Beginner Backyard Bird Practice

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

J

Joaquin

New member
Supporting Member
Member's gallery
Just getting started here and Steve's videos and books have been a real asset. This is my first post. I've had a D7500 for a year or two now but never really got it out to learn it. I recently acquired a new to me 200-500 Nikon and have been jumping in practicing wildlife on backyard birds. All three of these were taken at 500mm, F5.6, 1/3200s. This was about my 3rd outing with the camera (or doing any photography with anything lacking an Apple logo for that matter) so go easy on me but all critique welcome! Birds here are a Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Carolina Chickadee, and Eastern Phoebe. I thought it was pretty cool that in the picture of the Phoebe with the yellow jacket in its beak, if you look closely the bird had just shook its prize and knocked a leg loose and you can see the leg floating to the ground right behind his tail! Cool surprise for this amateur when I got inside on the computer. Neat detail would have probably been lost without the shutter speed. I was shooting continuous fast bursts and that was the only frame where you can see the bug leg.



DSC_2323.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
DSC_2193-2.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
DSC_2233.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Member's gallery
Thanks I am having a blast. I went a little crazy at the local bird feeder store and now I've got a very target-rich environment in my backyard. Great for practicing all the skills I'm learning through Steve's videos/books and this forum.
 
Member's gallery
Off to a good start! I like the shot of that acrobatic Carolina Chickadee. I also use the D7500 + 200-500. It's a great budget combination for bird photography.

Just a little advice, 1/3200 is way too fast for birds that aren't in flight and are periodically stationary. You'll end up with lots of noisy images. Try dropping to 1/1000 or lower, especially if the light is low. Also, this requires tons of patience, but wait til the birds are at eye level preferably with a clean clutter free background. It helps to be somewhere where you're at a slight elevation, such as a ridge overlooking a tree line, or just waiting for them to drop down and feed at your level. Shooting up at birds with a sky background won't make for the most pleasing photo plus the camera will try to meter for the bright sky resulting in a dark bird. Also, try to take advantage of overcast or bright overcast days, or when the sun is low and at your back. You'll get less shadows and bright spots and a nice even exposure on the bird.

Keep shooting and looking forward to seeing you get the most out of the D7500 and 200-500!
 
Member's gallery
Turberticus said:
Off to a good start! I like the shot of that acrobatic Carolina Chickadee. I also use the D7500 + 200-500. It's a great budget combination for bird photography.

Just a little advice, 1/3200 is way too fast for birds that aren't in flight and are periodically stationary. You'll end up with lots of noisy images. Try dropping to 1/1000 or lower, especially if the light is low. Also, this requires tons of patience, but wait til the birds are at eye level preferably with a clean clutter free background. It helps to be somewhere where you're at a slight elevation, such as a ridge overlooking a tree line, or just waiting for them to drop down and feed at your level. Shooting up at birds with a sky background won't make for the most pleasing photo plus the camera will try to meter for the bright sky resulting in a dark bird. Also, try to take advantage of overcast or bright overcast days, or when the sun is low and at your back. You'll get less shadows and bright spots and a nice even exposure on the bird.

Keep shooting and looking forward to seeing you get the most out of the D7500 and 200-500!
Click to expand...

Thanks and I agree that shutter speed was way fast. I had been hoping to practice some bird in flight stuff with birds moving to and from feeders and then just wound up getting tunnel vision and leaving my shutter at that speed the whole time I was shooting. I was definitely hurting on ISO though as the sun began to go down. I'm loving the lens but I am feeling a little restricted with the large AF points in the camera. I think the extra AF points in a 153 point system would be smaller and easier to get on a small birds eye. I've been thinking long and hard about trading it in for a d500 but can't decide if I should do it now or wait until there is a mirrorless D500 equivalent. My best bet would probably be just keep using what I've got until I've gotten everything I can out of this camera, but I have a serious sickness when it comes to shiny new things...
 
Member's gallery
Joaquin said:
Thanks I am having a blast. I went a little crazy at the local bird feeder store and now I've got a very target-rich environment in my backyard.
Click to expand...
If you have feeders out and perhaps also a drinking water source (bird bath) for the birds the next step could be a photo blind close to feeders and watering hole. This will allow closer more frame filling images. Something like a lightweight pop-up hunting blind such as the Ameristep Dog House ground blind work well, are commonly available, and economical. Try to position the blind with the sun generally coming from behind the blind. Add a camp stool or other seat then yourself with camera on tripod and wait for the bird action. Also consider setting up limbs/branches/sticks etc close to the feeders and bird bath for natural photo perches.
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
NA4M said:
If you have feeders out and perhaps also a drinking water source (bird bath) for the birds the next step could be a photo blind close to feeders and watering hole. This will allow closer more frame filling images. Something like a lightweight pop-up hunting blind such as the Ameristep Dog House ground blind work well, are commonly available, and economical. Try to position the blind with the sun generally coming from behind the blind. Add a camp stool or other seat then yourself with camera on tripod and wait for the bird action. Also consider setting up limbs/branches/sticks etc close to the feeders and bird bath for natural photo perches.
Click to expand...

Great ideas thanks! I am in the middle of a ton of work in my office right now so I really only have a few quick opportunities to get out for a little bit and shoot from behind the fence in my driveway but this spring when we really start getting a lot more songbirds I plan to improve my setup. I have a dog water bowl under a faucet near my feeders that i leave constantly dripping that the birds have been frequenting so they've got a water source but I would like to rig up a dedicated, elevated bird bath with a little solar fountain pump to keep the water moving so they have a safer place to go. I have a coopers hawk that has been hanging around I'm really hoping I can get some shots of her nailing something too. She has been keeping the doves pretty stirred up and she usually has a full crop around 10:00 every morning so one day I'll be in the right place at the right time.
 
Member's gallery
I'm trying to upload a few more pictures to this thread but I keep getting a file size too large problem. Can anyone help me out on the best way to decrease that on mac?
 
Member's gallery
Joaquin said:
Just getting started here and Steve's videos and books have been a real asset. This is my first post. I've had a D7500 for a year or two now but never really got it out to learn it. I recently acquired a new to me 200-500 Nikon and have been jumping in practicing wildlife on backyard birds. All three of these were taken at 500mm, F5.6, 1/3200s. This was about my 3rd outing with the camera (or doing any photography with anything lacking an Apple logo for that matter) so go easy on me but all critique welcome! Birds here are a Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Carolina Chickadee, and Eastern Phoebe. I thought it was pretty cool that in the picture of the Phoebe with the yellow jacket in its beak, if you look closely the bird had just shook its prize and knocked a leg loose and you can see the leg floating to the ground right behind his tail! Cool surprise for this amateur when I got inside on the computer. Neat detail would have probably been lost without the shutter speed. I was shooting continuous fast bursts and that was the only frame where you can see the bug leg.



View attachment 30874View attachment 30875View attachment 30876
Click to expand...
You're off to a great start Joaquin.
 
Member's gallery
Joaquin said:
Great ideas thanks! I am in the middle of a ton of work in my office right now so I really only have a few quick opportunities to get out for a little bit and shoot from behind the fence in my driveway but this spring when we really start getting a lot more songbirds I plan to improve my setup. I have a dog water bowl under a faucet near my feeders that i leave constantly dripping that the birds have been frequenting so they've got a water source but I would like to rig up a dedicated, elevated bird bath with a little solar fountain pump to keep the water moving so they have a safer place to go. I have a coopers hawk that has been hanging around I'm really hoping I can get some shots of her nailing something too. She has been keeping the doves pretty stirred up and she usually has a full crop around 10:00 every morning so one day I'll be in the right place at the right time.
Click to expand...
You need to open them in anything that will allow you to resize them PS or LR or even Windows photo app. Set size on the long edge no more than 1200 pixels and save with sufficient file reduction not to exceed 1 Mp.
 
Member's gallery
Rick S said:
You need to open them in anything that will allow you to resize them PS or LR or even Windows photo app. Set size on the long edge no more than 1200 pixels and save with sufficient file reduction not to exceed 1 Mp.
Click to expand...
Ok I think I've got it now. Thanks. Not sure how much detail I lose but here's the resized pictures from this morning.
 
Member's gallery
House Finch copy.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
House Finch-2 copy.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

460 mm with a 200-500 @F5.6 through my office window (not ideal) ISO 500 on the pair with SS 1/250. Single male at 1/1250 with ISO 2200
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
Hut2 said:
Agreed, the first time I set a blind up in the back yard I felt a little silly. It's so much fun, now I look forward to it.
Click to expand...
Now is the time to do it too while its cool. By springtime it'll be like a sauna inside that blind here in South Texas
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hut
Member's gallery
I have ordered Steve's course yesterday on noise reduction. Just watched the first couple videos last night. I think that single finch with the higher ISO will be a good practice photo to work on in that course. Any updates on when the full develop module course will be coming out from Steve? I am excited for that one!
 
Member's gallery
Joaquin said:
Now is the time to do it too while its cool. By springtime it'll be like a sauna inside that blind here in South Texas
Click to expand...
Joaquin - I'm just north of Austin and use my blind year-round. The blind I suggested has screened windows with zippered covers that lets air in and keep bugs out. Positioning the blind in the shade helps along with a big mug of iced-tea while inside!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hut
Member's gallery
NA4M said:
Joaquin - I'm just north of Austin and use my blind year-round. The blind I suggested has screened windows with zippered covers that lets air in and keep bugs out. Positioning the blind in the shade helps along with a big mug of iced-tea while inside!
Click to expand...
I'll check that one out thanks! What kind of birds have you been seeing over there? Anything interesting? I have a friend in Fredericksburg that is getting a lot of goldfinches. I have yet to see them. He gets painted and indigo buntings in the spring too. I'd love to see some/any of those around my area.
 
Member's gallery
Joaquin said:
What kind of birds have you been seeing over there? Anything interesting? I have a friend in Fredericksburg that is getting a lot of goldfinches. I have yet to see them. He gets painted and indigo buntings in the spring too. I'd love to see some/any of those around my area.
Click to expand...
Pretty much some of the usual visitors so far - American Goldfinches and earlier in winter a Lesser Goldfinch. House Finch's, 3 species of woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals, Black-crested Titmouse, couple species of Wrens, Yellow-rumped Warblers. No shortage of White-winged Doves or house sparrows. Last winter we had numerous Pine Siskens but haven't noticed any so far this winter. I keep hoping for Painted Buntings also especially a male but so far I've not seen one but they're reported in this region in spring/summer.
 
Member's gallery
NA4M said:
I keep hoping for Painted Buntings also especially a male but so far I've not seen one but they're reported in this region in spring/summer.
Click to expand...
In all of 2021, in my backyard near Round Rock, I saw one Painted Bunting on July 20, and barely got a shot of it.
 
Member's gallery
Craig42 said:
In all of 2021, in my backyard near Round Rock, I saw one Painted Bunting on July 20, and barely got a shot of it.
Click to expand...
That is really neat! I am going to be on the hunt for them this Spring. Going to read up on them as much as I can to try to get the best idea of where to find them. If you feel like sharing that shot I'd love to see it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top