The morning of September 2nd, a holiday in the US, I woke up and since I didn’t have to work I grabbed my photo gear and went out. I decided to walk to a place I had been going. Not too far from where I live, about 2 miles. For some reason I decided the exercise would be good. Which wasn’t too bad, but keep in mind I had been working a desk job since the beginning of that year. Although I still would walk on my lunch break so I wouldn’t get stale, really the only time I would get out and about was doing photography. So 4 miles in a day was not a regular thing.
First birds I spotted were on the way there.
A Northern Cardinal in a tree of red.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @400 - 1/100 Sec - F8 - ISO 3200
I also spotted an American Goldfinch at the top of a tree. The images were too far away for any good detail, but because I was able to take quite a few while it scratched an itch, I put them in a collage.
Four merged photos - all with Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @375 - 1/500 Sec - F8 - ISO 160
Once I arrived, and rested for a few minutes. Likely playing Pokemon, I set out for the slow walk along the trails. Likely I was using the tripod with the legs extended so it was at eye level for me at a given notice. Like how you would use a monopod. Giving me easy access when I was on the move, but the ability to flip the legs out and get in a more steady position when needed. I spotted another Cardinal or two that were in the molting process.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @400 - 1/500 Sec - F8 - ISO 2500
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @400 - 1/640 Sec - F8 - ISO 640
The males were up in the branches, while females were on the ground.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @256 - 1/500 Sec - F8 - ISO 250
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @428 - 1/640 Sec - F8 - ISO 200
I believe this one was a bluebird, as you’ll see why in the next photo when it turned and fly away from me.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @428 - 1/800 Sec - F8 - ISO 250
And then, a new one for the collection. I believe to be the Olive-Sided Flycatcher.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @329 - 1/2000 Sec - F5.6 - ISO 320
Without a doubt the next one that I attempted to catch mid flight was an Eastern Bluebird.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @400 - 1/500 Sec - F8 - ISO 200
I also managed to spot another American Goldfinch, this time much better images as I was closer.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @600 - 1/800 Sec - F8 - ISO 250
And then we have this next series of images. I believe it was a Northern Mockingbird that flew up into a tree right in front of me. I managed to get a good number of photos off, and for a second in the middle I switched to a very fast shutter speed. Amazingly I managed to get a shot off while it was… blinking? According to Wikipedia it isn’t a blink, but the nictitating membrane that moves across the eye horizontally to keep it lubricated. Also used when they dive underwater. How cool is that?
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @400 - 1/640 Sec- F8 - ISO 320
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @400 - 1/2000 Sec - F5.6 - ISO 640
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @400 - 1/640 Sec - F8 - ISO 320
Finally we have the shot I saved for last. Although it was shot early on in the day, I like to save my favorite for the end.
I’m not entirely sure what kind of bird it is, most likely as the area I went to has a large population of Northern Mockingbirds, that’s what I believe it to be. But I haven’t seen one with an eye quite as striking colors.
Canon 7D w/Tamron 150-600mm @450 - 1/800 Sec - F8 - ISO 640
This was the kind of photo I was wanting to take. Clear, detailed, up close. More or less macro photography, but with wildlife. So at a respectable distance. Such things are as it turns out, very very difficult and require some expensive gear. Nailing a shot like this keeps pushing me forward to try more, different and better approaches, learning as I go.