To photograph birds, make sure to...

In today’s blog, as what seems to be a peaceful Sunday unfolds, I’m setting out to reflect on a few photographic matters, and to share one or two anecdotes from that fascinating world of birds. It’s so rich in nuance, so generous in its lessons, that by bringing it into this chain, I feel I’m adding value in some way.

f/5.6 - 1/250 s

For instance, here I present the Zarapico becasina de pico corto or Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus). They’re busy doing their thing while the photographer tries to capture that fleeting moment when they all gather just a few metres from the lens to feed. And she thinks: oh dear, please lift your heads out of the water 😒. Haha… patience is key. Meanwhile, she’s also thinking: I need a good shutter speed, because these restless little birds could take off at any moment…

f/5.6 - 1/250 s

And off they flew! You’ve no idea how I jumped. 😁 Try to keep calm—sedate yourself, honestly. A bit of linden tea wouldn’t go amiss before heading into these birding affairs. Or a few minutes of meditation, just to rebalance after rushing to the meeting point, sprinting to catch the bus, and well… that sun, which you know can throw anyone off.

🤣

f/5.6 - 1/320 s

Oh, but look at that beautiful specimen, all alone on a rock—and then you hold your breath… but the shutter speed is still a bit of a problem. Why do I say this? Well, the thing is, I was using a heavy zoom lens without a tripod or monopod to support it, and any involuntary shake could compromise the quality of the shot. Plus, when you’ve been aiming and holding your breath for a while to take the photo, you do get tired… That’s why, for bird photography, a very high shutter speed—or something to stabilise the camera—is ideal.

They gave me another chance.

Even so, I kept the same shutter speed because I was shooting in Aperture Priority mode. And it’s true—the photographer chooses what they want to achieve with their image. If they’re aiming to convey a sense of movement, they’ll go for slower shutter speeds. But in this case, to be on the safe side when it comes to birds, I believe that if I’m going to use the camera’s automatic modes, the best option is Shutter Priority, with Auto ISO. In my case, due to the limitations of my camera, ISO shouldn’t go beyond 800. You’ve got to work with what you’ve got.

Ideally, you’d shoot in manual mode so you can control both shutter speed and aperture as you wish. Because when you use the camera’s automatic programmes, one of the values—depending on the mode you choose—will be set automatically. From my point of view, what she ended up doing was… essentially whatever she fancied. But really, it’s you who should be setting the terms; after all, you’re the one crafting the photograph.

f/8 - 1/500 s

In this case, for example, it’s important to know your camera well and understand what you can achieve with different apertures. I estimated with f/8 I could get a reasonably clear background to integrate the birds with the fisherman and give the scene some context… but it wasn’t quite enough... maybe.

f/8 - 1/800 s

The next image was taken just as the birds took flight—it’s already published in my previous post. By the way, these birds are called Títere Sabanero or Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). And it’s quite funny, because there’s a friend in the group who jokes around by imitating bird calls, and when I asked about this particular one yesterday, they shared the following anecdote:

f/8 - 1/640 s

He says he knows someone who calls it ‘Witití’, because when it sees you, it flies off shouting ‘wiiiii ti tiiiiii’. Hahaha… that really made me laugh, but thanks to his explanation, I’m pretty sure I won’t forget its name now. _{ebird link}

But let’s get into the technical side of things: as you can see, Aperture Priority mode kept the aperture at f/8, and the shutter speed changed automatically because the mode balances the light and selects what it considers an appropriate value. Which doesn’t work for me, because—as I’ve already mentioned—if the birds take flight, you need a faster shutter speed to get them sharp or to freeze their movement as much as possible.

Let’s recap… To photograph birds, you need to: work in manual mode whenever possible, sedate yourself before getting started (just kidding… or maybe not), have plenty of patience, use a high shutter speed, and rely on a monopod or tripod if your lens is heavy. Bird photographers generally use Telephoto or Zoom lenses.

Ahhhhh, I almost forgot… FOCUS. Don’t chat or get distracted, because you need to stay alert to the action. Birds get startled by any sudden sound or movement.

🤓

Both bird species mentioned in this post originate from the United States. Migration has already begun, and members of the Cuban Birdwatchers’ Club have reported the arrival of the Querequeté americano or Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) as well.

They say that in the late afternoons, they’ve been seen flying in groups alongside some swallows… what a beautiful sight. I’d love to see them. That’s what I’m hoping for, but I haven’t had the pleasure just yet.

Well, that’s all for today. But I won’t leave without sharing the portrait I took of the fisherman who appears blurred in the background of the bird photos. Wishing everyone a lovely Sunday and a beautiful start to the week.