Bird photography has always been my nemesis. Those suckers never stay still long enough for me, and tracking them in flight through a lens while locking focus seems near impossible, especially with a variable aperture lens like the Tamron 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3. However, when I do get a successful shot, it is incredible to see the details of these beautiful little creatures.
While my son would love to build a bird blind off our deck, we’ll settle for using the windows for now. I’m not the most dedicated housekeeper, but I will clean my windows more meticulously if there is photography involved.
Hairy woodpecker
We have a feeder right in our window, but I can’t take pictures of birds that close without getting the glass in focus as well, so I have to get the birds a short distance away from the window. I stuck a small tree branch in a flower pot a few feet away, and the birds use it to perch as they are waiting for their turn at the feeder.
Chickadee
When we re-stain our deck, I am choosing a light grey that looks better in the bird photos.
American goldfinch
If the birds perch high enough, I can get the trees behind the deck instead, which is much more attractive.
Of course, the pictures are even clearer when I can get outside the window.
Chickadee
Only the chickadees are brave enough to come when I’m out on the deck with them, though. Maybe we do need that bird blind after all.
These are beautiful, Nancy! I have a photography club friend who just made her bird blind out of a large cardboard box. She said it worked wonders for years!
Right now, our largest cardboard box has been claimed by the boys as a “Transmogrifier” (a transforming machine from Calvin and Hobbes), but maybe I can find something else. Thanks for the tip!
I keep saying I would like a blind too. When the 600mm arrives I should be able to hide in the house.
Hiding in the house works pretty well, but I find I have more clarity when I don’t shoot through a window. However, it does inspire me to wash my windows!