Today is 100% about one of nature’s most photographed subjects, birds.

Back a long time ago, after years of film photography I bought my first digital camera. Below is my first subject of my first day of digital photography. Two male Ring-necked Pheasants in a wicked fight over female who is out of camera view.

I always looked forward to photographing big birds. It’s not that I don’t like little birds, but those like these Pelicans are just so much easier.

In general waterfowl, especially when they are in the water, make great subjects. Firstly, they feel safe when they are there. Secondly, water often gives off nice reflections. Such was the case with this Gadwall.

Birds in flight take practice to photograph. Once you get the hang of it, you will want to do more and more of it.

Birds flying across the picture frame one way or another require careful panning with the subject.

The Cormorant you see below aided me by not veering to it’s left or right, or going up or down. It flew in a straight line.

Large flocks of birds are easier when they are perched rather than in flight. When they are perched together on a tree with no leaves as are these Swallows, it is easier yet.

The Snipe and the female Gadwall (maybe) below gave me nice opportunities to capture photographically. They went about their business of finding food and grooming. Both of those activities are equally important as life will cease from either starvation or an inability to fly, or in some cases, swim, without care of those feathers.

The golden light in the image below is not enhanced, it is real. I caught this parent (both were there) in the first rays of sunrise as it kept close check on it’s tiny Sandhill Crane chick.

This next portrait once again proves the fact that pretty light, can make even the most plain sparrow sort of bird seem to glow with life.

Portraits will always be the centerpiece of animal photography.

Okay, this is not actually a bird.

I was out making flight shots of several different sorts of birds when this manmade flying machine began to come closer.

Never miss a shot even if the subject is not in your list of must get.

May God Bless,
Wayne