Woodland bird photography.

[redwing210]

For the last few weeks have been trying to get photos of woodland birds in
my local country park with no luck. How do you or the pros get these shots, my main problem is getting close to the birds and/or not spooking them.

Cheers
redwing

[Brocker]

Hi Redwing,
I am fairly new to wildlife photography myself. A good camera and lens probably help a lot but on balance I think it is more about the way you move, what you wear and your patience. I always wear muted clothing in green or browns, sometimes camo clothing, depending on what I am photographing. A good knowledge of where the birds are and then settle down and wait. No sudden movements etc. You could also try a handful of meal worms away in front. That will bring in the tits and the robins. . It a long and drawn out process but once you have that one great shot you will be back again and again. Good luck

[Ollie]

Can't say as I spend much time in woods but when I have been I have found that the best way is to find a spot that you think the birds are most likely to frequent and then stand still. It's surprising how near the birds will come to you. I can still remember a couple of years ago being on the edge of a wood when I heard Long-tailed Tits calling. I stood very still and they came within feet of me, could almost have reached out and touched them.

I find this type of approach works quite well even if not in a wood. Of course you have to be patient and there is a chance the birds won't show at all but I have had more success this way than by constantly walking around.
Roger

[Words]

Got to agree with Ollie here. The best way is to wait for them to come to you. The other problem in woodland is getting enough light (well actually getting enough shutter speed).

[Mick Johnson]

Hi redwing, I'm new here but I do a lot of bird photography so I can maybe give you a few idea's.


I normally use a hide of some sort but don't really go in public parks but stick to local farmland. I have never asked a farmer if I can go on his land to do something and been refused. Doing this guarantees you're on your own.

I have a 3ft square home made portable canvas hide, a 3ft square wooden hide for the garden and I also have one I put on the edge of a quarry about 3 years ago to photograph Buzzards etc.

I suppose if I was attempting to do what you are I would still want to cover myself with something, maybe a smock. I've seen some last week in 'Yeomans' for about £20, I think. They were 'ex army' and made from what looked like waterproof camo material. Just slips over your head and has a hood and I would say they looked big enough to get a tripod under as well but I'm not sure without trying one.

Still can't beat a hide though as you can at least move about in it without being seen.

Another problem I could see with 'going into the woods' as you say is light, or lack of it. For bird photography you really want good light and there's no better light than sunlight, something you might find a lack of if the woods are pretty dense.

Mick........

[JeffH]

As others have said, the best tactic is to find a suitable spot and wait for the birds to come to you - needs lots of patience though

A hide (best bet) or some form of camouflage also helps.

If there's a small pond in your local woods that's often a good spot as many birds will come to drink there, and if you put out some food as well that will improve your chances considerably.

Good Luck

Jeff

[Mike B]

A hide, food and patience are the main ingredients to success.

[DaiTheDragon]

Even in woodland you can usually find an area where sunlight gets through. I have differant locations for the morning and afternoon so as the sun is always behind me. So find a clearing in the woods and sit against a tree with a camo net just thrown over you.
If you can't put feeders out get some peanuts and lodge them in the cracks of the bark, get some fat ball mixture and fill some crack in with that and put some food on the floor.
It's a waiting game and some you win some you lose.

Dai

[redwing210]

Thanks for the info everyone. A few people have said try farms for photography there are not that many near me, however I will try them...can't help feeling sceptical about their response!

Cheers
redwing

[ron1863]

Ollie's advice is excellent and I often get good results that way. I also use a lightweight camouflage net that I use to cover me, leaving just the lens sticking out.

[coasty]

I have always been interested in birds and and have always liked angling,,, Nearly all of the closest bird sightings werewhen I was fishing,,, Sat still for long periods,,,

[Tursiops2]

I've no personal experience of woodland photography, but just to add some thoughts from a birdwatcher:

Do it as early in the morning as you can bear - birds are most active then, feeding up after the night, and may be more confiding. There's also less chance of disturbance.

Woodland edge is probably better than deep woodland - if you can find the eastern edge of a wood (or western edge of a clearing), warming up in the early morning sun, there'll be good light and lots of activity.

Scout out some likely spots beforehand, set yourself up before dawn, and be patient.

HTH
T2

[STEinGUZZ]

Hi Redwing210,

I'm new to this game myself, only just purchased my gear and been probing for info on best techniques for bird phots.

You said if was a local country park, would it be worth hanging a few fat balls from branches or a few handfuls of seed on a tree stump or the likes. In a remote part where maybe you could dictate the lighting etc to your benefit. Done on a regular basis this may be effective for attracting the little critters.

I was in the lakes (Grisedale forest) last week on a day visit only. Seen plenty of small birds (tits, nuthatch's, tree creepers etc) but they were so actively pursueing insects, with the poor light I got nothing worth keeping. Allthough my experiene may have been the major problem.

I was using a 300mm + 1.4x converter (420mm), got close enough to them for images I would be happy with.

In my opinion at this time of year most birds are trying to survive, i.e actively feeding. I am looking forward to the spring, good lighting conditions and most birds in the open singing proud to attract a mate or establish territory. Hopefully the best time of year to get to grips with the basics before I can try the more challenging missions.

Hope this was in anyway helpful,

yours aye Ste

[redwing210]

Thanks guys, looks like I have some sitting and waiting to do!

Redwing.

[ron1863]

Have you tried photographing birds in your local public park. In these places the birds are used to humans as they are fed by them on a daily basis and tend to approach closer than they normally would.

[denisg]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Have you tried photographing birds in your local public park. In these places the birds are used to humans as they are fed by them on a daily basis and tend to approach closer than they normally would.

...........just stay well away from children areas! (personal experience!)

A not too expensive accessory worth consideration would be the Kirk flash extender. Won't give you the perfect picture but a better and sharper picture is possible. You still have to get near enough to the subject though. Whats wrong with using feed and getting them to come to you?. Many folks set up their own feeding stations in good settings and use a dead simple willow screen type hide at suitable distance. Check out Birdforum, Your Patch, Durham and look for posts by Jbee as this is exactly what he has done at a couple of sites. Birders from all over the UK now visit one of them.

Denis.

[djchewie]

Hi

I bought that hide by mail order from the US (worked out to be about £40with the shipping costs and import duty - take advantage of the weak $!)

im generally quite new to woodland birds, but after a few months of basically trail, error and a bit of luck, patience laying down food over a period of weeks and spending so much money on mealworms, im finally getting the hang of it all, finding out what works for me. the trickiest thing is finding a location which has potential as a feeding station, has a generally north facing position and devoid of Dog walkers!

Ive found a lil patch in Epping Forest and after trying a few sats and sundays and at different times of day, i find that Dawn on a sat (if i get out of bed early enough) till about 12pm is the time ive had most activity.

i started off with the usual bird seed, but have found that if you use mealworms, you will have much more luck.

i try and find a setup on a downed tree, which enables me to shoot at a slightly higher or lower angle, and position my hide approx 2-3m from the spot im focusing on ensuring that i can get a small bird full frame from a 300mm lens. try and set up a feeding station where there is a bit of cover for the birds to fly from, as they mostly come down, pick their food and feel more comfortable eating up in the trees close by.

Ive found that Robins are always one the scene first followed by Great Tits. Ive seen other birds (treecreepers, woodpeckers, sparrowhawk from a distance and a fly past by an owl of somekind).

ive also had a bank vole take advantage of the free seed on offer.

what ive found not to do, is to put down a spread of food at any one time... the small birds are way too fast for me and the AF on my lens.

I check my new location this morning and all of the food from last weekend has gone. it will be the 1st time in a new spot, and hopefully ill get more than just Great Tits and Robins!


i will post them all up on the Gallery here once i get a spare moment!


good luck!

[tonyvee]

Originally Posted by redwing210

For the last few weeks have been trying to get photos of woodland birds in
my local country park with no luck. How do you or the pros get these shots, my main problem is getting close to the birds and/or not spooking them.

Cheers
redwing

Hi
I'm a new boy to this forum, but been into wildilfe photography for some 20 years using a variety of equipment. So maybe the following will be of interest. Camera: In this day and age, unless you can afford an endless supply of colour film and are able process it yourself, then digital is the only way to go. Type: It's no good trying to get good photographs of wildife with a cheap compact camera. I use a Nikon D-50 digital SLR. So put that type on your list. Lens: Mine consists of 18 to 55mm for plants and birds at the nest etc. 70 to 300mm for general work and birds in flight etc. 800mm mirror lens for distance work. Add similar lenses to your list. Clothing: The number of 'photographers' I've seen walking around with brightly coloured and noisy (rustling) anoraks on who say they've been out all day and seen nothing. Usually travelling in pairs chatting loudly !! Put camoflage clothing and stealth at the top of your list. The two things you cannot buy in a shop are 'Patience', and more 'Patience'.

I go out early most morings to local nature reserves and an estuary, when the tide's right, and never come back without having taken lots of photos. My next job, and most important, edit out all but the very best, which I then print and file the origials on an external hard drive.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Tony

[redwing210]

Have been away for WAB for a while, am only just getting up to date with some of these posts - but thanks for all th info!

[jcurtis]

Public areas such as parks generally mean wildlife becomes less spooked by humans over time? I would set up a feeder where it isnt on public view and allow the birds time to get comfortable with me being there. However animals do have a minimum distance that they will allow you to approach. I can get within 10ft, I lens of 200mm could be usedm but I would recomend 300mm as a minimum.
JASE

[wizzo]

I agree with the above comments also. I know from my expeiriences when fishing that some birds like Robins will even take mggots and mealworms out of your hand. Add a fast, good quality lens (I would try and avoid flash) and Bob's yer uncle!

[JeffH]

I'd say the three main ingredients for success with woodland birds are:-

1. Set up a feeding station - perhaps near a small pond, pool or even just a puddle where the birds might also come to drink - but not using feeders or anything looking unnatural . Just a few nuts, seeds, etc scattered over some rotting logs or similar. You may have to do this for several days to get the birds used to it.

2. Get yourself some camo clothing (or better still a hide) and set yourself up nearby.

3. Be patient and prepared to wait for several hours

Hope that helps

Jeff


PS. Sorry! I've just realised this is a very old thread and that I posted the same advice nearly 2 years ago!! Still, it's nice to be consistent (even when you don't know it )

[DrNickBurton]

Actually it's a great thread - I've just been reading through it, and I'm glad you revived it!

It's pretty much made me decide to get a hide. I went out this morning just before dawn and took pictures in my local churchyard for a couple of hours. It's amazing how much activity there is at this time of day.

[cosmicma]

some great advice in this thread for the potential bird photographer

if you don't have a hide or similar i have found that a lot of birds take no notice of cars
step out of the car and there gone but stay in the car wind the window down and your off
it's suprising how close you can get in a car

so where can you drive to and photograph out the window ?
well..
a good place to start is a carpark or some lonely layby ( bear with me ) if you can find a carpark thats a little out of the way at the edge of your local nature spot find the ideal place to park and start leaving food the birds will come
they get used to traffic and people which allows you to get very close

i have done this for the last 3 years or so on a local nature spot car park there is a bit of a cafe at the other end of the car park which is an added bonus because wheres there's food there's wildlife it's just a case of attracting it to your feeding spot
now there must be at least 15 to 20 different spieces coming into the bush i have been feeding including tree creepers , jays , the odd woodpecker ( rarely ) , collard doves and all the usual type of tit's and finches

i set a branch or log up in a clear patch for the photographs and have been getting very satisfactory results

if you care to look here you can make your own mind up
Pictures by cosmicma - Photobucket
more or less all the photo's have been taken there apart from a couple of exceptions the waxwing being one of em ( shame )