Oak Titmouse

It normally takes quite a lot of patience, concentration, and good timing to produce the best photos of small birds in the wild. I’m sure I’m not the only photographer who has shot many, many not-so-great pictures in search of one decent one. Of course, if just anybody could easily do it, those truly great nature photos we all admire wouldn’t be nearly so special. Today I’m sharing a few of my better, and less than better, shots from recent outings.

Black Phoebe

Among my many challenges, I’ve found that locating the birds with my eyes and with my camera lens are two very different things. Usually, just about the time I finally find my focus point the bird flies away, and I’m lucky to catch a blurry bit of a wing. Also, while everybody knows that birds like to hang out in trees, you may not fully understand why until you’ve tried to photograph a bird perched among masses of leaves or even bare branches. I can’t help wondering if this is a strategic instinct, or are these birds purposely hiding from my camera?

Yellow-rumped Warbler making the most of camouflage

White-breasted Nuthatch

Nuthatch holding its prize

And why do they always feel the sudden urge to groom themselves, with their heads tucked away out of sight, as soon as I hit the shutter button?

A pair of Goldfinches

Northern Flicker

“Headless” Starling

House Sparrow