A Guest Blog on Photographing Birds
I always enjoy seeing photos taken by others who love photography as much as I do.
Not long ago, my grandson, Truman, introduced me to one of his friends, Nikki, a young and very talented and passionate photographer. Nikki started taking photos when he was just 11 years old. Now 14, Nikki's stunning wildlife images can be seen on social media @nikkibirding - gorgeous images of birds from the New York City area and across North America. While he enjoys photographing lots of animals, when asked why he focuses on birds, Nikki says, "because it never gets old, there is always a new bird to take a picture of or a new shot I can get." Right away, I asked him to share some of his favorite pictures. I think you'll agree, they're absolutely breathtaking.
Enjoy Nikki's gallery.
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- Nikki uses a Canon R6 with a Canon RF 300-800M F6-3.9 USM lens to take many of his photos. This is an American woodcock. These birds typically have plump bodies, short legs and rounded heads. They spend lots of their time on the ground surrounded by brush to stay camouflaged.
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- The American Woodcock is a mix of different shades of brown, black, and gray. Its large eyes are located high on its head giving it excellent, nearly 360-degree vision.
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- Nikki caught this bird just sitting on a branch. Blackpoll warblers are small songbirds with short tails. This one is a male, characterized by its distinctive black cap and white cheeks. These birds hunt for insects off foliage and near the trunks of evergreen trees.
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- Also small is the bright colored yellow warbler. Both males and females have unmarked heads showing off their large black eyes. Nikki catches this bird hopping along small tree limbs looking for caterpillars and other insects.
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- This is the red-winged blackbird. Males are easy to identify – they have handsome red and yellow shoulders. These birds live ear fresh water marshes and wet roadsides and fields.
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- Ever see an ovenbird? This walks lower to the ground searching for food – holding its short tail just a bit higher than its backs. The name comes from the way it builds its nest – a domed structure with an entrance on one side, similar to an old-fashioned oven.
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- Black and white warblers are easy to recognize – bold streaks of black on white bodies. These birds feed on a variety of insects including caterpillars, ants, flies, and certain spiders.
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- Nikki captures such clear details. Here is a female black and white warbler.
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- Here is the same bird starting to sing in a thin, high-pitched and squeaky whistle.
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- The Blackburnian warbler has a trim body with a short, thin and pointed bill. This is also a male, marked by a bright orange face and throat, and the interesting black patterns around his eyes.
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- Breeding male Blackburnian warblers like to perch high on branches, singing and showing off their vibrant orange throats.
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- Here sitting on a limb, watching the activity around him is this common nighthawk, a medium-sized, slender bird with a short neck, large eyes and a medium-long tail. These birds like to roost during the day and look for food during the early morning or evening hours.
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- This is a Cape May warbler, with a delicate short tail and a decurved, or curved downward, bill. Males are also known for their high-pitched song.
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- This is a hermit thrush. It has a brown body with spots on its breast. It also has a reddish tail. These birds can sometimes be found foraging on the ground shaking their feet to move grass and leaves in search of moving insects.
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- The red-bellied woodpecker has a bright red cap stretching from its bill all the way to the back of its neck making it stand out on trees, where it looks for insects and spiders in the crevices of trunks. It also has a well-marked back filled with black and white bars and a plain, white or pale gray underside.
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- Nikki got this photo just last week of a winter wren. Winter wrens prefer to hide among fallen, broken logs close to the ground. These birds are small with short tails, pale throats, and darkly marked backs.
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- And a great find is this barred owl identified by its streaked chest, round tuftless head, and big, dark eyes.
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- Nikki took several great photos – this one of its back. Barred Owls have brown and white striped patterns and white barring on the tail.
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- Barred owls roost in trees during the day, waiting and watching, and actively hunt small rodents at night. Sometimes their calls can be heard – their calls sound like “who cooks for you?” Ever hear one?
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- Barred owls live in forest areas where deciduous trees and evergreens grow, often near water sources and can be very territorial once they establish nests. Nikki also enjoys taking photos of other animals and has begun taking images at sporting events. Hopefully we’ll see more from this young photographer soon. Thanks for sharing your pictures, Nikki.
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