Bird Photography

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taxboy

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Now that winter is here (starting June this year in the UK !!) I'm looking to make my first foray into garden bird photography and was wondering if people would be kind enough to share tips to assist.

In particular I am interested in pictures of peoples set ups to give me a few clues & any little wrinkles such as where to buy clamps / clips so that perches can be changed easily

TIA

Andrew
 
Make a fast food restaurant for them different kinds of nuts, seeds, mealworm, fat balls and fruit in bird feeders and water at different hieghts
 
Venture out into the wild and try to get birds in their natural habitat. It's a lot more challenging and difficult but the rewards are so much better. Garden bird photography is all very well and there are some excellent shots on here but they always seem a bit manufactured to me. That's just my opinion th0.
 
Oh yes and get some natural perches branches and or have your feeders near trees, bushes but out of arms way of cats, as brash says they look better in natural surroundings,
 
4. More focal length........:D

Taken today in a hawthorn thicket near the river, no feeder and no hide, If your quiet and patient they will come near you........:thumbs:

LTT1copy.jpg
 
You also forgot cats, cats, cats.

If you plan to attract more birds to your garden then invest in one of those ultra-sonic cat scarers. They're very effective, but be sure to move it around every few days to keep the cats from getting used to the zones it covers.

Failing that, buy an air-rifle.................

No point attracting more birds without taking the steps to prevent predators enjoying the abundant food.

Also, be wary of patio doors or larger expanses of glass. Bird strikes are common on patio doors and usually fatal (instant neck-breaker).

Niger seed is a superb addition to your food supplies. You'll have goldfinches within 4 or 5 days and they're stunning to look at (you'll need a special feeder for it)

Here's some links for you.

http://www.soarmillseeds.co.uk/sms01/start.htm

http://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/

http://www.conceptresearch.co.uk/cats.htm

http://www.smith-wesson.com/ :D:thumbs:
 
Yes - patience is essential and don't get frustrated as I do :lol:

I also agree with having a wander around and not just relying on a garden to be an attraction.
Also fast reactions are needed to spot opportunities, although it also works if you sit still and move slowly.

Nice shot Fracster :)
 
1. Reach - you can never have enough
2. Birdseed/feeders - you can never have enough
3. Hide? - You can never hide well enough
4. Good head - excuse the saying, but if you're on a tripod then you need to know exactly which nut/screw/bolt/control moves your head in which direction. Nothing more frustrating than trying to pan left and watching the lens head straight up/down.. The pros seem to be using Gimbal heads these days, but the Wimberley head costs more than my first car did...

Apart from that, it's always good to visit captive/tame birds for the more elusive/rare species, and to help recognise what's what..

Aside from that, in flight birds require either a fast HSM/AFS/USM motor and servo assist, or if they're big and flying towards you, set a nice deep DOF and wait for them to trigger your focus lock/ appear in focus.

Want to know the real secret?

...Patience, time and money. Lots of Money....
 
CopeImages said:
You also forgot cats, cats, cats.

If you plan to attract more birds to your garden then invest in one of those ultra-sonic cat scarers. They're very effective, but be sure to move it around every few days to keep the cats from getting used to the zones it covers.

Failing that, buy an air-rifle.................

Your'e my kind of guy.:thumbs:
Click to expand...
 
danbroad said:
1. Reach - you can never have enough
2. Birdseed/feeders - you can never have enough
3. Hide? - You can never hide well enough
4. Good head - excuse the saying, but if you're on a tripod then you need to know exactly which nut/screw/bolt/control moves your head in which direction. Nothing more frustrating than trying to pan left and watching the lens head straight up/down.. The pros seem to be using Gimbal heads these days, but the Wimberley head costs more than my first car did...

Apart from that, it's always good to visit captive/tame birds for the more elusive/rare species, and to help recognise what's what..

Aside from that, in flight birds require either a fast HSM/AFS/USM motor and servo assist, or if they're big and flying towards you, set a nice deep DOF and wait for them to trigger your focus lock/ appear in focus.

Want to know the real secret?

...Patience, time and money. Lots of Money....
Click to expand...


Very very good advice IMHO.

Uncluttered backgrounds really help with making the subject "pop", so ensure that any feeder is near trees etc. of course, but clearly away from them, so that the background is out of focus as much as possible..

IMO, luck also plays a very big part..
 
Look at CT's work, and then give up any thought of bird photography!! :)
 
dougdarter said:
Look at CT's work, and then give up any thought of bird photography!! :)
Click to expand...

Or look at CT`s work and think to yourself "I want to get to that standard".........and then start saving........:D
 
BRASH said:
Venture out into the wild and try to get birds in their natural habitat. It's a lot more challenging and difficult but the rewards are so much better. Garden bird photography is all very well and there are some excellent shots on here but they always seem a bit manufactured to me. That's just my opinion th0.
Click to expand...
Agree %100 there. Photo's of birds on a single branch that are obviously taken on feeders are a little dull I think and not rewarding at all. I am however tempted, for the winter, to set up a feeder in the garden and just sit in the living room watching tv and drinking tea whilst firing the camera via remote lol

danbroad said:
4. Good head - excuse the saying, but if you're on a tripod then you need to know exactly which nut/screw/bolt/control moves your head in which direction. Nothing more frustrating than trying to pan left and watching the lens head straight up/down.. The pros seem to be using Gimbal heads these days, but the Wimberley head costs more than my first car did...
Click to expand...
Any type of long lens ideally should be mounted on a gimbal or ball head for ultimate control. Heads with multiple knobs are really best suited to landscape work and not wildlife.

I have an old Manfrotto 393 head at the mo and they aren't expensive (but heavy) and very useful as a cheap alternative.
 
dougdarter said:
Look at CT's work, and then give up any thought of bird photography!! :)
Click to expand...

fracster said:
Or look at CT`s work and think to yourself "I want to get to that standard".........and then start saving........:D
Click to expand...

You're too kind fellers, but that's so not true - the standard in the Bird Forum has noticeably improved recently, so much so that I'm thinking of making the switch to landscape or street. ;)
 
Richard, I too have the 393 head. I have been looking at the very expensive wimberly stuff and cannot,for the life of me, see how they can work any better than the ,substantially cheaper,393, or am I missing something.

PS........Agree with your comments about feeders, however, my father has been very ill and I set up a bird feeding station for him, he thoroughly enjoyed seeing the birds, as I do when I visit, so I guess some people can`t get out and about,so feeders are the only option.....:thumbs:
 
CT said:
You're too kind fellers, but that's so not true - the standard in the Bird Forum has noticeably improved recently, so much so that I'm thinking of making the switch to landscape or street. ;)
Click to expand...

I keep trying mate, not quite there yet, but still trying. Oh and thanks for all your help and advice.......:thumbs:
 
danbroad said:
1. Reach - you can never have enough

3. Hide? - You can never hide well enough

Want to know the real secret?

...Patience, time and money. Lots of Money....
Click to expand...

LOL Yep, Reach, Money, Patience, (you need at last 2 of these ;) not necessarily all of them though, as once you have the reach, you no longer have the money ;))


3) Never underestimate the power of your car to act as a hide if you are out and about :)

Taken from the car window on Mull
Buzzard6.jpg
 
Just don't blame me for your empty bank account. :exit:
 
Damn, that is a brilliant photo Ian.......:thumbs:
 
Hi Andrew

Garden bird photography can be extremely rewarding, and some super advice has already been provided by many experts in this thread for you... not in the least required are more more more focal length (or larger crop factor camera), and an abundance of patience!


  • For the best photographic (rather than feeding the birds) results, be sure to think carefully about your feeding rig and set up. Try to place some strategically positioned branches at locations where you know the birds will come to perch prior to moving on to the food and your feeders. By all means see what I mean by taking a look at my gallery here. The branch you see in some of these shots is placed adjacent to the feeders and the food, and the birds now nearly always come down onto that branch prior to moving on to the food. This provides plenty of opportunity for photographs.

  • Try to locate the feeders close to some bushes where cover can be provided - not too close mind you as those awful cats will soon learn to hide out in there too!

  • Plenty of light is needed for action shots! I am about to reposition and rebuild my entire feeding station using natural materials, rather than the metal framed feeder I have now. I am not sure I have seen any shots that are good where the plastic or metal grid of a feeder is in shot - one needs to try to avoid having the actual feeders/containers in the composition.

  • Place evergreen branches or thicker twigs into the feeders for the birds to land on. This provides a far more natural looking 'perch' than a black or green plastic thing sticking out of the feeders.

  • Food is obviously important too. Depending on what birds you have in your location, try to encourage the different species by placing a variety of foods around the place. I appreciate most birds will eat most garden foodstuffs if hungry enough, but if you keep a plentiful supply around your feeders then you will soon see that certain species have a liking for certain foods. Coal Tits love Sunflower seeds, Blue and Great Tits love peanuts and fatball food, Nuthatch also love peanuts. LTT's love both. Goldfinches like thistle seeds, Chaffinches and Greenfinches love peanuts, Sparrowhawks love birds!! You'll soon notice which species are more prevalent and what seed they prefer.

  • Keep the area clean, and remove old food that might give rise to infections.

  • Clean fresh water is good too!

  • Maybe get yourself a hide... like this one...
p975254874-4.jpg


Hope these pointers help, and good luck!

John
 
No, not really............OK then, yes it is......:lol:
 
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