After seeing my first warbler of the season, a Yellow-rumped on Easter Sunday, the recent southwest winds brought more of these birds to the city.
Unlike the weather this past week, birding has been quite consistent. Despite each day flip-flopping between winter and spring the migrants we expect to see at this time of year are present while good numbers of resident birds can also be found. In my last post, Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times I talked about birding frequently at a couple of areas close to home. Fortunately, the patch closest to me is void of people and full of birds allowing me to enjoy the great outdoors without worrying about close contact with others.
Watching these male flickers joust presumably over territory looked more like a well-choreographed dance than an epic battle.
One species I am seeing (and hearing) impressive numbers of lately is the Northern Flicker. The loud call of these large woodpeckers can be heard throughout the woods letting their presence be known. It’s not always necessary to look up to find flickers as their favourite food is ants so they are often seen on the ground probing the earth with their large beaks.
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrows are another abundant species and can be heard long before they are seen. If you are familiar with this bird’s song, they can typically be located singing from a high perch after hearing them. Sparrows are often overlooked by many and even referred to as LBJs or little brown jobs because of their seemingly nondescript appearance.
The white eye-ring and pink bill separate this Field Sparrow from other sparrows.
The subtle differences in sparrow plumage are quite striking and their songs a pleasure to listen to. One of the most pleasant sparrows to hear sing is the Field Sparrow which I have observed several of this past week.
Even with its immense size and my proximity to it, this Wild Turkey was a challenge to see through a maze of tree trunks.
Some of the largest birds have been the hardest to see. Despite their impressive size, I came within a few feet of several Wild Turkeys and almost missed them.
This un-cropped image at 400mm shows how close I got to a well-camouflaged Wild Turkey hiding in a brush pile.
On some occasions, I have noticed these birds and managed a few photos before stepping away quietly while in other cases the birds have popped up and run or flown leaving me with a racing heart.
Fortunately, this Ruby-crowned Kinglet paused briefly allowing me to capture a photo.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are another bird whose numbers drastically increased this week. Walking through the local woods I was treated to the sights and sounds of these tiny songbirds. In my opinion, kinglets are one of the hardest birds to photograph as they do not hold still very long. Even with a fast shutter speed capturing sharp images is a real challenge.
Cooper’s Hawk
A pair of Cooper’s Hawks have built a nest in the forest where I do my daily birding. After watching the couple start several nests close to each other over the past few weeks they finally decided on the perfect location. When visiting this area, I always give these birds a wide berth to not add to the already stressful task of raising young. From a distance, I regularly see the female’s tail overhanging the side of the nest while the smaller male keeps watch from a nearby tree.
Female Red-winged Blackbirds arrive several weeks after the males and can now be observed.
Over the week, I shot several video clips of some of the birds and wildlife I encountered and pieced them together into one short video I calledA Walk In The Woodswhich I uploaded to my YouTube channel. I hope to capture more videos in the coming weeks of my adventures.
Yellow-rumped Warbler with a small insect.
In a little over a week, the migration floodgates are going to open. Orioles, hummingbirds, and of course warblers will be streaming in. It’s a good idea to get your feeders out early filled with water and sugar mixed at a ratio of 4:1 (1 cup of water to a 1/4 cup of sugar). This will ensure orioles and hummingbirds have nourishment to replace spent energy upon their return. Several of my followers have reached out letting me know how much they are enjoying my photos and posts during this difficult time which means a lot to me. I look forward to visiting my “secret” spot often and continuing to share my adventures and images with you. Until then stay safe and as always
Patch briding is all the rage these days given the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Patch birding certainly isn’t a new term but one we are hearing a lot more lately given the COVID-19 pandemic. With provincial parks and other natural areas closed until further notice, many of us are resorting to patch birding. This phrase simply means birding regularly in an area close to home. This could be a park down the street, around a neighbourhood stormwater pond, or even your own backyard. For me, the majority of my birding would be described as patch birding anyway even if we weren’t experiencing a pandemic.
The wetland at my local patch is home to several Wood Ducks.
Lately, I have been visiting a couple of patches on alternating days to give me a bit of a change of scenery. The variety and number of birds present at both these locations are quite impressive and I have been more than satisfied with my observations. The nice thing about patch birding is I can pop over to my local patch on short notice and at any time during the day to see what birds are active.
Red-tailed Hawk
The mixed habitat at my local patches attracts a wide variety of resident birds and migrants with songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, and even shorebirds present. Being walking distance to one of these areas and only a short drive from the other means I am not spending much on gas getting to my birding destinations which is nice since I have been without work for almost a month.
The rapid notes of the Downy Woodpecker’s call can be heard in both the patches I regularly visit.
Regardless of where you live a local patch exists nearby. As mentioned earlier, this could be your local park, backyard, or for those of you who live in a more rural area even walking past a wooded area or meadow on your county road. The nice thing about patch birding is there are endless possibilities to find an area all to yourself where you can enjoy the great outdoors while practicing physical distancing.
Northern Flickers love ants and as such are often observed feeding on the ground.
With several area bird festivals already canceled and others sure to be, it looks like we will all be patch birding during the peak of migration in May. Now is a great time to get out and search for your own patch for when the big wave of migrants arrive.
Mallards and other waterfowl have now paired up in preparation of the upcoming nesting season.
Normally I am happy to share my locations with blog subscribers; however, given the possibility of these areas becoming too crowded, I have chosen to keep them to myself. I would encourage others to keep their patch a secret too.
Eastern Phoebes are the first of the flycatchers to return to our area each spring and are once again present.
If you find yourself not getting out enough lately with the closure of provincial parks and other natural areas, find your own patch and discover the abundance of birds present within it. Remember to practice physical distancing while outdoors and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature that surrounds you. Let the simple things in life remind you of what is really important and guide you through these difficult times.
Mourning Cloak Butterflies are among the first to appear each spring in our area.
Last week the mercury rose to the mid-teens and as such, I observed my first butterflies of the year. With new bird species arriving daily, it’s easy to forget about butterflies emerging on a warm spring day; however, seeing the first one of the year is equally exciting.
Not all butterflies overwinter as adults, in fact, there are only a few species that do in our area. In order to survive the cold winter months overwintering butterflies seek shelter behind tree bark, in woodpiles or other crevices and enter a state of dormancy similar to other animals that hibernate. During the first warm days of spring, these butterflies become active and take flight.
My first sighting this year, as is the case most years, was a Mourning Cloak Butterfly. Seeing this while hiking in the warm sunshine instantly put a smile on my face and my smile widened when the butterfly landed in some nearby leaves allowing me to capture a handful of images. On this day I saw several Mourning Cloaks more so than I’ve ever seen in a single day before.
Eastern Comma Butterfly
As I continued on a little further my second species of the day appeared, this time an Eastern Comma. It too landed in the dry leaves after a brief aerial joust with a Mourning Cloak. Seeing the two butterflies spin rapidly in circles was like watching a colourful funnel cloud.
Nearing the end of my hike, I saw my third butterfly species of the day, a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, spreading its wings in the sunshine.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Finding the first butterflies of the year can be quite easy if conditions are right and you search the best areas. First and foremost temperatures must be warm enough for the butterflies to be active. As mentioned earlier, temperatures in the mid-teens (Celsius) or warmer are required. On sunny days in deciduous forests is where I have the best luck preferably in wet areas near streams or swamps.
As far as photographing butterflies go you can get away with a much slower shutter speed than you can when photographing birds. I follow the reciprocal rule which means my shutter speed is set to at least the reciprocal of my focal length. For me shooting at 400mm this means I use a shutter speed of 1/400 or faster. On sunny days I use a lower ISO as well and typically find myself shooting between ISO 200 and 400 to achieve a shutter speed of 1/400. As in most cases, I shoot at f/8 as not only is my lens sharper at this aperture than it is wide open the added depth helps keep the entire butterfly sharp when I focus on its head.
Though not as colourful from the underside, this Mourning Cloak Butterfly was a treat to see on a sunny spring afternoon.
Remember to use your histogram to check your exposure because in sunny conditions a butterfly’s wings will reflect the light resulting in overexposure and loss of detail. In these situations, I often underexpose my images by 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop to retain as much detail as I can. Lastly, be sure your shadow does not project over the butterfly as this change from light to dark will cause the butterfly to spook and take flight.
With plenty of warm spring days to come there will be ample opportunities to get out and search for these early emerging butterflies. Find a sunny deciduous forest close to water, and keep your eyes peeled for their colourful aerial dance. With a little patience, these butterflies will land displaying their beautiful colours. This experience combined with the warm spring sun is bound to a smile on your face.
Good birding,
Paul
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Watching this Red-tailed Hawk capture and consume a vole was a treat to observe and photograph.
In my last post, Spring Has Sprung And The Birds Are Arriving On Cue I mentioned birding lately where there are no people so I can get out while practicing social distancing. These locations have proven to be incredibly rewarding in terms of birds and I have found the solitude to be incredibly beneficial for clearing my head and reducing stress.
A high perch provides a great vantage point of the meadow below.
At one location in particular, I have had great views of a Red-tailed Hawk routinely seen soaring overhead or perched in a tree overlooking a large meadow. On my last visit as I made my way back to the car, I saw the hawk sitting up high in a tree and moved in for a better view.
After noticing something move in the field below the hawk took flight.
One thing I always do when trying to get close to any type of wildlife is never walk directly towards it. I find by taking a zig-zag approach or going wide around the subject and advancing from the periphery I can get much closer. Also, I avoid direct eye contact rather keeping the subject in view out of the corner of my eye. In my opinion, approaching an animal straight on replicates a predator stalking its prey and the subject is almost guaranteed to flee.
At first, I couldn’t tell if the hawk had captured something of simply had a talon full of grass.
As I got closer, I took several photos of the hawk perched against the clear blue sky. Sticking with the adage if my behavior changes their behaviour than I’m too close, I did not proceed as the bird remained calmly at rest in the tree. Watching the hawk, I could see something in the long grass caught its eye. With my camera still held near my face, the hawk took flight and swooped down to the ground about forty feet from where I was standing. As the bird hopped around on the ground I wasn’t sure if it had captured anything or not. After repositioning itself I could see the hawk had a vole in its talons.
After repositioning itself I could see the hawk had captured a vole.
I watched for several minutes as the hawk consumed the vole. First a few small bites then eventually swallowing what was left whole. Once finished the hawk took flight and retreated to a nearby tree. The whole experience lasted less than ten minutes and was a treat to see and photograph.
The hawk’s sharp beak easily made short work of the vole.
To capture these images I used my Canon 7D and Canon 100-400mm lens (both the old versions not the MkII) at 400mm. The images in this post are cropped only slightly to improve the composition. As far as camera settings go I was using aperture priority mode with my aperture set to f/8 and ISO at 800 resulting in a shutter speed of 1/1600.
After tearing off several smaller pieces the hawk swallowed the vole.
I hope everyone is getting an opportunity to get out and enjoy the warmer temps and spring weather we have been experiencing lately. The sunny skies sure are brightening our days both literally and metaphorically. If you get the chance, find a secluded place near you and spend a few minutes immersed in nature and sunshine. This is a great way to forget about what is going on in the world, relieve stress, and appreciate the little things that surround us each day.
Red-winged Winged Blackbirds and other spring migrants have returned to Southwestern Ontario.
For most of us, we are facing an unprecedented amount of uncertainty in our lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home, not working at all, and worrying about loved ones has added stress to our lives. For me, despite working from home already as a medical transcriptionist, I too find myself without work as hospitals have canceled all nonurgent surgeries, consultations, and other visit types I would typically transcribe.
For many, the American Robin signifies the arrival of spring.
To alleviate my increased stress I turn to the one thing that has always helped, nature. For me, enjoying nature has always been my go-to whenever times are tough. No matter what the situation, nature has been my remedy. One thing in life right now is certain, spring has arrived and with it has come many spring migrants.
Killdeer are the first shorebird to return to our area each spring.
Many early migrants have already appeared here in the city of London. Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and Killdeer have all arrived. A wide variety of waterfowl, both dabblers and divers, can be found on area lakes and ponds that are now void of ice. Species that overwinter in the city, albeit in lesser quantities including Great Blue Herons and American Robins have seen a large bump in their numbers in recent weeks.
This Common Grackle was not shy about announcing its arrival.
I am taking social distancing very seriously. All of my groceries are now ordered online for delivery, and I only leave home to get out for a walk and some fresh air. When it comes to social distancing and birding, I was pretty good at this even before COVID-19 as I have always preferred birding in secluded situations and have since kicked this up a notch. In my opinion, city parks, ESAs, and conservation areas are likely too crowded and the narrow trails could present a challenge keeping the recommended 6 feet apart from others. This is precisely why provincial parks and some conservation areas have decided to close as distancing can be an issue. As a result, my birding is taking place in some of my “secret areas” where I have no interaction with others.
Great Blue Herons were among the many birds observed around local stormwater ponds.
Area stormwater ponds are great places to check for early spring migrants. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and blackbirds are just a few of the species attracted to these human-made wetlands. A recent check of a few of these ponds near me revealed several Great Blue Herons. Birds can be viewed at many of these ponds without even exiting the car with most having a trail around them if a short walk is desired.
Mourning Dove
Resident birds have been plentiful in one particular location I have been visiting recently. The mixed habitat in this area provides something for every species and therefore attracts a wide variety of birds. The forest, meadow, thickets, and water source at this spot is home to waterfowl, songbirds, and even birds of prey, and I have been treated to some great views.
White-tailed Deer
I have also enjoyed great views of several mammals including White-tailed Deer. Our city has a large population and these creatures can be found in most areas if you move quietly. Now is the time of year when bucks begin to shed their antlers and so far I have found one small set. This sort of scavenger hunt has added to the fun of being outdoors. Many of the bucks I have seen still have their antlers so there will be plenty of opportunities to find larger sheds.
Red-tailed Hawk soaring above an open meadow in search of its next meal.
During this time, I have found my appreciation for nature to be even greater. I often stop to watch a squirrel feeding on maple keys or hopping along the forest floor. These small things I previously overlooked somehow seem even more important. Given the circumstances the world is facing, it would be easy to go into a tailspin of depression but fortunately as in the past nature has kept me grounded. As long as we are allowed outdoors I will continue to visit these areas and practice self-isolation and social distancing.
Great Blue Heron
If you are getting out and enjoying nature at this time, please heed the advice of experts and avoid crowded parks, keep 6 feet apart, and wash your hands often. If we all follow these simple steps our lives will return to normal much faster. Regardless of the state of the world, spring migration will still happen and if we are all smart with our practices we will all be able to continue to get out and enjoy this amazing spectacle. Stay safe, stay healthy, and as always
Blue Jays were among the many birds present on a recent visit to Greenway Park.
Greenway Park in London, Ontario is where my photographic journey began. Since purchasing my first DSLR, I find myself returning to this park regularly because of the abundance of birds and wildlife present.
Downy Woodpecker
After a recent warmup in the city and sunny skies, I was chomping at the bit to return to one of my favorite locations for a morning of birding. Following three days of mild temperatures and southwest winds I was curious to see if any early spring migrants had returned and thought the chances of seeing my first Red-winged Blackbird of the year were pretty good.
There’s never any shortage of Mallards at Greenway Park. I think this pair was enjoying the sunshine as much as I was.
Arriving at the park around 9 a.m. Mother Nature greeted me with a spring-like feel. The sky was blue and the temperature a balmy 7 degrees Celcius. This was the first day in a while I did not need to wear a toque, leaving it and my gloves in the car. Birds could be heard singing loudly as if announcing their excitement with the beautiful weather.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Making my way along the Thames River, the yank, yank, yank, call of White-breasted Nuthatches could be heard while a large flock of Blue Jays tried to drown them out with loud calls of their own. Blue Jays do overwinter in our area, but many migrate south, and I couldn’t help but think this vocal group was one that had recently returned with the favourable winds.
American Robin
It is not uncommon to see American Robins at Greenway Park during the winter months, but on this day their numbers were obviously increased. Like the jays, my guess is these birds were also recent returnees to the area. Further up the river, I did in fact see my first Red-winged Blackbird of the year after being alerted by its signature call.
The light coloured eyes and bands on the tail, indicate this Red-tailed Hawk is an immature bird.
Greenway Park is a great place to observe birds of prey including the Red-tailed Hawk. On this visit, I located and was treated to great views of an immature bird. Closer to Woodland Cemetery, several White-tailed Deer were observed along the top of the ridge overlooking the park.
White-tailed Deer are often observed on the hillside leading into Woodland Cemetery.
While at the park, I decided to film another installment of my new video blog which I have since published on YouTube. I have included that vlog below which is filled with video footage of the aforementioned wildlife. If you enjoy my vlog, be sure to subscribe on YouTube, so you don’t miss out on new episodes.
With more spring-like weather and southwest winds in the forecast this week, I’m sure we will see more early migrants returning to the area. With an imminent change of season fast approaching, it’s an exciting time to get out birding. If you have time later this week, I highly recommend a walk through Greenway Park as there is always a nice variety of birds to see.
This Red-bellied Woodpecker is showing off the red belly for which they are named. This field mark is often hard to see as it is typically pressed firmly against a tree.
Differentiating between a Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpecker should be fairly straightforward. Their names alone would suggest one has a red belly while the other a red head. Why then are these woodpeckers often mistaken and called by the wrong name? It likely is because these birds are similar in size, colour, and both display red on their heads. Properly identifying these two woodpeckers is incredibly easy if you keep one thing in mind. The Red-headed Woodpecker is the only eastern woodpecker with an entirely red head.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is the only woodpecker in Southwestern Ontario with a solid red head.
To be fair, it’s not hard to see where the confusion comes from. The red belly of a Red-bellied Woodpecker is incredibly hard to see as this part of the bird is typically pressed against the trunk of a tree. To the untrained eye looking up an seeing a woodpecker with a large amount of red on its head one would assume red-headed, hence the erroneous identification an honest mistake.
Female Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a grey forehead and crown.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are far more common in Southwestern Ontario and the one most likely to frequent a backyard feeder. These birds can be attracted to feeders by offering peanuts, sunflower seeds, or suet. A visit to many of our city parks, ESAs, and other natural areas often reveals a Red-bellied Woodpecker. These birds have a black and white zebra-like pattern on their backs with the male displaying red on its forehead, crown, and nape while the female only has red on her nape with a grey forehead and crown.
This Red-headed Woodpecker, note the solid red head, black back and white wing patches, was observed at John E. Pearce Provincial Park.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is far less common across the region and in fact, is currently listed as a species at risk in Ontario. Your best chance to see one of these birds is at Pinery Provincial Park, Rondeau Provincial Park, orJohn E. Pearce Provincial Park as a visit to one of these parks will often reveal this bird. The Red-headed Woodpecker has a solid black back with large white wing patches and again an entirely red head. In this species, the male and female are similar in appearance.
Red-headed Woodpeckers are less common at backyard feeders, but I was fortunate to have this one show up a few years ago.
When it comes to identifying immature birds of these two species this becomes more of a challenge as the amount of red on their heads varies depending on age. Look for the white wing patches to contrast a dusky body and head of a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker while a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker displays the same zebra-like pattern as an adult only with a dusky head. As both species mature, look for more red to appear on their heads.
The male Red-bellied Woodpecker displays a large amount of red on its head (forehead, crown, and nape) but lacks red on its entire head.
If you are out birding and come across a medium-sized woodpecker with a significant amount of red on its head look closely to see if its entire head is red. If so, you are looking at a Red-headed Woodpecker. If only parts of its head are red then it’s a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Remember this quick and easy tip next time you are in the field to easily differentiate these easily misidentified woodpeckers.
Carefully choosing my settings for both the amount of light and my subject helped me capture this image of a Green Heron.
Whether you are a professional photographer or simply a hobbyist, the goal of everyone who photographs birds is the same, sharper images. What many beginners often fail to realize is that sharp images have more to do with knowing how to properly use a camera and getting the most out of it than the price tag on it. Camera settings are what make or break a photo, and in this post I am going to share with you four settings you may not be using that will help improve your final images.
Capturing this image of a Common Tern moments after passing a small perch to a youngster required the proper camera settings.
1. Use Aperture Priority Mode Or Manual Mode To Set Your Exposure
Every great image starts with proper exposure. If your exposure is off these photos are destined for the recycle bin. Getting the correct exposure in-camera is key as this results in the best image possible. If you have to adjust your exposure in Lightroom or other photo editing program after the fact your image quality is going to suffer. The more you adjust the more it suffers. For anyone still shooting in automatic mode, the sooner you move out of this mode the sooner your images will improve. Remember when shooting in automatic mode your camera is calculating your exposure for you based on the amount of available light. Light is only part of the equation when it comes to an image. What about your subject? Isn’t that after all the purpose of taking the photo to capture the subject? Since your camera cannot identify your subject or whether or not it is moving leaving elements of the exposure such as shutter speed up to the camera is a bad idea. In order to get sharp images, you have to set the parameters of your exposure based not only on the amount of available light but also your subject and the only way to do this is by taking control of your settings.
I photographed this Black-crowned Night Heron using aperture priority mode while paying close attention to my histogram. Learning how to read your camera’s histogram will ensure proper exposure and help capture the most detail especially in a bird’s white feathers.
If you are new to photography and a bit overwhelmed by exposure, I recommend starting with aperture priority mode. In this mode, you select the aperture and ISO and the camera will automatically select the correct corresponding shutter speed. By doing this you can choose a wide aperture and high ISO which results in a fast shutter speed thus freezing the action of a fast-moving bird. Whenever the light permits, I like my shutter speed to be at least 1/1000 to ensure sharp images. Many will ask why not use shutter priority set at 1/1000? There are several reasons I do not use shutter priority. First, in aperture priority mode I have control of depth of field which allows me to better isolate my subject from the background. Second, in low light, I would have to shoot at a very high ISO to achieve 1/1000 shutter speed and my image would be too noisy. For anyone shooting with a full-frame camera, this option may work for you but on my APS-C sensor, I would not be impressed with my final images. This is one of the few instances where I would delete a photo due to noise. In low light situations with aperture priority mode, the camera will choose a slower shutter speed but with good technique, I can still freeze the action. If the light is really poor and the bird is moving I may end up with a blurry image but this is a limitation of my gear and the reality of photography some times. The only way to overcome this would be to invest in a full-frame camera capable of shooting at a much higher ISO.
Far too often images are underexposed when shooting in fully automatic mode. The only way to ensure proper exposure is by taking control of your settings.
The other option is to shoot in manual mode. In this mode, the photographer chooses all aspects of the exposure shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Manual mode is a bit trickier as there is one more element to factor in but once comfortable you have full control and can really fine-tune your exposure with even the slightest change in light. Regardless of which of these two modes you choose, be sure to check your exposure on your histogram and adjust your settings accordingly to get the proper exposure.
Despite not being an overly fast-moving subject, I still chose an ISO of 800 to ensure my shutter speed was fast enough to freeze these Sandhill Cranes as they moved across a cornfield.
2. Carefully Select Your ISO
Regardless of whether you choose aperture priority or manual mode selecting the proper ISO is imperative. Too high and ISO and you end up with noisy images, too low an ISO and you won’t achieve a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action. One misconception many photographers have is that their camera is not capable of sharp, noise-free images at 800 ISO or higher. In my experience, any DSLR on the market today is quite capable of noise-free images at 800 ISO and even slightly higher if you get the exposure right. The problem is when you get the exposure wrong in-camera and start making adjustments in Lightroom, especially when you try to brighten an underexposed image. This accentuates the noise rendering the photo unusable. If the proper exposure is achieved in-camera very little noise is seen when opened in Lightroom and can easily be removed with the noise reduction slider.
A higher ISO results in a faster shutter speed which is required to freeze the action of a fast-moving bird. Digital noise can easily be removed in Lightroom or similar programs.
Whenever I am out in the field, I always start at ISO 800 as this typically results in a shutter speed of 1/1000 with a wide-open aperture even on cloudy days. If it is really cloudy, early morning, or other low light conditions I will bump my ISO up to 1250 or even 1600 and have no issues with noise provided I get the exposure correct. When I botch my exposure these images quickly get deleted upon returning home. I don’t even bother trying to adjust the exposure in Lightroom as I know these images will appear too noisy. When this occurs, and I fully admit it does, I think of the old saying you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. This is not the fault of the camera, the blame is solely on me for choosing the wrong settings or not being able to adjust them fast enough for the changing conditions. On sunny days I set my ISO lower but usually cannot go below 400 and still achieve a shutter speed of 1/1000. The bottom line is don’t be afraid to up your ISO. Sharp images with a bit of noise are better than a blurry image with no noise. When exposed properly you will miss more shots due to motion blur, a result of a shutter speed that was too slow, than you will because an image is too noisy.
Photographing an Osprey while it balances on a narrow perch seconds after it lands it much easier shooting multiple frames simultaneously.
3. Choose High-Speed Continuous Shooting
Cameras these days are capable of some pretty impressive burst rates now over 10 frames per second on newer models. However, if your camera is set to one-shot or single shooting you are not taking advantage of this feature. The only way to achieve a flight sequence of a bird of prey or waterfowl is to obtain focus and hold down the shutter, thus utilizing your maximum frames per second. This setting also comes in handy with slower-moving subjects like a shorebird running down the beach or a flitting songbird.
Those of you familiar with the Sora will know they are not an easy bird to see or photograph as they often stay well-hidden. Tracking this bird until it stepped out into the clear allowed me to achieve this image.
4. Use AI Servo (Canon Shooters) or AF-C (Nikon Shooters) Auto Focus
Obtaining focus on a moving bird is certainly challenging but fortunately, this setting will help. When using AI Servo, or AF-C for you Nikon shooters, your camera will continuously focus on a moving subject as long as your shutter button is held halfway down. This allows you to track a bird in flight or a small songbird as its hops from branch to branch while maintaining focus. When you see the shot you want, hold the shutter button down and take advantage of the high-speed continuous shooting I mentioned earlier.
Conclusion
Choosing the right camera settings can seem overwhelming and a bit confusing especially if you are new to photography. Anyone can achieve sharper images regardless of how much your equipment cost; however, this requires you to step outside your comfort zone and adjust a few of your camera settings. If you are not certain how to make these adjustments consult your camera’s manual. With the press of a few buttons, these changes can be easily made.
Bird photography is supposed to be fun, not frustrating. Making sure you are using the best possible settings is the first step in capturing stunning images. If you haven’t already, give these camera settings a try and I’m sure you will see an improvement in your final images.
Good birding,
Paul
*Curious about what camera, lenses, and other equipment I use for nature photography? Be sure to check out my gear page for more details.*
This Belted Kingfisher was observed last weekend while birding at Huron Street Woods.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have not been doing much birding thanks to a case of shingles. Surprisingly, I have found the pain tolerable, and the rash has not bothered me too much either. Based on the horror stories of others I know who have had shingles I feared the worst when my doctor gave me the diagnosis. What has given me the most trouble is the lack of energy and becoming easily fatigued. As a result, I have not been out walking as much and trying to heed the advice I received to take it easy. Feeling a bit better and seriously missing nature, I decided to take my camera and go for a short walk at Huron Street Woods.
Male House Finch
Parking at the North London Athletic Fields, I was greeted by a gusty southwest wind. Whenever birding in breezy conditions, I always look for protected areas as this is where I find most birds trying to avoid the moving air. Fortunately, Huron Street Woods is well protected by a large hill to the west, so I headed south along the trail in the direction of this sheltered area. As I approached, I could not hear anything in the way of bird sounds which did not bode well. In fact, the only thing I could hear was the rope of the Canadian flag on top of St. Peter’s Seminary making a dinging sound as it slammed against the flag pole in the strong wind. I made my way down a narrow path to the Thames River. A small creek, which I believe is essentially runoff from King’s College and the neighbouring streets enters the Thames here and is where I found a Belted Kingfisher. After snapping a few photos I went back up to the main path and continued south.
This image shows only a portion of the large flock of House Finches observed on this day.
A little further along I could hear the calls of several House Finches. From the sound of things, this was quite a large flock. Looking up I could see the birds, both males and females, sitting in the top of a small tree. I never did an exact count on all the birds, but I estimate the flock to be between two and three dozen. Also present in this area were several cardinals, chickadees, and juncos.
Carolina Wren
Making my way back north I could hear two Carolina Wrens calling back and forth in a swampy area beside the trail. Stopping to see if I could locate the birds for a photo, a Song Sparrow came into view. Finally, one of the Carolina Wrens appeared where I could capture an unobstructed photo.
This Winter Wren emerged from the fallen logs and held still just long enough for me to capture an image.
As I tracked these two birds with my camera while they flitted around one of the Carolina Wrens chased a Winter Wren from the fallen logs. To my surprise, the Winter Wren landed about six feet from where I was standing. As I tried to quickly flip my lens’ focus limiter switch the wren flew a short distance away. Fortunately, this bird landed not too far away allowing me to capture a few photos.
Huron Street Woods is home to an abundance of woodpeckers and I always seem to find a Red-bellied whenever I visit.
Hearing the chur chur chur call of a Red-bellied Woodpecker I scanned the trees and located this male bird. Raising my camera and pressing the shutter I captured several images of my favourite bird. With the late afternoon light now fading and the snow starting to fall, I made my way back to the car. I was glad I worked up the energy to leave the house and do some birding. Surrounding myself with birds and breathing in the fresh air certainly had me feeling better proving that a stroll through Huron Street Woods was just what the doctor ordered.
While at the Pinery working on my first video blog, this Tufted Titmouse was one of the many birds photographed.
Something new I decided to launch in 2020 is a video blog, commonly referred to as a vlog. The purpose of my new vlog is to bring you out in the field with me on my adventures and hopefully better show you some of the areas I visit and the wildlife I encounter while there.
The cloudy morning skies and low light conditions presented a nice opportunity for some black and white landscapes.
I have to admit shooting video is pretty new to me, but I am going to do my best to put together something that is both entertaining and educational. It is my hope that in each episode I can share more information on how I go about finding subjects to photograph and the camera settings and techniques I use in each situation to capture the images. I plan on including plenty of video footage of the wildlife encountered while adding still photos captured into each vlog as well. For those of you loyal blog subscribers, I will still be doing my written blog as well.
This Black-capped Chickadee preferred to be on the camera rather than in front of it.
Last week I visited Pinery Provincial Parkfor a day of birding and to shoot my first vlog episode. All in all, I was pretty satisfied with how it turned out considering my lack of video experience and learning how to use new software to piece the video and photo segments together. I realize I need to make a few tweaks for episode two. For instance, I left the still frames up too long which makes it appear the video is over. In the future, I plan on shortening this and adding voiceover explaining what camera settings I used and why given the situation.
This Opossum was a pleasant surprise under the feeders at the visitor centre.
I invite you to watch my first vlog episode below titled Winter Birding and Photography at Pinery Provincial Park. If you enjoy it, please subscribe on YouTube and be sure to click the bell to be notified when new episodes are published. Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestion of what you would like to see in future episodes.
