In my first week, I’ve already had an amazing encounter with a moose.
Late last week, I migrated north to spend another season living from my small travel trailer in the vicinity of Algonquin Provincial Park. This is the same move I did last year and loved every minute so was excited to get back up here again. With so many miles of hiking, paddling, and nature to explore I’m completely in my element here and would describe this as my happy place. Fortunately, my day job allows me to work from anywhere I can connect to the internet and my 20′ trailer provides me all the luxuries of home including a queen bed, kitchen with dinette, and a full bathroom. Amazingly, this small trailer has more storage than my first house.
White-throated Sparrow singing its Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song.
Arriving early Friday morning I was happy to see everything survived the winter. Setup was quick and easy and merely a matter of connecting the water and sewer hose, and plugging into the hydro. Following this, I put together my 12′ x12′ screen room which increases my space and gives me a place to sit outside to escape the bugs. Once again this year the black flies are almost nonexistent.
Many of the shallow bays I chose to fish were full of big pike. Unfortunately, I only managed to catch the small ones. Fun to catch nonetheless!
I didn’t have a real plan for the first week other than to get into a work routine and try to find a balance between work and seeking adventure. With pike season having opened a week earlier I did want to get out and do some fishing. Catching these large fish when they are still in shallow bays after spawning has always been something I have loved. Before getting so into birding and photography I was an avid fisherman in fact even more fanatical about fishing than I am birding. When I wasn’t working I was fishing or thinking about fishing, reading a fishing magazine, or watching a fishing show on TV. However, several years ago I lost the fishing bug, partly due to burnout, I spent a minimum of 55 hours in a five day work week driving a truck for a living so when the weekend rolled around the last thing I wanted to do was spend more time driving to the lake, and partly due to a back injury. This season I want to do more fishing and have already been out several times this week.
Northern Parula
While making my way down a small river to the bay I chose to fish, I could hear the sound of several warblers singing from tree-lined banks. I always take my camera with me in my pack boat so was ready for any opportunities that presented themselves. For anyone who has tried photographing warblers, you know how challenging it is. Trying to photograph them while drifting down a river with the current is even more challenging. With my camera set to a fast shutter speed, I managed a few images. Along this stretch of river, I observed Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Northern Parula. Not bad for a morning of fishing!
This Wild Turkey has been a regular behind my trailer and has provided me with great views.
Around my trailer, the woods are filled with the sounds of birds. If you like to sleep in and don’t like the “noise” birds make in the mornings you’d hate it here. The loud shriek-like call of the raven can be heard most mornings along with the constant drumming and calls of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Northern Flickers. The teacher, teacher, teacher call of the Ovenbird has echoed from the forest from sunup to sundown all week. Magnolia Warblers have been quite vocal too. Another bird that is quite abundant here is the White-throated Sparrow. Starting my day hearing their Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song makes me feel incredibly patriotic and fortunate to live in such an amazing country filled with beautiful wildlife. A Wild Turkey is a regular behind my trailer and I’ve had great views of this bird both while having my morning coffee and while eating dinner.
Red Squirrel
Mammal activity around the trailer includes Red Squirrels, chipmunks and on two mornings a fox has passed by. One morning while out for a short walk, I came across a fresh pile of wolf scat. Algonquin wolves are present in the woods where I am and I was fortunate to see them on several occasions last year, but I would love to photograph this species. Knowing there is one so close to my trailer makes me think my chances might be good this year.
Having this moose come to within twenty feet of me is an experience I’ll never forget.
Having success birding and fishing this first week it was hard to decide where to focus my attention when I wasn’t working. Keeping in mind the spot that had so many warblers present along the small river I decided to check out a few other similar areas on foot. These areas weren’t as productive but I had my best sighting of the week on the drive back to camp. Passing a boggy area my eyes were equally focused on the road and the bog. As I was about to exit the bog a large brown object caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I quickly turned my head and to my delight, it was a moose. After looking in all my mirrors and checking over my shoulder I safely made a U-turn and parked on the side of the road. I exited my vehicle with my camera in hand and began taking images of this bull moose.
Unsure if this was his friendly face, I decided to step behind my car for safety.
After watching for several minutes, the moose began making its way out of the bog and towards me. I have to admit I was more than a little nervous as this animal was huge. I stepped slowly back in the direction of my car to use it as a buffer between me and the moose. The moose turned paralleling the road walking back towards the cedars. I thought this creature was going to retreat into the dense foliage but then it turned and came even closer. The moose seemed to want to cross the road but every time it was almost on the road I could hear traffic coming. Not wanting to see a moose/car collision I made noise and the moose would stop. I did this on three occasions. When there was no sound of traffic I kept quiet and the moose crossed the road about half a car length away as I stood behind my driver’s door ready to dive in and slam it shut if necessary. This encounter was awesome and one I’ll never forget. To be this close to such a massive wild animal was truly amazing.
American Redstart
As you can see it was an amazing first week back at my trailer. I sure hope this is a sign of things to come this season. I’m here until Thanksgiving and am looking forward to many more adventures and sharing my images and stories with you along the way. I hope to blog more from here than I did last year and am trying to leave time each week to do so. If you don’t already, follow me on Facebook or Instagram for daily posts from my adventures.
Hummingbirds will be returning to our area very soon. Providing them with a place to nest is a great way to enjoy these aerial acrobats all summer long.
For as long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed building birdhouses. It’s hard to put into words the satisfaction I get from watching birds raise a brood in a house I built with my own hands. Over the years I’ve built many birdhouses in all shapes and sizes providing a place for a variety of species to nest.
Providing a safe, sheltered place for hummingbirds to nest is easy with this small platform.
Like birding, my dad introduced me to woodworking and I built my first birdhouse with him. In fact, my introduction to woodworking with him started when I was just two years old when I climbed a ladder all by myself onto the shed roof my dad was building at our new house. If not for my grandma yelling “Paul is on the roof with Russ” alerting my parents of my ascent who knows what would have happened. I would love to be able to remember the look on my dad’s face when he turned around and saw me sitting behind him. With supervision like this, it’s a wonder I saw three (I’m kidding Dad you know I love you).
With 1-2 broods per year, watching hummingbirds nest will be both entertaining and educational.
Following plans I’ve found in books or online to build birdhouses, I’ve had great success throughout my life providing nesting sites for birds. Swallows, wrens, robins, and doves are a few of the species that have nested in houses or platforms I’ve made. Recently I made a bunch of birdhouses and sold them through Facebook. The response I received was tremendous and people from all over reached out inquiring about the houses. Even followers from out of town were interested. I was happy to ship houses to them but the cost to do so was pretty steep. I wanted to offer houses for sale and be able to ship them without having to charge an arm and a leg to cover the cost of postage. As a result, I am now building and selling hummingbird nest platforms.
The shallow depression (with 1/8″ drain hole) and posts provide a place for hummingbirds to anchor their nest.
Hummingbirds are an exciting bird to watch at backyard feeders, so why not go the extra mile by providing a place for them to nest? Hummingbirds seek out sheltered locations to nest protected from wind, rain, and sun. My pine platforms can be mounted under the eaves of a house, shed, gazebo, or under a covered porch. The platform has a recessed bottom with two supports on either side allowing the hummingbird to anchor the nest in place. Once a hummingbird has found the perfect place for nest building, she returns to the same location year after year. Hummingbirds have 1-2 broods per year with a nesting period of 18-22 days. Adding a platform in a visible location will serve hours of enjoyment all summer long.
Hummingbirds are easily attracted to backyard feeders. Why not offer them a safe, sheltered place to nest?
If you want to offer a place for hummingbirds to nest, are looking for a birdhouse you may not already have or are looking for a unique gift idea for a bird lover, these hummingbird nestings platforms are a great idea. Measuring 6.5″ H x 4.5″ W x 4.5″ D I can ship these platforms for a reasonable price. With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day fast approaching let your fingers do the shopping. I’m selling these platforms for $35 each which includes shipping anywhere in Canada or the United States.
Side view of my hummingbird nest platform.
To purchase, simply click the add to cart button at the bottom of the page and checkout securely with PayPay. If you prefer to pay via e-transfer contact me for more details. I’m also offering porch pick up in London, Ontario at a discounted price less the shipping. Again contact me for details on porch pick up.
Hummingbirds are exciting visitors to any yard and offer hours of enjoyment for backyard birders.
Hummingbirds will be returning very soon and providing food in the form of a hummingbird feeder is a great way to attract them to your yard. Why not add a safe, sheltered place for them to nest with a hummingbird nest platform?
Are you looking for an affordable hard case to protect your camera and lens? If so I highly recommend the Plano 1612 Field Box.
Ever since I bought my DSLR I searched for an affordable hard case to protect my investment. The problem was most of the hard cases I found at camera stores started at about $80 and in my opinion didn’t look like they offered much protection. To get something that looked well-made, solid, and would actually protect a camera cost in the several hundred dollar range. It seems dumb I know to cheap out on a case to protect an expensive camera and lens but I was hesitant to spend that kind of money.
A hard case is a great investment to protect your expensive camera and lens.
One day while shopping at Bass Pro Shops for fishing tackle I saw a display featuring the Plano 1612 Field Box. These hard plastic boxes were well-made, well-built, and well-priced. Being a fisherman I’m very familiar with the Plano name and have been using their tackle boxes since I was a kid. Over the years I’ve put my Plano tackle boxes through a lot of abuse with no issues. In fact, the only reason I’ve had to replace them is when I accumulate too much tackle and need a bigger box. Looking at the size of these field boxes which are designed for ammunition and other hunting accessories, I knew my Canon 7D, 100-400mm, and the soft case I keep them in would fit in no problem. Seeing the price I knew my search for a hard camera case was over.
Keeping my camera and lens in a hard case gives me peace of mind knowing that my gear is well protected.
I’ve been using this box for about 7 years now and it has done a great job keeping my camera and lens safe. The hard plastic protects against strikes to the outside of the case which is very useful when packing a carload of gear for vacation. I no longer have to worry about items I stack up in the back of the car damaging my camera if they topple over while driving. The hinge and latch are very sturdy and this box still looks like it did the day I bought it. Another handy feature of this box is the smaller storage compartment incorporated into the lid. This is where I keep a spare memory card, a lens pen, and any other small accessories I want handy.
The Plano 1612 Field Box is incredibly functional and can be used to store and protect a variety of items.
This case is so practical and functional its uses go far beyond hunting and photography. If you are looking for an incredibly affordable, well-made box to store almost anything, I highly recommend checking out this Plano field box.
Good birding,
Paul
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The familiar call of the Red-winged Blackbird can once again be heard across the region.
Early spring is certainly an exciting time to get out birding. After all, now is when we start to see evidence of migration getting underway here in Southwestern Ontario with many first-of-year species observed. I look for my first Red-winged Blackbird, Tundra Swan, or Killdeer to signify migration has begun. For others, it might be the robin, grackle, or some other species of waterfowl. Fortunately, these familiar faces can all be found once again in our area.
Northern Pintails in a flooded field.
Throughout March I visited many of my favourite birding locations. The results of these jaunts were rewarding regardless of where I went. When searching for spring migrants in March wetlands are where I often first focus my attention. These habitats attract most of the early migrants and therefore should not be overlooked. Waterfowl, Killdeer, and Red-winged Blackbirds can all be found around wetlands.
Tundra Swans at the Thedford Bog.
A flooded field is often all that is required to attract Tundra Swans and other waterfowl to stop for a rest on their migration north. The shallow water provides a familiar setting while the remnants of last year’s crop replenishes spent calories. Once again this year I made my way to the Thedford Bog to see the thousands of Tundra Swans that stop here each year. To see some of the action from the Thedford Bog check out my YouTube video.
This lone Snow Goose was observed with a group of Canada Geese while driving to an area wetland.
When driving to places I am going to bird, I always keep my camera at the ready on the passenger seat as I never know what I might come across. A white bird mixed in with some Canada Geese next to a farm pond caught my eye as I drove to a wetland. To my delight, it was a Snow Goose. After slowing down and making a safe U-turn I stopped at the side of the road and snapped a few photos before carrying on.
Seeing a chipmunk on a sunny spring day always leaves a smile on my face.
Some wildlife that remains in the area year-round but has been nonvisible for several months have once again emerged. Chipmunks and several butterfly species have come out of hibernation and can be readily seen. Mourning Cloak Butterflies overwinter in our area as adults spending the cold months in woodpiles or behind tree bark and are quick to take flight on a warm spring day. Sunny forests are where I often find my first Mourning Cloak of the year.
The Mourning Cloak is the first butterfly to appear each spring.
As you can see it’s a great time to get out birding. With migrants trickling in and an abundance of resident birds around being outdoors surrounded by nature soaking up the sun is a great way to shake the winter blues. With so much uncertainty in our lives these days, many are turning to nature and the great outdoors to get through these difficult times. Personally, I haven’t felt the impacts of the pandemic as much as others have. I worked from home before and always spent time in nature to keep my head in a good place. If you are finding these times of isolation and closures tough, try spending time in nature. The fresh air and calming effects nature has are immeasurable. For me, seeing these familiar faces while enjoying the spring sunshine always leaves a smile on mine.
Good birding,
Paul
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If you build it they will come. House Wrens are easily attracted to a birdhouse.
A birdhouse is a great addition to any yard or a great gift to give any bird lover. Sure you can buy one at your local birding store or online, but in this post, I’m going to share with you how to build one yourself for $10.
I’ve already observed many cavity nesters including chickadees checking out potential nest sites.
To build a birdhouse you need very few woodworking skills and only a few tools. This project is great to do with the kids or grandkids and can be completed in less than an hour.
Red-breasted Nuthatches are one of the many species that may use this house.
All that is required is a 1″x 6″x 5′ cedar fence board and some 1-1/4″ #6 wood screws available from your local home improvement store. Since the pandemic started cedar has been a bit hard to find and if so you can also use pine. You might even have scrap wood laying around your garage or workshop that will work. Just be sure not to use wood that is pressure-treated, stained, or painted as these chemicals are potentially harmful to the birds.
Downy Woodpeckers may also use this birdhouse.
The plan I use to build this birdhouse I found for free online and is actually for a winter roost box, the only difference is for a birdhouse you mount the front with the hole at the top. Those plans can be found here. Follow the instructions for cutting the wood and assembling the house. Painting or varnishing the birdhouse is not necessary and I recommend leaving the wood natural to avoid any potential ill effects to the birds from harmful chemicals. Cedar or pine left untreated will last many years.
I’ve used this plan to build many of these birdhouses over the years. I was very excited when Carolina Wrens raised a brood in one of these houses.
Over the years, I have made many of these birdhouses for my own yard and given several away to friends and family. The 1-1/2″ inch hole will accommodate a variety of species and I personally have seen Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, and Tree Swallows use this house. Other birds including chickadees, nuthatches, and even Downy Woodpeckers may use this house.
A few years ago I gave one of these houses to my sister who put it up at her cottage. Every year since she has had a pair of Tree Swallows use it.
When you are finished mount the house 4 to 8 feet off the ground and place it where it is out of prevailing winds or hot afternoon sun. It’s a good idea to put a birdhouse up early so the birds have time to find it and the wood can weather a bit.
Placing wood chips or cedar shavings (not sawdust) in the bottom of this house will help attract chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches.
Watching birds raise a brood in a house I built myself is something I find incredibly rewarding. I’ve used this plan to build a lot of houses and this has been the most successful design I’ve tried.
With its 1-1/2″ hole, this birdhouse will accommodate wrens, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, and nuthatches.
If you are thinking about adding a birdhouse to your yard, are looking for a unique gift idea for a friend, or just want a fun project to do with the kids or grandkids why not build this birdhouse? The joy of the building process will far outweigh the time and cost of making it and watching birds raise a brood in it will provide plenty of enjoyment year after year.
A large flock of Cedar Waxwings has been present at my local patch since late November.
Cedar Waxwings are named for their appetite for cedar berries as well as their waxy red wingtips. Finding waxwings can be easy if conditions are right. In the winter months, waxwings feed predominately on the fruit of many trees including the aforementioned cedar. Find fruit trees and you will typically find waxwings. Once the food is gone so too are the waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in a honeysuckle bush.
I’ve been following a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings at my local patch since late November. If you are wondering what I mean by patch, you can learn more in my blog post: Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times or watch my episode of Explore The Wild on YouTube Patch Birding.
The waxy red wingtips are not always visible but can be clearly seen on this bird.
At my local patch, there are acres of honeysuckle bushes covered in ripe red berries. Honeysuckle fruit happens to be a favourite fruit of the Cedar Waxwing and consequently, a huge flock of waxwings has descended on my patch. It’s actually quite impressive to see how much fruit these birds consume in a week and even a day. Having watched this flock for a few months now the birds move around the patch as they devour the food from certain areas. Each day the waxwings can be in a different location within the patch depending on food or wind. I hate to sound like a broken record, but those of you who have followed me for a while will know what I’m talking about when I mentioned the wind. The waxwings are always on the leeward side of the patch feeding on Honeysuckle. A can visit the patch on a Monday with a north wind and find the birds feeding on the north side out of the wind. The very next day, I can return on a south wind and guess which side the waxwings are on? You got it, the south side!
Having a large flock of Cedar Waxwings so close to home is something I’ve enjoyed very much this winter.
Using my ears and listening for their high-pitched whistles also helps me locate the waxwings. Often after feeding heavily the birds will roost high up in the surrounding deciduous trees. Hearing their calls I look up and see the birds. Usually, after waiting only a few minutes the birds will begin dropping down to eye level in the honeysuckle and resume feeding. This not only presents great views but also the best perspective for photos.
The ripe red berries of this honeysuckle bush are the food of choice at my local patch.
Cedar Waxwings eat a wide variety of fruit and are not limited to honeysuckle and cedar berries. Mountain Ash, hawthorn, serviceberry, crabapple, and even holly berries are readily consumed by waxwings. Here in London, we have an abundance of invasive buckthorn trees and it’s not uncommon to find waxwings feeding on their berries. If you have invasive buckthorn on your property and are leaving it because it attracts birds, it’s a good idea to remove it and plant a native fruit-producing tree instead. Buckthorn is considered a starvation food for birds as it causes diarrhea and makes them weak. Buckthorn is typically consumed in late winter when other food sources become low.
Finding their food and listening for their call will help you locate Cedar Waxwings.
Next time you are out at your local patch, keep an eye out for fruit-bearing trees and an ear out for high-pitched whistles. If these are present Cedar Waxwings may be too. Remember to follow the food to keep up with the birds and you too will enjoy great views of these masked bandits.
This Common Loon was photographed with my new Tamron 100-400mm lens.
Since late November, I’ve been shooting with a newTamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD lens. I bought this lens to replace my Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens (the old version with the push-pull zoom) I’ve been using for wildlife photography since 2012. I’ve loved my Canon ever since the day I unboxed it. This lens has everything I wanted, long reach, fast autofocus, reasonably lightweight, and since I bought it after the Mark II version came out the price was much more affordable. I’ve taken thousands of images with this lens and it served me well over the years. Any images shot with this lens I wasn’t happy with certainly were not the fault of the lens. I planned to keep using this lens for as long as possible as I was completely satisfied with my investment.
Cedar Waxwing photographed with the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD lens. Camera settings: 1/1600 ISO 1000 f/8 at 312mm.
If I love my Canon so much why am I replacing it? In late summer 2020 on a hike in Algonquin Park, the autofocus stopped working. I checked the switches on the side of the camera, tried turning the camera off and on, and even removed and remounted the lens. Still nothing. I used the lens in manual focus for the remainder of the day and upon returning to my trailer I once again removed the lens and cleaned the contacts on both the camera and the lens. Still no autofocus.
Achieving focus quickly on small songbirds is no problem with the Tamron 100-400mm.
I contacted Canon and they recommended sending it to their repair centre and they would give me an estimate to fix it. Not having $3000 for the new Canon 100-400mm and unsure about having mine repaired I began to explore my options.
At roughly 1/3 the price of the Canon equivalent the image quality and focus speed of the Tamron is quite impressive.
Looking at reviews on YouTube from other photographers I follow, I saw good things about both the Sigma 100-400mm and Tamron 100-400mm. These two alternatives cost roughly 1/3 of what the new Canon 100-400mm does. I was a bit skeptical about these lenses as I’ve never owned a third-party lens and to be honest the low price point scared me too. After watching several videos and looking at images taken with both the Sigma and the Tamron I had made up my mind I was going to get one of these to replace my beloved Canon but which one? I flip-flopped back and forth I don’t know how many times but ultimately decided on the Tamron for two reasons. First, the Tamron is constructed of a magnesium alloy including a metal mount versus the Sigma’s composite material which I liked better. Second, from the reviews I watched, the focus speed was reported as a bit faster on the Tamron.
Quickly obtaining focus on a small nuthatch proved no problem for the Tamron 100-400mm.
A few days after placing my order, my new Tamron 100-400mm arrived at the door. After removing and discarding the outer packaging, sanitizing the box with a Lysol wipe, and washing my hands (we are in the middle of a pandemic after all) I placed it on the kitchen table for unboxing. As I removed it from the box it felt heavier than I expected as this lens only weighs 2.5 lbs but the build quality felt nice. I rushed downstairs and grabbed my Canon 100-400mm for comparison. The Tamron is slightly smaller in length, diameter, and weight although holding one in each hand the weight difference wasn’t really noticeable. As it was after dinner and dark outside I had to wait until the following day to put my new lens through its paces.
My biggest concern when purchasing the Tamron was focus speed. Having used it now for several months I am very impressed.
The next day I was treated to sunny skies and was excited to try out my new lens. I headed down to one of my favourite locations as I knew there would be plenty of birds present to photograph. My biggest concern with this lens was focus speed as I was used to the lightning-fast instantaneous focus of my Canon. After locating a few birds and firing some shots I was impressed with the focus speed. Does the Tamron focus as fast as my Canon? It is a hair slower, but honestly, the difference is marginal and night and day faster than a Canon 55-250mm kit lens. The Tamron focuses very fast. I did find on a few occasions the Tamron hunted for focus which did concern me. This was on account of the difference in close focusing distance between the Tamron and Canon and me getting used to the focus limiter switch. Now that I have grown accustomed to this I have no issues with the lens hunting.
American Black Duck 1/1000 f/8 ISO 800 at 400 mm.
I watched several Bald Eagles fly overhead presenting great opportunities to see how the Tamron performed with flight shots. Raising my camera I could not get the lens to focus on or even find the bird in the viewfinder. I found this odd as I was so used to the Canon grabbing focus so fast. It was as if the lens was not focussing far enough to find the eagles. I tried zooming out to 100mm and was able to locate the birds in the viewfinder. I then zoomed in to 400mmm and tried to achieve focus. I fired off multiple shots of the eagles using this approach and looking at my LCD screen on the back of the camera it appeared I wasn’t achieving focus. I was getting better results with static birds but the results seemed inconsistent.
Common Loon photographed in Algonquin Park with the Tamron 100-400mm
When I got home I uploaded the images to my computer to see how they looked as trusting your LCD screen is never a good idea. Inspecting the images I took of the eagles in flight guess how many were sharp? Zero! That’s right not one. With my Canon (with working autofocus) I would have missed only a handful. To say I was disappointed was a huge understatement. As far as the static birds, I got some sharp photos but again the results were inconsistent. It seemed the lens was front focusing or focussing short of the subject which would explain why I could not reach the eagles and the inconsistency in the case of some static birds.
This Downy Woodpecker was photographed early on a cloudy morning. Camera settings 1/500 f/8 ISO 800 at 400mm.
There is an optional tap-in console available for the Tamron 100-400mm that allows you to connect the lens to a computer and fine-tune the focus and I was wondering if I needed this accessory. Not being very techie, nor wanting to spend the extra money on the console I contacted the seller and explained my situation. I asked if I needed to buy the tap-in console or if performing the focus adjustments in-camera, an option on my Canon 7D would fix the problem. The gentleman I spoke to said to try the adjustments in-camera as using the tap-in console was tricky and I could make things worse. He said if the adjustments in-camera did not work to send the lens back for calibration.
Portrait of a Common Raven
I did some Googling and researched how to perform the focus adjustments. I felt overwhelmed as again I am not at all techie. Surprisingly, this was easier than I expected. All that was required was pressing a few buttons on the camera and taking some test shots and to be honest less of a hassle than repackaging the lens and taking it to the post office.
Despite all the branches I was still able to obtain focus on this Merlin’s eye quite quickly.
The next day I headed back out to see how the Tamron performed after making the adjustments. Instantly I noticed a huge difference as the lens focussed faster and more accurately than the day before. Once again a few eagles passed by overhead. Raising the lens I achieved focus quickly. Looking at the LCD screen I could see a difference in image quality from the previous day and was feeling better about my purchase.
When I bought this lens, I wanted to be sure I could still photograph birds in flight. I am very happy with the speed and accuracy of the autofocus of the Tamron.
Curious how this lens would perform and focus on another camera body, I tried the Tamron on my Canon Rebel T3i. I am happy to report the lens focussed quickly and flawlessly. The focusing issues I had the first day seemed to be more with my Canon 7D than the lens.
Photographing Bald Eagles along the Thames River is something I enjoy very much and this lens performs very well for this.
I have been using this lens for a few months now and can tell you I have no regrets. I’m more than happy with the focus speed and accuracy. After carrying the Tamron around all day I now notice the one 1 lb weight difference between it and my Canon.
Americal Kestrel photographed during the golden hour wide open at f/6.3.
Something else I am pleased with is the Tamron is sharper wide open than my Canon. The maximum aperture of my Canon is f5.6 and I never shoot it wide open as I’ve never been happy with the results. The Tamron’s maximum aperture is f/6.3 and I can say I am happy to shoot at this aperture. Like all lenses, the Tamron is sharper when stopped down a bit so I do prefer to shoot at f/8 or f/9 when light permits but in low light conditions I am confident shooting wide open at f/6.3. I am finding I can shoot at slower shutter speeds with the Tamron than the Canon and I think this may be due to the fact the lens is smaller and lighter; therefore, easier to hold steady. We’ve had a significant shortage of sunshine so far in 2021 and with my new Tamron, I am getting more keeper images in low light than I do with my Canon.
A small flock of robins has been overwintering near my home. In low light, early on a cloudy morning shooting wide open at aperture f/6.3, I am very pleased with the performance of the Tamron 100-400mm.
So what are the pros and cons of this lens? Let me start with the pros. Obviously, the price. At roughly 1/3 the price of the equivalent Canon or Nikon counterparts the Tamron is truly impressive. Is it as good as the first-party competitors? I can’t say as I have never used any of them (again, I own the old version of the Canon, not the Mark II) but for their price, I would hope they have something more to offer. Are they worth $2000 more? Maybe for a full-time professional photographer but me, I’d rather have the Tamron and not worry about putting food on the table for the next several months.
Photographing a Northern Cardinal at 1/250 is not something I would normally do. However, with the compact size and lightweight of the Tamron 100-400mm I can hold my camera and lens steady. 1/250 f/9 ISO 800 at 400mm.
The weight of this lens is another checkmark in the pro column. At only 2.5 lbs this lens is incredibly lightweight and a pleasure to carry around all day. If you are looking for a lightweight, easy to carry lens with a versatile zoom range and decent reach this is it. Tamron’s magnesium alloy construction is high-quality and this lens is very well made. Image quality, focus speed, image stabilization, and weather-sealing to protect the lens from the elements are more pros for this lens. Finally, the Tamron is available for either Canon or Nikon camera bodies depending on which manufacturer you shoot with.
If you are in the market for a telephoto zoom lens I highly recommend the Tamron 100-400mm.
Now for the cons. Clearly, the issue I had with the focussing is a con. That being said, fixing the issue was easier than I expected, and the issue was only with my Canon 7D and not my Canon T3i so perhaps the camera is more to blame than the lens. The only other con I can come up with is the lack of a tripod collar. This comes standard with the Canon and Nikon equivalents. For me, this is not an issue as I never use a tripod or monopod with this focal length lens plus the Tamron is so light it’s easy to shoot handheld. If you do prefer to shoot with a tripod or monopod a tripod collar is available as an option.
I am impressed in so many ways with the Tamron 100-400mm lens.
I am truly impressed with the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD lens. Focus speed, image quality, and build quality far exceed my expectations. Its compact size and lightweight are other things I absolutely love about this lens. It is a pleasure to carry around all day. For me, this is the perfect lens for my run and gun style of shooting. The Tamron’s 100-400mm range is incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of wildlife. If you are in the market for an amazing lens for taking on hikes and capturing wildlife in the 100-400mm range and you don’t have or don’t want to spend $3000, I definitely recommend the Tamron. After a few months with this lens, I have no regrets about my purchase and look forward to using the Tamron 100-400mm for years to come.
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!*
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!*
