G
Gleb Berloff
Guest
If anyone out there is a keen bird photographer, I am starting a thread to discuss this subject. A lot of people will probably disagree with my list, but I have built it based on observations. If anyone is frustrated with these birds, I can understand why. And also recommendations to photograph some of them. I only include birds I have seen myself.
1. Golden Oriole. These birds, although colourful, are surprisingly difficult to spot in trees, have a habit of perching inside the thick foliage of said trees, and on top of that are extremely shy, and can fly off at a very long range.
During a one-off visit, this task is monumental and nearly impossible. With a crowd of observers it might be easy. But not alone. There was one oriole in 2018 living in a very small area near my former village. It took me almost two weeks to get photographs of it. If on a one-time visit, the only views you are likely to get are very distant views of flying birds. The best idea to observe these is to choose a very reliable site for them, go there in the very early morning, and wait, preferably out of view. With luck, an oriole might perch on a barnach in view, or start its feeding flights. Early evenings are good for those as well. They can be found by their beautiful calls or cat-like screeches. But if it sees you, it will fly away. Listen out for those calls in reliable spots in early mornings. Lone trees are best- that is how I found my oriole. The best image of it is attached below. The way I did this is carefully approach its call at 5 in the morning, and found a tree from which the calls were coming. It took me five minutes to see it, and it was sitting in plain view! The best bet is a dead tree. This bird is incredibly difficult to photograph. But if successfull, the result will be invaluable. The bird is a personal favourite of mine. I am still sitting here in shock I managed to take a picture of it, against all odds. Playing its song at full volume can also help.
2. Cuckoo
Cuckoos are also shy, flying off at an extremely long distance, usually sit perched in the canopy out of view although sometimes choose exposed spots, and are impossible to spot like that.
The beautiful call of the male is the best way to locate it. Scan the likely area, and wait. If you are in the right place facing the right spot, it can take off and fly, and they are most easily observed during this time. Some advice I have found from ornithologists is that playing its song can lead to them approaching you.
Otherwise, approach the song, and hope for the best. However, these birds are easier to observe than orioles. In the UK, RSPB Lakenheath Fen and Thetford Forest is a stronghold.
3. Merlin
Merlins are relatively easy to observe in flight. But photographing a rapidly moving, extremely small bird of prey is another story. I don't know what kind of camera is required to take a picture of these, but mine would fail instantly, as it takes two seconds to focus. Visit a stronghold, and hope for the best. With luck, it can be seen perching.
4. Bittern
Bitters, with their camouflage, are really hard to observe. But in the right place, they are easy. The best places I know of is Bittern Watchpoint in Lee Valley Park and RSPB Lakenheath Fen. The easiest way to observe a bird like this is in flight, though one can sometimes come out of the reeds and start prowling around. This tends to happen most often in icy conditions, when water is frozen.
They are actually best observed in summer, where they get everywhere in feeding flights, and the species is almost-guaranteed if you visit Lakenheath, but you must be patient. Be patient, and one might come out. The Mere Hide and Joist Fen are spectacular places for them.
5. Black Woodpecker
These things are enormous, and can be heard from a great distance. But they are also extremely shy! It is almost-impossible to get to a good place in a forest to take pictures of them! If you approach it like that, it will fly off.
The best place to look for them is young pine plantations, as I have found out. Choose a reliable spot, and with luck it will visit a photogenic area. Sometimes they become approachable, but others they are almost as bad as an oriole.
If you visit or live in Russia, Sanatornaya station has a massive lake nearby on the Belarus direction. The young plantations are where I saw it. The region also has Mid-Russian Willow Grouse and Three-toed woodpecker. The three toed woodpecker is hyperactive, but is remarkably approachable. But with balck woodpeckers, visit a reliable site, and carefully approach the sound, looking out everywhere. Like this, you might get lucky.
Good luck!
1. Golden Oriole. These birds, although colourful, are surprisingly difficult to spot in trees, have a habit of perching inside the thick foliage of said trees, and on top of that are extremely shy, and can fly off at a very long range.
During a one-off visit, this task is monumental and nearly impossible. With a crowd of observers it might be easy. But not alone. There was one oriole in 2018 living in a very small area near my former village. It took me almost two weeks to get photographs of it. If on a one-time visit, the only views you are likely to get are very distant views of flying birds. The best idea to observe these is to choose a very reliable site for them, go there in the very early morning, and wait, preferably out of view. With luck, an oriole might perch on a barnach in view, or start its feeding flights. Early evenings are good for those as well. They can be found by their beautiful calls or cat-like screeches. But if it sees you, it will fly away. Listen out for those calls in reliable spots in early mornings. Lone trees are best- that is how I found my oriole. The best image of it is attached below. The way I did this is carefully approach its call at 5 in the morning, and found a tree from which the calls were coming. It took me five minutes to see it, and it was sitting in plain view! The best bet is a dead tree. This bird is incredibly difficult to photograph. But if successfull, the result will be invaluable. The bird is a personal favourite of mine. I am still sitting here in shock I managed to take a picture of it, against all odds. Playing its song at full volume can also help.
2. Cuckoo
Cuckoos are also shy, flying off at an extremely long distance, usually sit perched in the canopy out of view although sometimes choose exposed spots, and are impossible to spot like that.
The beautiful call of the male is the best way to locate it. Scan the likely area, and wait. If you are in the right place facing the right spot, it can take off and fly, and they are most easily observed during this time. Some advice I have found from ornithologists is that playing its song can lead to them approaching you.
Otherwise, approach the song, and hope for the best. However, these birds are easier to observe than orioles. In the UK, RSPB Lakenheath Fen and Thetford Forest is a stronghold.
3. Merlin
Merlins are relatively easy to observe in flight. But photographing a rapidly moving, extremely small bird of prey is another story. I don't know what kind of camera is required to take a picture of these, but mine would fail instantly, as it takes two seconds to focus. Visit a stronghold, and hope for the best. With luck, it can be seen perching.
4. Bittern
Bitters, with their camouflage, are really hard to observe. But in the right place, they are easy. The best places I know of is Bittern Watchpoint in Lee Valley Park and RSPB Lakenheath Fen. The easiest way to observe a bird like this is in flight, though one can sometimes come out of the reeds and start prowling around. This tends to happen most often in icy conditions, when water is frozen.
They are actually best observed in summer, where they get everywhere in feeding flights, and the species is almost-guaranteed if you visit Lakenheath, but you must be patient. Be patient, and one might come out. The Mere Hide and Joist Fen are spectacular places for them.
5. Black Woodpecker
These things are enormous, and can be heard from a great distance. But they are also extremely shy! It is almost-impossible to get to a good place in a forest to take pictures of them! If you approach it like that, it will fly off.
The best place to look for them is young pine plantations, as I have found out. Choose a reliable spot, and with luck it will visit a photogenic area. Sometimes they become approachable, but others they are almost as bad as an oriole.
If you visit or live in Russia, Sanatornaya station has a massive lake nearby on the Belarus direction. The young plantations are where I saw it. The region also has Mid-Russian Willow Grouse and Three-toed woodpecker. The three toed woodpecker is hyperactive, but is remarkably approachable. But with balck woodpeckers, visit a reliable site, and carefully approach the sound, looking out everywhere. Like this, you might get lucky.
Good luck!