In previous posts I have written and illustrated how every winter I begin all over again in my quest to catch diving ducks in mid jump. I begin every winter with a picture of a splash, but no ducks. By spring I can catch them at every point from flexing  right on through each stage of the actual dive. By mid spring it becomes easy and leaves me searching for a new challenge.  A few years ago I noticed that when they emerge from the water, there is a brief period of time when they wear a skin of water over their head. I decided I wanted pictures with the water hat. Below a male Greater Scaup and a male Common Goldeneye show off those hats.

It is always fun when you get the opportunity to work with one bird for an hour or so. The easiest way for that to happen is when those birds have a nest near-by.  Such was the case with this Bald Eagle.  He/she spent a long time basking in the sun while its mate was off fishing.  A bad fishing day for the spouse?  My turn!  Notice in the final image the bird returned with a fish. She/he is also wearing a band. Maybe a wedding band.

Anytime you head out the door to photograph birds, and you are given the gift of an up-close experience, it is a good day. This image was made out the car window in 2004 with my ancient Nikon D100 and a Nikon 300mm lens. I actually made some nice close images and restarted the car and moved it “almost” close enough to touch the bird. This bird was practically in the car with me. The picture you see has been cropped very slightly as I originally photographed the bird dead center in the picture frame.  I cropped just enough to give it a little breathing room in the direction it is looking.  As a side note, I would not this badly invade a bird’s comfort zone today.  I was close enough to make good pictures originally. That is too much pressure to put on a bird.  If the bird has chosen to land this close to me, than so be it.  Despite my opinion, I can tell you that I left this bird exactly where I found him without frightening him away.

I think every bird photographer enjoys photographing shorebirds.  They strike a lot of nice poses, and use a surprisingly wide variety of habitats.   My first attempts at making shorebird photos were frustrating. I almost gave up.  Most types of shorebirds feed in flocks. There is safety in numbers.  If there are 500 shorebirds of mixed types, right next to you, only one little bird needs to spook and it will send them all flying.  Eventually I realized that they often return with 100 feet of where they were.  Then they slowly work their way back in your direction. The closest pictures you make of birds will often be shorebirds…..once you understand them.   There is no substitute for experience.  Always learn from your past.

One of my favorite types of workshop to teach, was “out of the car” bird photography.  It is amazing to watch the excited eyes of a new photographer when after some work and some patience, you wind up with birds (mostly shorebirds) right at your feet. It doesn’t work all the time, and a good mixed shorebird habitat is necessary, but I failed maybe twice in eight 1 on 1 workshops.

Species you see below, in order are Dunlin, Wilson’s Phalarope, American Avocets and Ruddy Turnstone.

When you are out photographing birds, just hanging out and taking what they give you can be a lot of fun.  You will however be more productive if you stay at least one step ahead of your subjects.  Do so by giving yourself a series of self-assignments while you are there on location.  You may complete your assignment, or may do something else, but you will rarely be shut out.  While serendipity creates exciting memories with any type of photography, the images you dream of will in fact, come from those dreams……or daydreams most of the time.  Many of the best images I have ever made were pre-visualized.  Sooner or later those circumstances will all coincide and your personal vision (and imagination) will be fulfilled. After all of these years, as I sit here writing, a series of finished pictures fill my mind. They are of course the best I have ever created. No matter your life’s circumstances, always believe that the best is yet to come.