Bird Photography

Rob.Marsh

Rob.Marsh

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Rob
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Hi all,

There are some really inspirational bird photographs on here and it has got me thinking about having a go myself.

How do you start thought, with zero knowledge of birds and a mere litlle tamron 70-300mm lens? Will that be man enough or should I be thinking about longer, faster glass? The problem being I am in no position to be able to buy a new fast glass, even a tele would be pushing it at present.

So, what advice would you give someone with no knowledge of birds and a minimal if non existant budget?

Cheers!

Rob
 
Hi Rob

If you find you don't have the reach to get the birds at longer distances then try bringing them to you, Yv started this thread recently which might give you some ideas. Or go to a local nature reserve where the birds are used to people or to an outdoor cafe where birds come to you to steal off tables.

It is much more satisfying to catch them "in the wild" but you can learn a lot by encouraging them to come to you first - I often use my 70-200 for some birds although I admit the 100-400 is more useful. Remember it is as much the photographer as the equipment :)
 
All my shots to date (for what they are worth) are using my Nikon 70-300. You need to get close though, so see how well you can camoflage yourself (green/brown clothing etc.) or get some camo gear from your local market. This time of year I can get to 6 feet or so of my garden bird feeders in my camo gear and that is close enough for a 70-300.
 
I'm no expert at all, but I think it depend which birds you want to photograph.

I shoot the birds that come into my back yard to visit a feeder, house sparrows I can get just about with my 770-200 + 1.4 ex = 280mm, and starlings I can shoot full frame with no cropping at 70mm (cheeky birds just sit there eating)

I think it's went you want to get the smaller birds like tit and finches you need the much longer lens.

As you new to birds I would not buy a lens yet, you may in the end not enjoy it as much as you think so money wasted. Just go for great shoots of easy to shoot birds first, to see how you feel.
 
Thanks all, helpful comments so far.

I did see Yv's thread but unfortunately I don't have a garden, I live in a flat.
I have some "camo" type gear, mainly as its great outdoor wear for a scout leader, hard wearing etc etc so thanks for that tip Donna.

Your right whiteflyer, I guess it does depend on the type of birds. Good point. I won't be buying any glass for a while for a number of reasons. It seems to be its a case of just getting out there and giving things a go. I have loads of places to go round east grinstead so there is no shortage there.

Thanks people.
 
70-300mm should be just about man enough. There are many bird places you can visit. There is a birds of prey sanctuary near me, as well as a wetlands where all sorts of exotic birds come in the summer and winter months. At these sort of places 300mm should be plenty because you can get very close.
 
Rob if you live in a flat could you not hang a feeder near to an opening window, bird will come to it in time.

I don't have a garden as such, just a paved backyard, but after putting the feeder up I do get a range of birds from large Woodpigeon and Collard dove to small Sparrows and Tits.
 
Not an option I'm afraid. Although I own the leasehold, I don't own the free hold and the tenancy contract forbids me to hand anything from the walls.

Plus, being that its a converted twonhouse it doesn't lend itself well to that. Plus I live right in the middle of town, we don't get many birds come by!! Nice Idea though.

Voodoochild, I have a Bird of Prey centre fairly close by, near Horsham, I forgot about that! I also have wierwood and ardingly resevoir, wierwood has a hide. Then there is anywhere on the Asdown forest etc.
 
Buy a Field guide there are plenty cheap ones, or go too a book fair for a good bargain. Find a local patch, and get to know whats there. Watch where the birds go, feed, and perch.

After you understand a bit about the subject, you will have a better chance or taking a photo. Good patches have a mix of habitat, but water is a must for me. Robins, Pigeons, Starlings Ducks all provide easy subjects to practice on. Field craft is important, each species has a comfortable approach distance. Find a quite area and start putting out some feed on a regular basis, importantly get there and let the birds come to you. Cant emphasise enough the importance of patience. At 300mm i feel you will get results.

regards and good luck.

brian.
 
HI Rob,

I've thought that too, you see these wonderful full frame, pin sharp images of birds and you think to yourself could I ever get pics like these.... Well you can..:thumbs:

I'd suggest finding your local R.S.P.B centre, they normally have hides or areas set aside where birds are freely around and ARE used to people, and with cameras!.

Plus, some of them like mine actually have rigs set-up with feeders on. At my particular site I was about 3m away with a monopod and the blue tits were still feeding. - It is harder at the moment because food is fairly freely available, but in the harsher months they have to rely more on feeders and us kind folk who put scraps out for them.

All of the images below were shot with my 400D and a 70-300mm Sigma APO.. So it can be done.

Best of Luck :wave:

Blue11.jpg


Dun1.jpg


Blue31.jpg


:canon:
 
Very encouraging and cracking shots there mate, cheers for your help!
 
Hi Rob,

I won't sit here and preach to you about something I know little about, but yesterday was my first real success at snapping birds. I just happened to stumble accross a small opening in the tree line of a small woods. I positioned myself so that I had some good open space to shoot and waited. A few cigarettes and a couple of midget bites later I took these shots http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=139468 with a 55mm-200mm lens and these little things are FAST.

I suppose if you're actually looking for these locations, they can't be too difficult to find, I learnt from that location that being discreet is key. The birds would keep away when they knew that I was there, but slowly moved closer to the tree line the less movement I made and the longer I waited.

Good luck with it!
 
Rob...You can get some great feeders fitted with suckers to stick to your windows. I have one on the outside of my living room and it atracts finches and tits. I have also seen suckers mounted on angle brackets to enable you to hang a standard feeder further away from the glass.

Andy
 
Firstly I would say that I consider that some of my best bird shots were taken at 300mm or under so whilst long glass is desirable its not essential for garden birds.

Do you not have window ledges from which you can mount feeders and natural perches?
 
For birds in flight, I have found two places great.

1. Some supermarket car parks, full of starlings etc though people do think you are a bit strange.
2. Find a beach with Sand Dunes (I drove down to Rye (Camber Sands) in sussex). From the top of the Sand dunes, you get close enough to get the various gulls and practise your technique. also a beautiful location and could take friends \ family etc. Sure there must be other locations. As they are often just using the wind the fly, they don't fly past as fast as others.

Good luck
 
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