Photography secrets

[bleeper]

Hi, I LOVE WAB, I have a peek everyday, two or three times a day. I have posted for ID's and always found everyone really helpful.

Anyway, I really do admire some of the fantastic bird shots posted on the Gallery and would love to know some of your tricks. For instance are you using hides (thinking of woodland shots here), or just camo or nothing? Are you only going to places where you are certain there are nuthatches, tree creepers or the like? Are you going to public woodland or sticking to nature reserves? Any advice very gratefully received.

Jen

[galanthus]

I haven't got loads of stunning bird shots in Gallery, however, it does help to know the habits of the creatures you're taking photos of. If I go into upland woodland in summer I know I'll prob see pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler, If I want a dipper I'll go to upland streams.

A good long lens is a must as is a lot of patience

[matt_xyz]

If you want close-up shots of the more common species (e.g. Greenfinch, Blue Tits etc) then your best bet is to concentrate on perches near to a feeding station of some kind. This can be in a garden, public park or wherever. Sometimes you will need to be hidden, or partially hidden, (e.g. in a car or peeping around a tree) other times you can simply sit or stand at a suitable distance and the birds will tolerate your presence. It all depends how used they are to human activity.

For the slightly less common species e.g. nuthatches, bullfinches etc you really do need to find out an area they are known to visit. Again, this will ideally need to be a feeding station of some form.

For birds that don't visit feeders e.g. warblers, larks, birds of prey etc, you need to find out their preferred habitats and pick the right time of year. If you sit still enough or stalk very carefully you can sometime get close to them. Alternatively, if you know of a good spot you can set up a hide although that's not something I've ever done. For certain species such as Kingfishers I think a hide is pretty much essential for close-up shots.

I should also stress that a lens of at least 400mm is also pretty useful. Any less than that and you have an uphill battle from the outset!

Matt

[willing to learn]

I wear dull clothes of a nautral colour stand still in near cover enough to break my outline place out a bit of food keep still and wait with in minutes Nuthatches are close enough to photo. Even had one feed from my still fingers.

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by bleeper

Anyway, I really do admire some of the fantastic bird shots posted on the Gallery and would love to know some of your tricks. For instance are you using hides (thinking of woodland shots here), or just camo or nothing? Are you only going to places where you are certain there are nuthatches, tree creepers or the like? Are you going to public woodland or sticking to nature reserves? Any advice very gratefully received.

Jen

I'm quite new to bird/wildlife photography and after months of frustration I started to follow some of the tips that I read on here and they have helped a lot.

I thought about a hide but decided against.

I bought a camo jacket to add to my kahki trousers. I think this can help but only if you a very still. Any movement and the birds will still be off in a flash.

The place which I visit most requently is a nature reserve where I've always had decent results from a hide but when walking in the woods almost nothing. Until recently that is. Until I started to put seed and nuts in the same place fairly regularly. Now when I go there the Nuthatches, Robins and Great Tits appear even before I've finished placing the food. If I don't move suddenly they will come as close as two feet.

Other regular visitors include Chaffinches and Blue Tits but these are more timid and only approach if I'm at least ten feet away.

I got a surprise the other day when this little fellow scampered out of a hole in the ground to steal some of the bird seed



Less frequent visitors have included a Dunnock (I think) and a bird which I only captured at 3200 iso and don't know what it is. Perhaps someone could id it for me please?

I bet its something obvious but I can't put a name to it.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by BillyPilgrim

I'm quite new to bird/wildlife photography and after months of frustration I started to follow some of the tips that I read on here and they have helped a lot.

I thought about a hide but decided against.

I bought a camo jacket to add to my kahki trousers. I think this can help but only if you a very still. Any movement and the birds will still be off in a flash.

The place which I visit most requently is a nature reserve where I've always had decent results from a hide but when walking in the woods almost nothing. Until recently that is. Until I started to put seed and nuts in the same place fairly regularly. Now when I go there the Nuthatches, Robins and Great Tits appear even before I've finished placing the food. If I don't move suddenly they will come as close as two feet.

Other regular visitors include Chaffinches and Blue Tits but these are more timid and only approach if I'm at least ten feet away.

I got a surprise the other day when this little fellow scampered out of a hole in the ground to steal some of the bird seed



Less frequent visitors have included a Dunnock (I think) and a bird which I only captured at 3200 iso and don't know what it is. Perhaps someone could id it for me please?

I bet its something obvious but I can't put a name to it.

Chaffinch female

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by BillyPilgrim

I bet its something obvious but I can't put a name to it.

My initial thought is female chaffinch, but a more experienced birder should be along shortly!

I usually just go for a wander with a 400mm lens or use the public hides at nature reserves. I have used some camouflage netting once or twice in situations where I know the birds are there and I have the time to sit/stand still and wait for them to show. I got this bearded reedling like that. I knew they were about but couldn't get close so I got myself into what I thought was a good position, threw the net over myself, the camera and tripod then waited. After about 30 mins this chap showed up about 20 feet from me (this is a cropped image)...



Incidentally, "bearded reedling" or "bearded tit"? I've always said tit before but have noticed that reedling seems to be becoming more popular.

Dave P.

[Ferret]

I think the name Bearded Reedling has become popular as this species has been removed from the Tit family and placed with the Parrotbills and Old World Babblers

[Ferret]

Your mystery bird is defiantly a female Chaffinch.

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by bleeper

Hi, I LOVE WAB, I have a peek everyday, two or three times a day. I have posted for ID's and always found everyone really helpful.

Anyway, I really do admire some of the fantastic bird shots posted on the Gallery and would love to know some of your tricks. For instance are you using hides (thinking of woodland shots here), or just camo or nothing? Are you only going to places where you are certain there are nuthatches, tree creepers or the like? Are you going to public woodland or sticking to nature reserves? Any advice very gratefully received.

Jen

I am not a great photographer but just look at people and the first thing you notice are the highlights,hands face, then quick movements all of which signal danger to wild birds.
Wear a hat,thin gloves,clothes in muted colours.Move slowly and deliberately as Galanthus says plan your outings according to the species you would hope to see
Google camo gloves. I use realtree they are thin and retain feel (I also use a hat with a built in face net which works well) and an army surplus german paratrooper smock which has dots of colours rather than zigzags and does not rustle.