How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps

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?

16315001417 d95eda8f0f o - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 9659 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 0780 2 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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 Monopod for 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.

IMG 0500 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 1737 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — 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.

IMG 2307 1 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 7317 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 0496 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 9932 - How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps — **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.

Good birding,
Paul

*If you found this post helpful you might also like 4 Camera Settings All Bird Photographers Should Be Using.*

* 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!*

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Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding

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.

IMG 4394 - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.

IMG 8272 Edit - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.

IMG 7630 - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.

IMG 5542 - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.

IMG 5054 2 - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.

IMG 7133 - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.

IMG 4828 2 - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.

IMG 4254 - Reading The Conditions Leads To An Amazing Morning Of Birding — **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.*

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3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn’t Let You Down

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.

IMG 2750 Edit - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — **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”.

IMG 7007 2 - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — 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!

IMG 3305 Edit - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — **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.

IMG 7717 - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — **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.

IMG 7576 Edit 3 - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — 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.

IMG 3774 Edit - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — **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 of Powerextra batteries complete with a USB charger for a fraction of the price.

IMG 6872 - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — **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.

IMG 3257 Edit 3 - 3 Easy Steps To Ensure Your Camera Battery Doesn't Let You Down — **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!*

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First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds

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.

IMG 1594 Edit - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.

IMG 1562 Edit - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.

IMG 1229 Edit - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.

IMG 1761 - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.

IMG 1387 Edit 2 - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.

IMG 1145 - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.

IMG 1639 Edit - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.

IMG 1749 - First Snow Offers A New Setting For Photographing Birds — **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.*

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Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants

Birding this spring has certainly been unique. Unique in the sense that with provincial parks and many conservation areas closed the obvious destinations for taking in spring migration have been off-limits. As a result, I have found myself frequenting an area that remains open and is underutilized to get my fix of spring migrants.

IMG 6866 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Yellow Warblers are one of the earliest arriving warblers in Southwestern Ontario and can now be readily observed.**

Now when I say underutilized I don’t just mean in regards to birding I mean underutilized period. This area has been almost absent of birders, dog walkers, runners, you name it. If fact, having spent all day at this location multiple times this spring the busiest day saw just three other users over the course of the entire day. I’ve had this area virtually to myself all day and the birding has been great.

IMG 1816 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Brown Thrasher**

All of the migrants I would expect to see the first week of May have been present with some seen in greater numbers than others. On one visit, I saw more Brown Thrashers in a single day than I have before in my entire life. Warblers, orioles, grosbeaks, as well as a plethora of resident species, have also been plentiful.

IMG 7304 Edit 2 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **On one visit to this area, I was greeted to the calls of a Wood Thrush as I exited my car. After scanning with my binoculars I located the bird foraging under a spruce tree.**

Wood Thrushes, a species currently listed as special concern on Ontario’s species at risk list, have been surprisingly prevalent at this location. These birds along with the aforementioned Brown Thrashers, Eastern Towhees, and White-throated Sparrows could be heard scratching in the leaf litter on the forest floor.

IMG 5855 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Gray Catbirds can be a challenge to see due to their propensity to frequent thick cover. Fortunately, their cat-like call helps reveal their location.**

Working my way along the dense thickets at the edge of the forest, the cat-like meow of Gray Catbirds could be heard. Fortunately, some birds could be observed on top of the thickets feeding on berries affording me the opportunity for a photo or two.

IMG 6068 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **This Black-and-White Warbler is one of the many warblers I have observed while birding in this area.**

Most of the warblers that return the first week of May have been recorded including Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Palm, and Black-and-White. Large numbers of Chipping Sparrows have also been seen and heard from around the property.

IMG 3814 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **The White Trillium is the provincial flower of Ontario. In the underutilized area I have been birding lately these gorgeous wildflowers are abundant.**

IMG 3799 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Red Trillium also known as the Wake Robin**

This area is home to a multitude of wildflowers including Trilliums, Trout Lillies, Mayapples, and a host of others I have yet to identify. Wildflower identification is something I continue to work on with the help of my Peterson Field Guide To Wildflowers. The sight of the forest floor displaying a rainbow of colours was something to behold.

IMG 7115 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Red Admiral Butterfly**

Mornings last week started cool but each day the temperature quickly climbed and the birds and wildlife became more active. As the mercury rose Red Admiral, Mourning Cloak, and Eastern Comma Butterflies were observed flying in and around the forest.

IMG 6234 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **The bold white eyering of the Least Flycatcher helps separate it from other Empidonax flycatchers.**

With Doug Ford announcing the opening of provincial parks and conservation areas next week I imagine many birders will be flocking to Rondeau, Komoka, and the Pinery as well as everyone else who has been missing these great parks. I think I’ll sit this spring at the usual hotspots out and continue to physical distance just to be on the safe side. After all, I have found an underutilized area I have enjoyed all to myself and plan to return this week.

IMG 7997 - Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants — **Baltimore Oriole**

Normally I am happy to share where and provide directions to the areas I bird, but given the current situation I’m keeping this area a secret and I hope you support my reasoning for this. If you get the chance this week, head out for some birding and enjoy the great outdoors. Remember we still need to physical distance as we are not out of the woods yet. The second week of May is typically the best week of spring migration and I’m curious to see what species will appear at this amazing location. Stay safe and as always

Good birding,
Paul

* Please note this post contains an Amazon affiliate link. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*

*I’ve uploaded a new video to my YouTube Channel titled Birding At My Local Patch. In this video, I find several species including warblers, Wood Ducks, and a Bald Eagle to name a few.*

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Photography Workshops: Be Ready For Spring Migration

After receiving several email requests about photography workshops, I am now offering private one on one, or group, in the field workshops to help improve your photography skills, techniques, and ultimately your final images. Wildlife photography is incredibly fun, challenging and frustrating all at the same time. Properly understanding camera functions and settings, and how each pertains to the shot you are trying to capture, will help remove much of the frustration. Being able to make quick, simple adjustments while shooting will have you seeing a substantial improvement in your final images.

Watermark5 - Photography Workshops: Be Ready For Spring Migration — Image quality has more to do with the person behind the camera than the cost of your equipment. This Black-capped Chickadee was photographed with the Canon EFS 55-250mm f-4-5.6 IS II; a lens that retails for $299.00

You do not need to own a professional DSLR or lens that costs as much as a compact car to achieve quality images. One of the misconceptions I hear most when it comes to photography is, “If I had that camera and lens I could take pictures like that too”. This could not be further from the truth. You could run out and spend the equivalent of the down payment on your home for a camera and lens, but if you do not know how to operate them, your end result still won’t be what you are hoping for. During my photography workshops I will show you that image quality has more to do with with the person behind the camera than the price tag on your equipment; you will leave the workshop with the understanding of how to get the most out of your equipment, resulting in better final images.

Watermark 11 - Photography Workshops: Be Ready For Spring Migration — My one on one workshops focus on your skill level and your camera and lens setup. I will show you how on your camera to quickly adjust your settings so you will be ready for the changing conditions or subjects.

My one on one photography workshops are designed for you to get the most out of your specific camera and lens setup. I will show you how to get quality results regardless of what equipment you own by simply understanding camera functions and how to adjust them to your subject, shooting style, and conditions on a given day. It does not matter if you shoot Canon, Nikon or another brand, I can help you increase the number of keeper shots you take.

Watermark 1 31 - Photography Workshops: Be Ready For Spring Migration — Wildlife photography not your thing? Understanding camera functions and settings are equally important to better images in landscape photography. Landscape photography workshops are also available.

As a self taught photographer, I have spent countless hours watching, reading and studying tutorials on wildlife and landscape photography and put in the trial and error that goes with them. Many of the tutorials out there are great, but they did not always relate to my shooting style or deal with the constantly changing conditions we face as photographers. These tutorials often left me with more questions than answers, and unfortunately there was no available support to answer my questions.

By spending time with me in the field, I will answer any questions or help clarify areas of confusion as you shoot, so at the end of the day you are left with no questions, just the knowledge needed to improve your photography. If you happen to forget or need a refresher on one of the areas covered at a later date, I am available for follow up support via email.

Watermark 1 2 - Photography Workshops: Be Ready For Spring Migration — Light conditions are constantly changing in wildlife photography. Being able to quickly adjust my camera settings from shooting a cardinal perched in a dark spruce tree to this juvenile Bald Eagle landing against an overcast sky is what captured this image, not the price of my camera or lens.

So who will benefit from my photography workshops? If you currently achieve better results from your cell phone than your DSLR, I can help. If you are new to digital photography or still shooting in automatic mode, I can help. We will start with the basics, metering and exposure and work up from there. I will show you that leaving shutter speed, aperture, or ISO decisions about the image you are trying to create up to your camera, will not result in the best final image. You need to take control of your camera functions for the specific subject you wish to capture and the conditions you are faced with at that time. This may seem overwhelming, but I will show you this is easily mastered and imperative to better images. If you are more advanced, but still struggle with certain aspects like birds in flight, or difficult lighting situations, I can help here too. Looking to move into full manual mode so you can quickly change from photographing static birds, to birds in flight without lowering the camera from your eye? My workshops will assist here too.

Watermark 1 4 - Photography Workshops: Be Ready For Spring Migration — My one on one photography workshops can be specifically designed to cover various subjects of wildlife photography, including macro shots of insects.

My in the field photography workshops begin at two hours in length. I am confident that in that time frame I will be able to show you how to improve your final images regardless of your skill level. If you wish, I am available for longer sessions, such as half or full days. If you have a group and a venue, and would prefer an in class session or a combined in class and outdoor shooting workshop, this can be arranged. Workshops can be scheduled on weekends, weekdays, or evenings as daylight hours increase.

Watermark 1 41 - Photography Workshops: Be Ready For Spring Migration — Back lit subjects or overcast conditions often result in underexposed images. During my one on one photography workshops, I will show you how to adjust to difficult light conditions.

Mid April is when we will start to see the return of migratory birds as spring migration gets under way. Ospreys, swallows, orioles, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are some of the first birds observed in our area. By early May, migration will be in full swing. Warblers, thrushes and other songbirds will be returning to, or moving through the area. Will you be ready to capture all of these beautiful birds with image results you are satisfied with? If not, you have roughly eight weeks to learn and hone the skills needed to do so. My goal is to help you improve the quality of your final images regardless of your current skill level or camera you own. For more information including: price, locations, and how to schedule a workshop, visit my Photography Workshops page.

Good birding,
Paul

Photographing Birds: Tips and Tricks

I am receiving a lot of questions lately from followers asking about my camera gear, camera settings, and any pointers I can offer to help them with their bird photography. This post is designed to help answer some of these questions and hopefully give you something to take away to help improve your shots.

Currently, I am using the Canon 7D with the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens. I do like the versatility of the zoom, but have to admit the majority of my shots are taken at 400mm. I love the 8 frames per second on the 7D, especially for photographing birds in flight, and the autofocus on the 100-400mm is accurate and fast. New models of both of these pieces of equipment were introduced this year, so if you are looking to upgrade, prices have been drastically reduced on these noncurrent items.

I like to incorporate my bird photography with hiking, so for this reason, I do not use a tripod and shoot everything handheld. I am not one to stay in the same spot long, so for me setting up and taking down a tripod is too much of a hassle. I do use a tripod for landscape photography.

IMG 5704 1 2 - Photographing Birds: Tips and Tricks — Under ideal conditions, I like to shoot with low ISO and a high shutter speed. The low ISO results in a less noisy image and the high shutter speed helps freeze the action if the bird moves. 1/1250th second ISO 640 f8 at 400mm.

My first piece of advice, if you haven’t already done so, is to stop shooting in any of the program modes. In these modes, the cameras adjust ISO, aperture, and shutter speed automatically. The camera does it’s best job to get these settings right, but when it comes to bird photography these program modes will really hold you back.

As far as what settings I use, this obviously varies depending on the conditions. I like to use the lowest ISO possible, but maintain a high enough shutter speed to freeze the action. Unfortunately, with birds this is where the difficulty comes in. In order to get a high enough shutter speed, you must increase the ISO, but if you increase the ISO too much you get noisy images. In order to improve the quality, you must first understand the limitations of your equipment.

Regardless of what camera and lens set up you own, it is going to perform best at certain settings. For example, a camera’s image quality drastically decreases once you reach a certain ISO. Similarly, lenses are much sharper when not shot at their widest apertures. It doesn’t matter if you own an entry-level DSLR and kit lens or a top of the line professional body and super-telephoto lens, each piece of equipment has what I call a sweet spot.

15954808585 678c2fa111 o - Photographing Birds: Tips and Tricks — **Photographing birds in flight requires a fast shutter speed. Sometimes a little blur on the wings is nice to capture the element of motion. 1/800th second ISO 400 f8 at 400mm.**

Finding your camera’s sweet spot is quite easy, but requires the use of a tripod to eliminate any shake factor. Go outside and look for a subject to photograph. Make sure it is something stationary as you are going to take several shots of the same object. Switch your camera to aperture priority mode and extend your lens to it’s maximum range. Adjust the aperture on your camera to the widest aperture for your lens. On most kit lenses this will be f5.6. Set your ISO to 100. In aperture priority mode the camera will adjust the shutter speed for you. Take a photo of the predetermined object. Increase your ISO to 200 and take another photo of the same object. Continue to do this throughout the ISO settings on your camera. This will allow you to see the increased noise as you increase ISO, and where on your camera it becomes too noisy.

Similarly, you are going to want to do the same with aperture. To do this, keep your ISO at the same setting and only adjust your aperture. Again, the camera will adjust the shutter speed accordingly for proper exposure. Take repeated shots of the same stationary object as you narrow your aperture, f6.3, f7.1, f8, etc. You will notice your images become sharper. This will let you know at what aperture your lens is sharpest.

15669633139 966b1fb71a o - Photographing Birds: Tips and Tricks — **As is the case with anything, practice is key. The more you shoot, the better you will become. 1/1250th second ISO 500 f8 at 400mm.**

If you are just starting out I recommend shooting in aperture priority mode. Set your ISO to auto, but a maximum of whatever value your camera still performs best at. In most cases this will be 800. Set your aperture to the sharpest value you determined in the previous test. Note: be sure to keep a wide enough aperture to allow adequate shutter speeds, which are required to capture sharp images of moving birds. Likely f8 is going to be best. By doing this, you are shooting at the best possible aperture and ISO for camera and lens combination, while the camera adjusts the shutter speed. Light conditions are going to play a huge factor so I recommend doing this under good light conditions. By narrowing your aperture and limiting your ISO, I think you will see an improvement in your image quality.

15206765374 5b27c176a9 o - Photographing Birds: Tips and Tricks — **As conditions change throughout the day so too must your camera settings. 1/640th second f8 ISO 800 at 400mm.**

I have since moved to full manual mode, which gives full control over shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. With my particular set up, my lens is sharpest at f8 and images start to get increasingly noisy above 800 ISO. For this reason, I try to shoot at these settings and adjust my shutter speed accordingly to achieve proper exposure. Ideally, I like a shutter speed of 1/1000 or slightly higher, especially to freeze a moving bird. For birds in flight, I will increase this even higher. Unfortunately, light conditions do not always allow for this so shutter speed, aperture, or ISO must be adjusted accordingly.

IMG 7167 1 - Photographing Birds: Tips and Tricks — **Weather conditions do not always allow fast shutter speeds, low ISO, and optimum apertures; camera settings must be adjusted accordingly. 1/200th second f5.6 ISO 800 at 400mm.**

Sharp images are still achievable at lower shutter speeds with the help of image stabilization if the bird holds still. Practice holding your camera steady; keeping your arms close to your body will help eliminate shake. Use your knee or some other object to help stabilize your camera. Breathing can also help reduce camera shake. Once you have composed your shot and focused on a bird, take a breath in. Exhale slowly and gently press the shutter once you have almost expelled your breath. I have found this technique incredibly helpful. Quite often shake is caused by excitement of a new species or anticipation of a shot, and practicing this breathing helps calm and relax you prior to the shot.

IMG 7191 1 - Photographing Birds: Tips and Tricks — **Black-capped Chickadee. 1/200th second ISO 800 f5.6 at 400mm.**

Shoot often and take lots of pictures. That is the joy of digital. Hundreds of images can be easily discarded without spending a fortune on film or developing charges. Do not get discouraged, use each outing as a learning experience, and try to improve one aspect of your photography each time you are out. Most importantly, only compare your photos against your photos. There will always be photographers who produce better images than you and those who do not. This for me has been the best way to see and measure results.

If you have any further questions regarding bird photography, I am always available and willing to offer assistance. If a private, one on one or small group lesson in the field would be beneficial to you please contact me and we can arrange a time and place.

Good birding,
Paul

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Sparrows

White-throated Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile)

House Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Song Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Winter Blast Drastically Changes Birding Conditions

What a difference a week makes. Last Tuesday, temperatures in London spiked to 16°C. For many, outdoor activities were enjoyed in a light jacket or sweater. So far this week, we’ve seen a light dusting of snow and daytime highs hovering around -6°C. Add in the windchill and it feels more like -19°C.

IMG 5299 1 - Winter Blast Drastically Changes Birding Conditions — Birds use several techniques to keep warm in cold weather. Feather puffing, demonstrated by this Song Sparrow, creates pockets of air which act as insulation. Shivering increases their metabolism, generating more body heat.

Not one to let the cold keep me indoors and needing my daily fix of birds, I headed to Westminster Ponds ESA. I knew the strong southwest wind blowing at 35kmh and gusting to over 50kmh would make the birding a bit tricky. Finding areas that provide shelter from the wind and a source of food for the birds would be key to having success. Fortunately there are plenty of such areas within the ESA.

I decided to start my walk in the woods knowing that the row of Eastern White Pine trees on the edge of the forest would provide an excellent wind break. Among the pines I could hear the calls of the Black-capped Chickadee. Pausing briefly, I could see several birds flitting amongst the branches, inspecting the cones for any remaining seeds. As I entered the mixed deciduous forest behind the row of pines, more Chickadees appeared. Also present were Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers and a White-breasted Nuthatch.

IMG 5381 1 - Winter Blast Drastically Changes Birding Conditions — Male Northern Cardinal feeding on a Common Buckthorn berry.

The back edge of the forest is overgrown with Common Buckthorn, an invasive species in Ontario. Despite the fact that they are not native, several bird species feed on their berries during winter months when other food becomes scarce. I have read mixed reports on whether or not buckthorn berries are healthy for birds. Some suggest the berries give birds diarrhea and can lead to dehydration, others claim only unripe berries cause diarrhea. It is believed that buckthorn berries are less nutritious than native berries because they are higher in carbohydrates and lower in protein and fat. Regardless of which theory is true, you cannot argue the fact that birds eat buckthorn berries. Among the tangles of buckthorn branches, several Northern Cardinals were present feeding on the bounty of fruit.

Following the trail through the buckthorn thicket, I could hear the high pitched notes of the Golden-crowned Kinglet. Glancing amongst the maze of branches revealed two of these birds. As is the case with all birds, learning their songs and calls is the best way to locate them. If not for hearing them, these tiny little birds would have gone unnoticed.

IMG 5236 1 - Winter Blast Drastically Changes Birding Conditions — Berries from the Common Buckthorn tree, an invasive species in Ontario, are a popular food of the American Robin during winter.

The stand of trees on the west side of Saunders Pond yielded a sufficient wind break for a group of Mallards making their way along the thin ice at the ponds edge. Hooded Mergansers could be seen further out toward the north shore. The row of Common Buckthorn alongside the boardwalk revealed a flock of American Robins feeding on the berries. A single Song Sparrow was present seeking refuge from the wind.

IMG 5305 1 - Winter Blast Drastically Changes Birding Conditions — The winter range of the American Robin stretches across our region and even into Quebec and the Maritimes. Look for them in winter along forest edges, rivers, and ponds where berry trees and shrubs are present.

After circling the pond, I came to the open meadow on the east side. The wind was howling across the pond, but I managed to find shelter behind a row of trees. Scanning over what was left of this year’s grasses and wildflowers, I could hear the tweets and chirps of several birds. The most abundant were Northern Cardinals and Dark-eyed Juncos. Further scanning of the area produced a lone Fox Sparrow feeding close to the ground. Having never managed a clear photograph of one of these birds, I was excited for the opportunity. Unfortunately, it never ventured far enough out of the thick cover for me to obtain an obstruction free shot.

IMG 5347 1 2 - Winter Blast Drastically Changes Birding Conditions — Getting a clear shot of this Fox Sparrow was made difficult by the thick cover.

Dressed properly, I was quite comfortable despite the frigid temperatures and strong wind. Even with less than ideal conditions, I still enjoyed a productive day birding. It is important when faced with difficult conditions to always put the odds in your favour. Paying close attention to the conditions and my surroundings, combined with finding locations that provided food and shelter are what made made this outing successful and enjoyable. Keep these factors in mind when you go birding and I think you too will have similar success.

Good birding,
Paul

Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk

If seeing a large raptor is on your birding wish list, look to the sky for the Red-tailed Hawk. They are equally at home in an urban or rural environment and can be found throughout a wide variety of habitat including forest edges, farmland, city parks, and even backyards. These large raptors are frequently seen perched on fence posts, hydro poles, or in large trees, and are the bird of prey that is most frequently seen when traveling along any highway.

Red tailed Hawk - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The reddish orange highlights of an adult Red-tailed Hawk’s tail are visible from underneath when in flight.**

For the most part, Red-tailed Hawks are easily identified. Large stocky bodies, rounded wings, and a short wide tail are key features that assist in positive identification. Adult birds have dark brown backs and are streaked brown and white underneath. As the name suggests, adult Red-tailed Hawks display a reddish-orange tail most visible from the topside. In flight, the reddish highlights of the tail are visible from the underside. Juveniles, as with many raptors, are a little tougher to identify. Their tails lack the reddish colour and are dark brown with narrow darker bars. Sometimes a view of the tail is not always available. If this is the case, juveniles are also distinguished from adult birds by their eye colour. A yellow iris indicates a young bird. As the birds mature, the iris becomes a reddish-brown.

IMG 7018 1 - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The brown tail with dark narrow bars combined with the yellow iris of its eye, identify this as a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.**

Small mammals including rabbits, squirrels, mice, and voles make up the majority of the Red-tailed Hawks diet, but they will also consume birds and reptiles. Their diet varies depending on range and season. In my travels, I have personally seen Red-tailed Hawks eating squirrels, rabbits, starlings, and frogs. Their varied diet and habitat are things that lead to their wide range and abundance.

IMG 7022 1 - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The loud screech of this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk quickly gave away it’s location.**

The loud screeching call of this raptor is most often heard during courtship and when juveniles leave the nest. If you hear this call look up, as this large hawk is most likely overhead. On one of my recent walks through a city park, I came across a group of young hawks that had recently fledged. Their sharp calls quickly gave away their location and their short flights were a joy to watch and photograph.

10380144924 2b2773292a o - Looking for Raptors? Start With The Red-Tailed Hawk — **The red tail for which this hawk is named is most visible from the topside.**

Keep an eye to the sky and treeline next time you are out for a walk or traveling down your local highway. Chances are you will see one of these beautiful raptors.

Good birding,
Paul