Nickerson will is rife with Black Skimmer chicks and fledglings and lots action and flight photography. If you would like to explore the possibility of joining me for an inexpensive In-the-Field Session or two at either or both locations, please get in touch ASAP via e-mail or call or text me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Monday morning at Nickerson is sold out.
What’s Up?
Many BAA In-the-Field Instructional Workshop veterans Dianne Heggie and Brenda Gates joined me for a morning session at Nickerson Beach on Monday. Though conditions were tough with variably sunny skies and a southwest wind, both ladies learned a ton. Retired sociologists, they met at a local camera club meeting years ago and have been fast friends ever since. Both shoot with the Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 lens and a Nikon D850. We worked on exposure, getting low, getting close to the birds while kneeling or while seated, choosing a workable shutter speed for various situations, flight photography, subject-to-film plane orientation, and handholding. Image review and brunch at the Laurel Diner in Long Beach was enjoyed by all.
The Great-black-backed Gulls have been chowing down on small and large Black Skimmer chicks for the past few days. And the adult skimmers have been attacking wayward chicks that wander into their territories almost constantly. Despite the predation, it was a fantastic breeding season for both the Common Terns and the skimmers. In addition, there are flocks of hundreds of American Oystercatchers gathering on the beach. They also enjoyed good breeding success as there are dozens of juvenile birds with their fringed feathers and dark-tipped orange bills.
Thanks to old Long Island friend Jimmy “G” (James Galleto) I got on some tiny skimmer chicks and lots of relatively new nests with eggs. It is likely that few of those will survive as it is relatively late in the season.
Today is Tuesday 15 August 2023. I will be heading to Nickerson once again tomorrow morning. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
The Fact$ of Life
The market for editorial sales of natural history images has virtually disappeared. The incomes of the world’s top stock photographers are down by at least 90%. Like me, many depend on income from photo trips, the sale of educational materials, and income from this or that affiliate program.
In 2001, BAA sold the publication rights to images for nearly one-quarter million US dollars. That amount dropped to about $20,000 by 2011, and in 2017, to slightly more than $2,000.00. We’ve stopped counting. IPTs used to fill within days. Now I am happy to go with one or two folks, but I’d much rather have you along. And so it goes. In 2009, I turned to creating educational blog posts, now to the tune of 4063! Yes, 4063 educational blog posts. Please, therefore, remember to use either my B&H or Bedfords affiliate links for your major purposes. It will not cost you one cent to do either.
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will automatically be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your order ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 14 August 2023 on a BAA Nickerson Beach In-the-Field Instructional Workshop. Seated on damp sand I used the knee-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/1000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:47:27am on a then mostly cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Human Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Brenda taking a break
On Respecting Photography
Normally, I do not photograph a lot of people. As you know, I love to photograph birds, the occasional flower, nice patterns, rarely a spider, a bug, or a Butterly, and once in a while, a landscape (without a bird in it). And anything else that interest me. I’ve been to Africa about six times and made many trips to Katmai to photograph Coastal Brown Bears (and on occasion, a few birds).
When I do photograph people, they are usually holding a lens. In yesterday morning’s white sky conditions, Brenda taking a break on her field chair. caught my attention. I moved down toward the ocean to get lower, zoomed all the way out, set the exposure, and made a few images. When I pointed the lens at her, she flashed a big smile. I climbed back up the berm and showed the best one to the ladies. They loved it. But I was not happy as the distant horizon line was distracting. So, I went back to my original spot, but this time I sat down on the wet sand so as to include just a strip of sand and set Brenda totally against the sky. Bingo!
I see many folks just pointing and shooting at various subjects, including people (and birds!) They are obviously sloppy and careless. To me, that is disrespecting photography. My point is that whenever you press the shutter button you might consider taking as much care as you do when photographing your primary subjects, those that turn you on. And the same is true when using your cell phone.
What do you like to photograph besides birds?
All images from SEPT/OCT/NOV at Fort DeSoto.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger, sharper high-resolution version.
Clockwise from upper left to center: Piping Plover flapping after bath, juvenile Laughing Gull with feather, American Oystercatcher with sea urchins, Willet foraging in surf, American White Pelican juvenile swimming, skimmer/tern/shorebird blast-off blur, American White Pelican in flight, Black-bellied Plover stealing lugworm from Marbled Godwit, Roseate Spoonbill staring.
The Fall 2023 Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo-Tours
Fall 2023 Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo-Tour #1
3 1/2 Days: Tuesday 26 September through the morning session on Friday 29 September 2023. $1899.00 includes three working lunches. Limit six photographers.
Fall 2023 Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo-Tour #2
3 1/2 Days: Tuesday 17 October through the morning session on Friday 20 October 2023. $1899.00 includes three working lunches. Limit six photographers.
Fall 2023 Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo-Tour #3
3 1/2 Days: Tuesday 14 November through the morning session on Friday 17 November 2023. $1899.00 includes three working lunches. Limit six photographers/Openings five.
Fall Bird Photography at Fort DeSoto
Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for migrant shorebirds, terns, and gulls in fall. There they join hundreds of egrets, herons, and night-herons that winter on the T-shaped peninsula. With any luck at all, we should get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable shorebird species: Marbled Godwit. Black-bellied Plover and Willet are easy, American Oystercatcher is pretty much guaranteed. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two. And there should be some quality Brown Pelican flight photography. In addition, Royal, Sandwich, Forster’s, and Caspian Terns will likely provide us with some good flight opportunities as well. Though not guaranteed, Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two.
On this IPT, all will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button. Everyone will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them, to understand and predict bird behavior, to identify many species of shorebirds, to spot the good situations, to choose the best perspective, to see and understand the light, and to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system. Most importantly, you will surely learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. And you will learn how and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it). The best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever and whenever you photograph.
Clockwise from upper left to center: Long-billed Curlew, juvenile Tricolored Heron, Marbled Godwits, Great Blue Heron, juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Stork, smiling Sea Scallop, Ruddy Turnstone scavenging needlefish, Great Blue Heron sunset silhouette at my secret spot, and southbound migrant tern flock blur.
The Details
There will be a Photoshop/image review session during or after lunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time.
These IPTs will run with only a single registrant (though that is not guaranteed). The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with Gulfport AirBnB/VRBO information. If you register soon and would like to share an AirBnB with me, shoot me an e-mail. Other possibilities including taking a cab to and from the airport to our AirBnB and riding with me for $50/day. This saves you both gas and the cost of a rental car.
A $600 deposit is due when you sign up and is payable by credit card. Balances must be paid by check one month before the trip. Your deposit is non-refundable unless the IPT sells out with six folks, so please check your plans carefully before committing. You can register by calling Jim during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand, or by sending a check as follows: make the check out to: BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, clothing, and gear advice. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions on lodging.
Up Early, Stay Out Late!
Obviously, folks attending an IPT will be out in the field early and stay late to take advantage of the sweetest light and sunrise and sunset colors (when possible). The good news is that the days are relatively short in early fall. I really love it when I am leaving the beach on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving. On cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip the afternoon session. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will sometimes be on your own as well.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which two of today’s five featured 2023 Nickerson Beach images are the strongest? Which is the weakest? Please let us know why you made your choices.
Which two images required the use of Topaz Sharpen AI to reduce motion blur on the face?
My Call
In the last blog post, the worst image for me, by far, was #2, the bathing Lesser Yellowlegs. For some reason, if I cannot see a shorebird’s white belly, it turns me off. And in general, I do not like overall dark images. My very favorite photo was #3, the beautifully designed skimmer family image. I was quite surprised that several folks chose that one as the worst.
What’s Up?
Shame on the folks who run Gateway National Park. For about the 8th time in the last ten years, the East Pond at Jamaica Bay WR is too flooded for either birding or bird photography. It was also strange to me that nobody mentioned the fact hat it looked pretty good for ISO 4000!
Nickerson Beach, on the other hand, has been fantastic. On Saturday evening, I went light with just the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens and both TCS and came up with some neat images.
Today is Sunday 13 August 2023. I headed to the beach early after a vicious overnight thunder and lightning storm with lots of wind and rain. Today is a great day to consider joining me on Long Island. I will be here through Thursday morning and fly home this coming Friday.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
The Fact$ of Life
The market for editorial sales of natural history images has virtually disappeared. The incomes of the world’s top stock photographers are down by at least 90%. Like me, many depend on income from photo trips, the sale of educational materials, and income from this or that affiliate program.
In 2001, BAA sold the publication rights to images for nearly one-quarter million US dollars. That amount dropped to about $20,000 by 2011, and in 2017, to slightly more than $2,000.00. We’ve stopped counting. IPTs used to fill within days. Now I am happy to go with one or two folks, but I’d much rather have you along. And so it goes. In 2009, I turned to creating educational blog posts, now to the tune of 4063! Yes, 4063 educational blog posts. Please, therefore, remember to use either my B&H or Bedfords affiliate links for your major purposes. It will not cost you one cent to do either.
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will automatically be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your order ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
JBWR/Nickerson Beach Sessions
Nickerson will is rife with Black Skimmer chicks and fledglings and lots offeegins and flight photography. If you would like to explore the possibility of joining me for an inexpensive In-the-Field Session or two at either or both locations, please get in touch ASAP via e-mail or call or text me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Monday morning at Nickerson is sold out.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer at dawn in the Red Light District
More Red Light District Images
On clear mornings with winds from the west, conditions are poor for traditional (front lit) bird photography and especially for flight photography. Why? Because all the birds will be flying, landing, and taking off away from you when the sun is at your back. Such conditions, however, are perfect for creating Red Light District-type images of backlit birds on the beach, bathed in red, orange, or yellow light. I make sure to be at the beach a full thirty minutes before sunrise. Join me soon at Nickerson to learn how to create dramatic images like this one.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer fledgling begging
Bird Face-Eye Detection AF-C at 1200mm
The performance of Bird Face-Eye Detection AF-C at 1200mm is stunning. It will find and track the eye almost instantly. If you are using Tracking: Zone with the brackets in the center, the system will see the eye if it is outside the brackets! And as we have seen before many times, a1 images made at 1200mm are mind-bogglingly sharp as long as you have enough shutter. Check out the shutter speed used to create Image #1.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #3: Juvenile Skimmer after getting smashed by a big wave
Oblivious to Humans and Waves!
This little guy was bravely walking along the edge of the surf, stopping every so often for a sip or water. I was with my friend Roger — he comes in the afternoons and always has his little white dog peeking out of his backpack. Anyhoo, we’d get on sun angle and the bird would walk right at us. We’d get up and move well to the west and let the bird come to us. And come he would. At one point the juvie skimmer got within two feet of the end of Roger’s Nikkor 500mm PF lens. At one point, as I was moving back, the bird got slammed by a big wave and dragged out to sea. I created image #3 as he made his way back to shore and to safety.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #4: Common Tern with Atlantic Silversides for chick
Think Fast!
I was working at 1200mm off the flatten tripod. That puts the lens about ten inches off the ground. This bird, holding a big Spearing in its bill landed at pint blank range right in front of me and right down sun angle. We used speaking as bait to catch snappers — baby Bluefish about six to eight inches long. My Dad’s mom, Grandma Selma, would cut off the heads, pull out the guts, bread them, and fry them up for me. Anyhoo, I wanted to go vertical but the a1 screen only tilts horizontally, so I did my best to fit the bird into the frame. When it turned to the side, I took more time with the framing and deliberately included only the front 3/4 of the bird, and made a series of about six images before it took flight. One was pretty close to perfect.
I knew that because the bird was so close to me that it would only stay on the ground for a few seconds. If you even think of removing the teleconverter in such instances, you will almost always wind up with nothing.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #5: Black Skimmer chick about 2-weeks old
Skimmer Chicks of Varying Sizes
One of the best things about Nickerson in August is that there are about half fledged and flying young. A bit less than half are large, handsome unfledged chicks and there are a smattering of small chicks like the bird in Image #5. This season has been a banner one for skimmer productivity as there are many hundreds of young birds. Yesterday I saw the first large skimmer chick predation by Great Black-backed Gull.
Despite deplorable conditions — wind against a bright sun — at Nickerson Beach Park this morning, Friday 11 AU 2023, I did quite well. There are a zillion black Skimmer chicks and about half a zillion Common Tern chicks. Nearly all of the other photographers there had zero clue as to handle the tough situation.
What is the World Coming To?
For as long as I can remember, I have always had Sports Center or Jeopardy or Chopped running on TIVO as background when I am working on the laptop, that usually in excess of many hours every day for one reason of another. More and more recently, I have found myself turning off the TV and listening to a John Prine mix on you tube. On Saturday, “I Remember Everything” popped up first. I happened to glance at the video. For the next 3:09 I watched and listened, captivated by the words, the sounds, the old photographs, and the old letters and postcards. Can you say heartwarming and poignant? I choked up and cried a bit at times — How I miss you in the morning light, like roses miss the dew. Then I watched it again.
This is the official lyric video for the last recorded song by John Prine before his death on April 7, 2020. The song was written by Prine and his longtime collaborator Pat McLaughlin. And to think that I had never heard of Prine until two years ago. Use the little white search box on the upper right of each blog post and type in John Prine for links to more of his great music.
Your Call?
Please leave a comment letting us know which you feel is the weakest of today’s three featured images. Be sure to let us know why you made your choice. I have a clear favorite as to which one is the worst of the three. I will share that with you here on Sunday.
My Call
In the last blog post, the Lesser Yellowlegs striding and the adult oystercatcher in sweet afternoon light were my two favorites. Why? The background in each image was sublime. And the skimmer chick being brooded did not exactly suck either (though one reader disagreed with me).
What’s Up?
Jim and I became ensnared in an horrific traffic jam on I-4 on the way to the airport on Thursday mornings. Had Maps not suggested an alternative route, I would have miss my flight to Islip for sure.
After a blessedly uneventful flight (my favorite kind), I arrived on time at ISP, picked up a rental car, paid a brief visit to younger daughter Alissa, headed to the Fish Store in Babylon, and then drove to my VRRBO lodgings in Valley Stream.
Today is Friday 11 August 2023. I will likely be at Nickerson early this morning and probably the East Pond this afternoon. If you love shorebirds, terns, and gulls, late summer through fall is a great time to get out into the field and do lots of bird photography. In particular, the southbound plovers, oystercatchers, and sandpipers are usually quite cooperative; the Common Tern chicks on Long Island are fledged and flying, and the skimmer chicks there are getting larger; some are flying. Today is a great day to consider joining me on Long Island — three folks already have, or on a DeSoto IPT. Many IPT veteran John Dupps is joining me for the November IPT; we will probably be sharing an AirBnB in Gulfport!
JBWR/Nickerson Beach Sessions
Nickerson will be rife with Black Skimmer chicks and fledglings and lots of flight photography. Juvenile shorebird photography opportunities at my soul place, the East Pond, JBWR, will peak this coming week (for about three mornings). If you would like to explore the possibility of joining me for an inexpensive In-the-Field Session or two at either or both locations, please get in touch ASAP via e-mail or call or text me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Monday morning at JBW is sold out.
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Tracking: Expand Spot AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: Juvenile Kildeer
Killdeer at JBWR
Adult Killdeer at the East Pond are notoriously shy. Even the juveniles of this species are usually skittish. When working last August with Muhammand Arif, we were blessed to find this relatively tame bird in fresh juvenal plumage. In more than 30 years of photography at the East Pond, I have never gotten close enough to a killdeer photograph one. Note that each feather of the upperparts sports a narrow reddish-brown fringe that gives the bird its warm and evenly patterned look. Most juvenile shorebirds have a similar look.
Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers
Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers was written — by me 🙂 — for naturalists and birders, the text tells you everything you’ve always wanted to know about North America’s sandpipers, godwits, yellowlegs, phalaropes, plovers, avocets, stilts, and oystercatchers. Topics covered include identification and aging, shorebird behavior including their incredible migrations, feeding and diet, mating and breeding strategies, eggs, nests, and young, conservation efforts, and shorebirding tips. Also included are approximately 50 species accounts covering all of the regularly occurring North American shorebird species. With 70 of my images and 26 more by some of the world’s best nature photographers, the book contains the one of the finest collections of shorebird photographs ever published in a single volume.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Lesser Yellowlegs — juvenile bathing
Bath Time
As do the shallow pools at Fort DeSoto, the shallow waters along the edges of the East Pond attract many species of terns, gulls, and shorebirds anxious to have a nice bath. Once you see a bird dipping its breast into the water and splashing around, there is a 95% that it will flap after its bath. And 95% of the time, the bird will face into the breeze or the wind. Knowing these simple bird photography basics can enable you to come up with some great images that others might be missed. An additional fine point is that the birds will most often choose to bathe in a specific depth. When one bird finishes bathing and flies off, another will often opt to bathe in the exact same spot. Your patience will often be rewarded. Join my on an IPT or an In-the-Field session to learn dozens of professional tips that will help you elevate your came and the quality of your images.
Frame-rate Tip
I have long recommended that no matter what camera body you use for bird photography, that you set your camera to achieve the maximum frame-rate. With the Sony A1, that is an impressive 30-frames per second. I have run across more than a few folks who set their cameras to one of the slower frame-rates so that they can “save card space and reduce their length of their editing (picking their keepers) sessions”. IMHO, this is a very poor strategy, especially when photographing birds in flight and in action. And when bathing. The fastest frame-rate will always give you more photos to choose from than a slower one. And in most cases, a single frame will stand out as clearly best. You never want to increase your chances of missing the shot by using less than the maximum frame-rate.
By using Photo Mechanic to choose your keepers, you can learn to edit a 2,000-image folder in less than 15 minutes. Use this link to purchase your Photo Mechanic license and forward your receipt to me e-mail and request my set-up information and a video tutorial.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #3: Black Skimmer feeding chick
Afternoon Delight
Sunny August afternoons with a breeze from the south or the west are great for photographing the Black Skimmer families. On really hot and really windy afternoons, the adult skimmers spend a lot of time in the air squabbling. Super-telephoto zoom lenses like the Sony 200-600mm G lens are ideal for photographing the midair fights. I will likely visit Nickerson on Friday morning. As I was there for 5 weeks in early summer, I am anxious to see how the nests close to the colony ropes fared. Stay tuned for details, and hopefully, for images.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
