon 55-250mm entry-level telephoto zoom lens one most photographers can’t wait to upgrade.
1. Hold Your Camera Steady
Blurry photos are often the result of camera shake or slight movement as the shutter is pressed. One obvious way to overcome this is to use a tripod but in many cases (including my style of moving around almost constantly) using one is not practical. Instead, paying attention to your technique and how you hold the camera will overcome this. Hold your camera while supporting your lens from underneath with your elbows touching your body and bending your knees slightly. Place one foot in front of the other and make sure both feet are planted firmly on the ground. If possible use a tree or other solid object to help stabilize the camera.
A fast shutter speed not only froze the action of this Red-bellied Woodpecker but also the woodchips he removed from a tree cavity.
2. Choose A Fast Shutter Speed
A good rule of thumb when handholding your camera is to use the reciprocal rule to reduce camera shake. What this means is that you want your shutter speed to be at least one over your focal length. Since most of my images are shot at 400mm this means I want my shutter speed to be at least 1/400. This only applies to a stationary subject. In the case of birds and other fast-moving wildlife, I like my shutter speed at 1/1000 or faster whenever light permits to freeze the action and give me sharp images.
Regardless of your subject, following these eight easy steps will result in sharp images.
3. Consider Using a Monopod
If you struggle to hold your camera steady and despite using a fast shutter speed you still find your images are blurry you might consider using a monopod. Monopods are great for stabilizing your camera and are much lighter and less cumbersome than a tripod. Furthermore, getting ready for a shot is much quicker and easier with a monopod as there is only one support to place on the ground. This also allows you to move around and track a flitting bird much more efficiently. I recently started using a Surui Monopodfor filming videos for my vlog and have found the difference to be night and day when it comes to camera shake. This carbon fiber monopod has a load capacity of 22 lbs and weighs less than a pound making it a treat to carry.
As it was a sunny day and there was plenty of light, I set my aperture to f/8 to photograph this cardinal.
4. Find And Use Your Lens’s Sweet Spot
All lenses regardless of price point are slightly sharper 2/3 to 1 stop narrower than their maximum aperture. For me, with my new Tamron 100-400mm lens my widest aperture at 400mm is f/6.3. Instead of shooting at f/6.3, if light permits, I shoot at f/8 or f/9 as this lens is noticeably sharper at these apertures. This is referred to as the lens’s sweet spot. Find your lens’s sweet spot and you too will notice sharper photos.
Photographing Common Loons from my pack boat was something I enjoyed this past summer. Since it was nearly impossible to keep the boat from moving using the image stabilization built into my lens helped reduce camera shake.
5. Use Image Stabilization (If Equipped)
Most lenses feature image stabilization. Depending on the manufacturer this could be referred to as IS (image stabilizer Canon), VR (vibration reduction Nikon), or VC (vibration compensation Tamron). Image stabilization won’t eliminate camera shake but will certainly help to reduce it. If your lens is equipped, make sure you turn this feature on using the switch on the side of the lens.
Dust and smudges on your camera’s sensor or lens will take away from an image’s sharpness. Keeping your equipment clean will help ensure sharp images.
6. Clean Your Equipment
Just like looking through a dirty window, an image taken with a dirty lens lacks the same colour, contrast, and sharpness leaving it with a greyish hue. Cleaning your lens regularly will remove dust, smudges, and grime resulting in much cleaner looking images. Similarly, cleaning your camera’s sensor will ensure it too is free from dust and blotches that can appear on your final images. I recently cleaned the sensor on my Canon 7D and was amazed at the difference in my photos. This task was quick and easy and gave my images that clean window look.
By choosing a single autofocus point and placing it on this Merlin’s eye I was able to thread the needle through all those branches and obtain focus.
7. Choose One Focus Point And Place It On Your Subject’s Eye
Proper focus is critical to a sharp image. Today’s cameras have so many autofocus points one would think focussing would be a breeze, however, it can be a real challenge. The problem with using all of or a cluster of a camera’s focus points is there is a greater chance of one ending up beside, in front of, or behind your subject such as a tree branch or other object within the frame, thus leaving your subject out of focus. For me, I choose my centre autofocus point and place it right on the subject’s eye. After all, if the eye is sharp the image is sharp.
This Tufted Titmouse was photographed handheld with a Canon 55-250mm kit lens. My camera settings for this shot were 1/1000 at f/8 and ISO 800.
8. Concentrate On Your Breathing
As I’ve mentioned in the past, most of my photography is done on my daily walks with my dog. As a result, my heart rate is a bit higher than that of my resting rate. Add in the excitement when a potential image presents itself and my heart rate increases further. Breathing heavy or a fast heart rate can result in camera shake so it’s important to concentrate on your breathing before taking the shot. After composing and focussing your shot, breath in deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Once you have expelled almost your entire breath press the shutter. This will result in less shake and sharper images. This technique is used by military-trained snipers to eliminate shake before they take a shot and has helped improve my final images.
Sharp images are simply a matter of making a few adjustments before pressing the shutter.
Blaming our gear for images that are not sharp is something we have all done; however, it is we who are to blame. If your images lack sharpness be sure to try these eight simple steps before rushing out and buying a new camera or lens. Most times, the difference between a sharp image and one that ends up in your PC’s recycle bin is only a matter of a simple adjustment before pressing the shutter.
* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. 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!*
Paying close attention to the weather conditions recently lead me to a wide variety of birds including this Cedar Waxwing.
Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time or has come out to an event I’ve spoken at knows how I use the weather conditions to my advantage when birding. This approach always results in great days birding and pinpoints where the birds are. Reading the conditions helps me eliminate areas where fewer birds will be concentrated and makes my time in the field more efficient.
A large flock of robins was present feeding on the ripe berries.
For subscribers new to my blog, photography is not my main source of income and I do have a full-time job. I work from home and have since long before the pandemic and most of my birding/photography is done while taking a short break in the morning to stretch, get some fresh air, and walk my dog. As a result, I’m pressed for time so focus my efforts where I know the birds will be based on the weather conditions that day.
A male Northern Cardinal enjoying a reprieve from the cold north wind.
In terms of weather conditions, the main thing I focus on is wind the second is the sun. Wind will tell you where the birds will be during the colder months as birds will concentrate in areas protected from the wind. For example, if the wind is out of the west, a forest edge on the west side of a meadow or the west bank of a river is going to hold more birds than the east because this is the protected or leeward side. During the warmer months, the wind pushes insects into areas, and in return, birds will be there feeding. I use the morning sun to my advantage as this warms areas first and birds will associate with these warm areas in cold weather and in the warmer weather, this is where insects, a main food source for many birds, will become active first. Paying attention to the wind and sun helps me find birds fast maximizing my time outdoors before heading back to work.
This photogenic American Goldfinch dropped from high in the alders and landed only a few feet in front of me.
Let me give you a specific example of an incredible morning of birding I had last week by paying attention to and using the conditions in my favour. Following a few hours of work, the sun was finally up. I ate breakfast, bundled up, and stepped out the front door with my camera secured in my Cotton Carrier. I planned to bird at a city park only a short walk from home. Checking the weather before I left I noticed the wind was strong out of the north. As I walked to the park, I already had a plan in my head where I was going to focus my efforts based on the wind direction and morning sun.
Male Hairy Woodpecker
The park I birded at consists of a large open meadow surrounded by forest. On the north side of the park, the land slopes upward slightly into the subdivision. This is where I spent the morning birding as this subtle change in elevation provided the perfect windbreak from the cold north wind. At the bottom of this hill is a small gulley where water from the neighbourhood and meadow drains. The forest here is a mix of deciduous trees and shrubs including honeysuckle which were covered in bright red berries. The taller alder trees present growing from the water-filled trench were loaded with catkins. Where the honeysuckle ends goldenrod and teasels begin which have now gone to seed. The morning sun beaming from the south was warming this side of the park and providing great light for photos. It was the perfect mix of food, water, and shelter and birds were present in large numbers.
Teasels at the edge of the meadow provided food for American Goldfinches and other small songbirds.
Hearing the soft calls of robins and high-pitched whistles of Cedar Waxwings I scanned the honeysuckle at eye level. These bushes were loaded with the aforementioned birds gorging themselves on the ripe fruit. Raising my camera I fired off several images with my Canon 7D. From overhead, I could hear American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins that were feeding on the alder seeds.
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker heading up a tree with a walnut.
Dark-eyed Juncos foraged on goldenrod seeds from within the tangled maze of stalks that had bent over under the weight of the snow. American Tree and a Song Sparrow were also observed. Mourning Doves could be seen on the forest floor soaking up the morning sun. Higher up, both White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches were heard and seen moving down the tree trunks. Loud drumming could be heard coming from the forest and after scanning the trees I was treated to great views of Red-bellied, Hairy, and downy Woodpeckers. In total, I identified 21 different bird species in this small section of the park.
Birds aren’t the only wildlife whose location can be predicted by weather conditions, these White-tailed Deer were also found in the same forest seeking shelter from the cold north wind.
Now I’m sure I could have wandered through the park willy-nilly and seen some birds, but not in this variety or quantity. By paying attention to the conditions and using them to my advantage I focused my attention on the area that held the highest concentration of birds. Using the warm morning sun and hill that provided protection from the cold north wind as a map guided me right to where the birds were. After enjoying great views of a variety of birds, some fresh air, and exercise I headed back home to complete my workday.
Cedar Waxwing
Paying close attention to the conditions and using them to give me the upper hand is something I’ve done while birding for many years and will continue to do so for many more because it simply works. If you are hoping to see more birds on your next outing keep the conditions in mind and use them to increase the number of species you tally. This simple practice is something anyone young or old, beginner or expert can do to stack the deck in their favour maximizing time in the field.
Good birding,
Paul
*My 2021 calendars have arrived and are selling fast! A great gift idea for the bird lover on your list.*
Having a battery that is ready when a shot presents itself is just as important as being in the right place at the right time.
With December now here and winter less than three weeks away, cold weather in our area is inevitable. Layering up and getting outdoors to photograph birds and wildlife is a great way to stay active during the winter months and sure makes the arrival of spring seem a lot sooner. One question I am asked all the time is how to make sure a camera battery doesn’t fail in cold weather. Ensuring your battery has plenty of power when a shot presents itself is easy by following these simple steps.
Northern Cardinal
1. Charge Your Battery The Night Before
If you are heading out with your camera anytime but especially in cold weather charge your battery the night before. A fully charged battery has more power and will hold its charge much longer than a partially charged one will. If you think because you haven’t used your camera in months the battery will still be fully charged this is not the case. Batteries lose their charge sitting and just because you turn your camera on and the battery indicator reads fully charged doesn’t mean it will last long. As you use the camera the indicator will quickly drop to 75% then 50% then 25% then the camera shuts off. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen this happen at workshops I’ve conducted despite reminding participants to charge their batteries the night before. Every time I hear the same response “but I haven’t used my camera in months”.
Seeing a Nashville Warbler in London on December 2 is pretty rare. This bird should be in Mexico or Central America by now. Fortunately, with a fully charged battery, I was able to capture this image to submit with my checklist to eBird confirming my sighting.
Sometimes I get questioned about this practice as people are concerned about battery memory. Battery memory is an effect that causes some batteries such as nickel-based batteries to hold less power when repeatedly recharged if not fully discharged first. Essentially, the battery remembers the lesser charge thus never reaching full capacity. Fortunately, lithium-ion batteries used in DSLR cameras do not suffer from memory effect so no need to worry about this, charge your battery!
We don’t always get to see the red belly for which the Red-bellied Woodpecker is named; however, this particular bird was happy to show his off.
2. Limit The Use of Your LCD Screen
A camera’s LCD screen located on the back of the body requires significant power to operate. Therefore, the more the LCD screen is used the faster the battery will lose its charge. When photographing birds and wildlife I only use my LCD screen to briefly look at my histogram to check my exposure. I do this periodically as light conditions and scenes change and this is done quite quickly. Reviewing my images is something I do at home on my computer. Not only is this more accurate as images on the LCD often look great only to see they are out of focus once you get them up on the monitor it also conserves battery power.
This image of the back of my Canon DSLR shows where to find the auto power off feature in the menu. You can adjust this from 1 to 15 minutes. I have mine set to 1 minute.
3. Set Your Camera To Auto Power Off Mode
This is an amazing feature that will considerably save battery power. In this mode, you can choose how long your camera stays on when not in use. For me, I set mine to one minute. What this means is when I’m walking around and don’t press any buttons on my camera it automatically powers off thus not draining the battery. As soon as I see a subject, raise my camera and press the shutter, the camera automatically powers up and captures the image. In fact, the camera will power up when any button is pressed without having to turn the main power switch off and on. This saves battery power and time. I’m a Canon shooter so this mode might be called something else for Nikon users and on my Pansonic camera, I believe it’s referred to as sleep mode. Consult your manual on how to activate this feature, you will be glad you did.
Having a battery that was ready for action allowed me to capture this image of a leucistic female cardinal. Leucism is a partial loss of pigmentation and resulted in the unusual white feathers on this bird’s head.
By following these three easy steps I’ve never had a battery let me down anytime even during the cold winter months. The memory cards I use are 32 GB and hold just over 1200 RAW images each and I have filled 2 cards in -20 to -30 Celsius temperatures and still had between 25% to 50% battery life when finished shooting. As a result, I do not own a spare battery for my Canon 7D.
Red-tailed Hawk eating a Rock Pigeon.
Earlier this year I started a vlog and am recording more videos with my camera. This requires considerable more battery power. Add in an external microphone that runs off of the camera’s battery and I found myself needing spare batteries for my Canon Rebel T3i which I use to record my vlog. Not wanting to pay $84.99 for an authentic Canon battery I decided to shop around and found this 2 pack ofPowerextra batteriescomplete with a USB charger for a fraction of the price.
American Tree Sparrows are only present in Southwestern Ontario during the winter months. To photograph these birds having a battery that is ready for the cold weather is a must.
I haven’t done a side-by-side comparison to see exactly how long these aftermarket batteries hold their charge compared to the factory Canon battery, but I can tell you I don’t notice a difference. I used these batteries extensively this year to capture footage for my vlog and record numerous takes of me fumbling my way through a sentence as I try to get my point across and have been very impressed with their performance. If you use your LCD a lot for landscape images or recording video thus using more battery power or find yourself needing to replace your factory battery I highly recommend checking these batteries out. Powerextra offers a wide range of batteries for most cameras so be sure to find the battery that is compatible with your make and model.
Woodpeckers like this Northern Flicker are among my favourite birds to photograph. I never let a dead battery be the reason for missing a shot.
Under normal operating conditions, a fully charged battery that is not nearing the end of its life shouldn’t let you down. If you have had issues with your battery maintaining its charge especially during the winter months try following these simple steps and don’t let a dead battery be the reason for missing the shot of a lifetime.
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. 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!*
American Robins are one of my favourite subjects to find and photograph during the winter months. Having warm, dry feet makes this activity much more enjoyable.
Boots are one of the most important pieces of gear I use for birding in any season. Having dry, comfortable feet is a key element to an enjoyable outing, and having the right boots is imperative. Cold, wet feet will ruin a day of birding in a hurry so investing in a good pair of boots is as essential as good binoculars.
A light snowfall made for a beautiful setting to photograph these Mourning Doves.
Over the years I have tried several different boots with moderate degrees of satisfaction. My biggest issue with most boots I’ve tried isn’t that they weren’t warm or waterproof it was that they weren’t durable. Years ago, I found a pair of boots I loved. They were lightweight, warm, and waterproof; however, I never got more than a season out of them. When birding I walk a lot so I go through footwear faster than the average person, but even with this in mind, I was unhappy with their durability. This had me back to the drawing board and searching for new boots for my winter birding.
American Black Ducks are more abundant in the London area during the winter months.
The boots I wear now for my winter birding are theRocky Blizzard Stalker. These boots maintain breathability by allowing air to circulate in yet are still 100% waterproof. With 1200 g of Thinsulate insulation they are the warmest boots I’ve ever owned. The aggressive tread provides excellent traction and at 9″ tall they are great in deep snow.
I’m going into my 7th winter with the same pair and other than replacing the laces they are still in great shape, even the treads don’t look worn. These are by far the warmest, dryest winter boots I’ve ever owned and comfortable to walk in. I won’t argue, they are pricey but considering I’ve never complained of cold or wet feet since buying them and factor in how long I’ve had them on a cost per year basis, I consider them a bargain.
The American Tree Sparrow is one of my favourite sparrows and is only found in Southwestern Ontario during late fall and winter.
If you are considering the Rocky Blizzard Stalker there are a few things to keep in mind. They are a bit big and clunky but I wouldn’t say any more than boots of a similar style. Also, some may find them a bit heavy. I personally do not and have no problems walking all day in them. These boots in a size 10 are listed at 5.5 pounds for the pair which equates to 2.75 pounds per boot. Another thing I’ve noticed with these boots is they seem to run a bit large in terms of sizing. I wear a 9.5 shoe or boot and have since public school. Not available in half sizes I went with a 9 and they are a tad big. Given they have 1200 g of Thinsulate insulation I don’t wear a heavy sock with them and likely could have gone with a size 8 to achieve an exact fit.
In my opinion, a snowy scene is the best for photographing Northern Cardinals.
Winter is one of my favourite times to get out birding. With so many species only present in our area during the winter months, venturing out in the cold is a must to observe these species.
Often during the coldest winters is when rare birds are present as was the case back in 2014 and 2015. These winters were so cold ice coverage on the Great Lakes approached 100%. As a result, large numbers of diving ducks were forced inland to the open water of the Thames River. Here in London, we saw White-winged Scoters, Harlequin Ducks, and even Red-throated Loons, a species not reported in winter in Middlesex county since 1898. During these frigid winters, birders flocked to the river to see these rarities and I was sure glad I had my Rocky Blizzard Stalkers keeping my feet warm. I could spend all day out there in -20 to -30 degree wind chills photographing these birds that I may never again see in my lifetime.
Getting out when it’s snowing often provides some of the best scenes for capturing images of birds.
Keeping my hands and feet warm used to be a challenge for me. Thanks to Rocky Blizzard Stalker boots my feet stay warm and dry. You can find out which gloves I wear to keep my hands warm in my post The Best Gloves For Winter Birding And Photography.
Redpolls only visit our area during the winter months and not every year. Currently, we are experiencing an irruption of finches in Southwestern Ontario. If you want to see these birds in our area bundling up and heading out in the cold is a must.
In the past, I was never a person who loved winter and think the reason for this was I was never warm enough. Now, with the right clothing, I embrace winter and look forward to it and the birds it brings to our area.
If you’ve struggled in previous years to keep your feet warm and dry, I highly recommend you check out the Rocky Blizzard Stalker boots, I’m certainly glad I gave them a try.
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. 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!*
Snow provides a beautiful backdrop for any bird especially the Northern Cardinal.
With snow in the forecast, I had Tuesday circled on my calendar as a day to head out with my camera. The potential for snow had me excited as it has been months since I have photographed birds under these conditions. In my opinion, snow provides one of the most beautiful scenes to capture images in.
Fortunately, the forecast was correct, and squalls overnight Monday and into Tuesday left a thin blanket of snow on the ground and trees presenting a gorgeous backdrop. Having readied my gear the night before, I grabbed my coat and walked out the front door.
The yellow plumage of this American Goldfinch really pops against the snow-covered ground.
I decided to visit a small park walking distance from where I live. The mixed habitat complete with a creek and small pond is home to a variety of birds, and I had seen a good number of species just a few days prior. Arriving shortly after 9:00 a.m. I was instantly treated to plenty of songbird activity. Goldenrod and aster line the path here and Dark-eyed Juncos and American Goldfinches could be seen feeding on the seeds of these native wildflowers.
Female House Finch
Goldfinches weren’t the only finches present as several House Finches were also observed feeding on the bounty of seeds. Carolina Wrens could be seen and heard as they moved through the underbrush but capturing a picture proved impossible on this day.
Male Mallard preening as the snow fell.
As I carried on further down the path the sky became dark as another squall moved in. Reaching the pond the snow was coming down rather quickly now. I watched as several Mallards were busy preening to protect themselves from the elements. Birds have a gland located at the base of their tails called the uropygial gland or preen gland. This gland contains oil that birds pick up with their beaks and rub on their feathers making them waterproof.
This male Red-bellied Woodpecker was one of three woodpecker species observed.
Three woodpecker species were observed including Red-bellied, Downy, and Hairy. White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches were among other tree-clinging birds present. Large numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches have moved south this year, known as an irruption, due to a poor cone crop to our north resulting in a lack of food.
Golden-crowned Kinglet showing off its golden crown.
Hearing the soft calls of the Golden-crowned Kinglet I scanned the goldenrod and other vegetation beside the path to see several of these tiny songbirds flitting about. If you ask me kinglets are by far the most challenging bird to photograph as they do not hold still for more than a second. A fast shutter speed is crucial for freezing the action of these birds. With the autofocus system no longer working on my primary lens photographing them was even more challenging and I missed a lot of shots as a result.
Male Northern Cardinal
London has long been known as the cardinal capital of Canada and this certainly was evident with roughly a dozen of these beauties seen. Their soft chip, chip, chip calls coming from the dense thickets filled the air. Fortunately, a few of these birds offered reasonably unobstructed views allowing me to capture a few images. The snow-covered branches were exactly the backdrop I was hoping for when I ventured out.
Eastern Grey Squirrel
When photographing birds and wildlife in the snow be extra cognizant of your exposure. It’s easy to end up with underexposed images based on the fact that all camera meters are programmed that an even exposure is mid-grey. What this means is when you look through your viewfinder and press your shutter halfway to meter the shot, when your meter is at 0 this is mid-grey or halfway between white and black.
The problem is snow is white, not mid-grey something not recognized by your camera. Further pressing the shutter all the way and taking the shot in this situation often results in an underexposed image and the snow appearing grey. In most cases when photographing birds in snow you need to overexpose your images to achieve white snow. That being said, on really sunny days you can end up overexposing your images as the sun reflects off the snow. Be sure to use your histogram and turn on your highlight alert or “blinkies” to ensure proper exposure and always expose for the whites.
This male Downy Woodpecker found something tasty in the remains of a wasp’s nest.
With temperatures expected to return to double digits this week the recent snow will be short-lived. Who knows how long it will be before we see another snowfall so I’m glad I took this opportunity when I did. The birding around the Forest City has been fantastic this fall and regardless of the weather conditions or backdrop, I can’t wait to get back out there again soon with my camera.
Good birding,
Paul
*Since taking pre-orders for my 2021 calendars earlier this week they are now over 50% sold. If you are wanting to get a copy don’t delay supply is extremely limited.*
Looking for the perfect gift for a bird lover on your list? Here are some ideas to make your shopping easier.
The gift-giving season is fast approaching and the holidays are going to be celebrated a little different this year. Many of us won’t be gathering with family or friends and gift exchanges will likely be done via Canada Post rather than in person. Online purchases will likely be huge this year and shopping early is the best way to ensure your gift arrives on time.
If you are not sure what to buy the bird lover on your list this year, here are some gift ideas to help with your shopping.
Attracting Northern Cardinals to your yard is easy with the right feeder.
1. Bird Feeder
A bird feeder is a great idea gift for any bird lover as it will provide hours of enjoyment. A good quality feeder will last for many years and literally be a gift that keeps on giving. Attracting birds to a backyard is easier than you may think with the right feeder and quality seed. Keeping squirrels off a feeder used to cause great frustration but not anymore with the Squirrel Buster line of feeders. These feeders are designed so that the feed ports close off under the weight of the squirrel if it climbs on the feeder saving you money on seed and ensuring you are only feeding the birds. The Squirrel Buster Plus is an incredibly durable feeder that has attracted many birds to my yard over the years. The large perch ring is designed to attract the beautiful Northern Cardinal but many songbirds including finches, chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches will also visit this feeder.
This metal peanut feeder is great for attracting Northern Flickers and other woodpeckers.
I have always loved woodpeckers and watching them in my backyard is something I truly enjoy. After adding a peanut feeder to my yard the number of woodpeckers that visited increased dramatically. This feeder also attracts nuthatches, chickadees, and even Carolina Wrens.
Offering suet is a great way to provide birds with extra calories needed during the winter months. The same birds that are attracted to the peanut feeder also enjoy suet. I like to offer suet year-round as it provides added energy to birds during the nesting season as well. Starlings can make short work of a suet cake so to deter these birds I use an upsidedown suet feeder. The idea behind this style of feeder is clinging birds such as woodpecker and chickadees will hang upsidedown to feed while non-clinging birds like starlings cannot, again saving you money.
Bird identification can be a real challenge especially when it comes to fall warblers. A good bird book takes the guesswork out of proper identification.
2. Bird Book
Whether the person on your list is an avid birder or simply enjoys the birds in their yard, a bird book to aid with identification is a great gift. My two favourite books are the Peterson Field Guide To Birds and the New Stokes Field Guide To Birds. The main difference between these two books is the Peterson guide uses illustrations to aid with identification whereas the Stokes guide uses photographs. So which one do you choose? If you are buying the book for a new birder or backyard birder, I would pick the Peterson guide and if it is for someone more advanced I would choose the Stokes guide simply because it offers more help with identifying birds in alternate plumage and hard to identify birds like warblers and shorebirds.
Binoculars make a great gift for any bird lover. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank to get a decent pair.
3. Binoculars
Choosing binoculars can be incredibly overwhelming. You can spend very little and end up with junk or practically need to take out a second mortgage to buy a top of the line pair. Fortunately, I have found a compact pair I’m quite impressed with that didn’t break the bank. The Nikon Travelite 8 x 25 EX CF are incredibly small and lightweight making them a treat to carry. They can easily be tucked into a coat pocket or backpack for convenient storage. I like the 8 power as I have a hard time holding binoculars steady and anything stronger I find for me really accentuates my shaking. These binoculars are waterproof which is nice if you get caught in a rain shower and the eyecups are adjustable which is a must if you wear glasses. This allows you to keep your glasses on while looking through them.
This Common Loon is featured on the cover of my 2021 calendar.
4. A 2021 Calendar By Paul Roedding Photography
For the past eight years, mycalendarshave been a popular gift for bird and nature lovers. This year, I have an incredibly limited number arriving soon and you can pre-order yours now to ensure you get a copy. Calendars are only available through my website and when they’re gone they’re gone I won’t be placing a second order.
I have always found gift-giving for bird lovers quite easy. Usually, what I like they do too. I hope this list gives you some ideas for the bird lover on your list.
Most of the links provided in this post are Amazon links. I am part of the Amazon affiliate program and earn from qualifying purchases; however, I only provide links to products I have purchased with my own money and am comfortable recommending from my experience and satisfaction with them based on their performance and durability. If you are not familiar with the affiliate program all purchases are anonymous as I do not see what was purchased or by who with Amazon sending me a few bucks at no extra cost to you once the item is shipped. Using the links is a simple way you can support me and my photography.
I hope this list helps you with your gift-giving this year. If you have any questions regarding any of the items I’ve suggested please feel free to reach out.
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. 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!*
