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Monday, March 2, 2009

Bird Photography Weekly #27

First off, let me apologize for the 'not so good' quality of the below photo. It's not one I would normally keep, much less post, but there's somewhat of an interesting lesson behind it.

Just a few days ago I was shooting photos from my back deck. I should have been using a tripod because the light was low and I was using a heavier lens than what I'm normally used to. However, my subject was a male house finch that had landed on the nearby deck railing. Later that evening I was viewing the photos on my computer when I noticed another bird in one of the photos that I hadn't seen earlier. I was pleased to see that it was a female yellow-rumped warbler (circled below). I've seen yellow-rumped warblers in my yard before but it's not a regular visitor. I was glad I had photographed one, even if it wasn't the best photo and it was an accident. To get a better look click on the photo to enlarge. You can tell it's a yellow-rumped warbler by the yellow patches on the sides of its chest. They also have a patch of yellow feathers on their rumps, hence the name. They are winter visitors to our area (VA).

YRWarbler 

The lesson here is to not to be so focused one one thing that you miss out on what else is around you...and to use a tripod when conditions call for it!

To see other bird photographs stop by Bird Photography Weekly.

 

21 comments:

Les said...

Not losing focus on what is around you, even if is not your intended subject, is a good lessen that goes beyond birding.

Kim said...

Excellent advise. Such a pretty bird! You are so lucky to have it in your yard!

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Nice, I am not sure if we get the yellow rumped warbler around here.. some of the smaller birds are not so easy to ID.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it amazing what other birds you find in a photo that you thought only contained the subject bird?

I once photographed a lighthouse at Acadia National Park. When I got home and checked the photos, there was an adult Bald Eagle perched on a spruce tree behind the lighthouse!

Wendy said...

I'm often without a tripod, and many of my photos show that. But it is great to discover things you weren't looking for.

Vickie said...

I'm not a tri-pod user because I love the spontaneity of handheld shots. But there are times I sure need to use one. One day.

I can't believe your warbler stretched so that he looked almost the size of the finch. Not sure I would have realized it was a warbler either!

Leedra said...

Sometimes it is fun to see what we captured with the camera while aiming at something else.

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ANUAR ZAIN said...

What a lucky coincident, you aim for one but you got two. The photo came out very nicely too and I have learned something from you too. I have yet to make use of my tripod.

Bob Kaufman said...

I hear ya, Alan. That happened to us not too long ago. We were photographing a rare Thick-billed Kingbird and lo and behold there was an uncommon Bullock's Oriole just a couple of feet below which we didn't notice until we were done photographing.

mick said...

Good advice about keeping a wide focus - and that's one of the great things about photography - it gives you a second chance to see other things!

Wisconsin Birder said...

Congratulations on your bonus bird and thanks for the good advice!

Neil said...

Thanks for the advice it does pay to look around.

Unknown said...

you always have great bird photos!! come answer my questions about comment protocol!!

Anonymous said...

Excellent advise Alan! I had the exact same thing happen to me during the GBBC. I was taking shots of the house finches and when I checked my photos later, I noticed a purple finch in the group, much thanks to Vickie Henderson and her post on purple finches

Valeriannah said...

Boy Howdy do I get scolded from a friend of mine for not using a tripod more often. I was thinking it would be fun to venture into a bunch of may old shots and look for other cool pictures within pictures. Last summer I found a cool spider in a shot I snapped of a butterfly. When I looked closer the spider was eating the butterfly. I just stumbled across your blog through a link on a nother bird lovers blog (I think it was Vickie Hendersons). Glad I discovered your site. Those are some fine looking Chickens too!

Romicas said...

That's a very nice picture!
Thanks for your comment on my sky in SkywatchFr.

Romicas

Chandramouli S said...

Good advice, Alan and it's always the case that such surprises and rare vistas come to you so unexpectedly and you wish you were prepared for it.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow Alan---That's neat that you got the photo of the warbler.. When I see a new bird, I get so nervous that by the time I focus my camera and the zoom, it's gone... And your lesson is good. I need to look all around and not just at one spot!!!

Keep those bird photos coming. I love 'em!!!
Betsy

Alan Pulley said...

Les: I totally agree with you - great point!

Kallen: Thanks, I was lucky to have one in the yard. I enjoy spotting warbles as they come through.

Janet: I agree, they can be tough to ID; especially the warblers.

MaineBirder: Neat story. You were fortunate to capture that eagle.

Sparverius & Vicky: Yea, I should use the tripod more than what I do but I agree that hand held shots are more spontaneous.

Leedra: Great point - I agree with you.

Tattibau: Thanks! Glad you learned something.

Bob and Cynthia: Thanks for sharing that. I thought it was just me but it seems that its more common than I thought!

Mick & Wisconsin Birder & Neal: Thanks! It's advise that we all can follow.

Darla: Thanks for the complement!! I left you a comment...

Larry: I get mostly house finches but sometimes I will get an occasional purple finch. I find them tough to ID with all the house finches around.

Hi Valeriannah: Neat story! Thanks for stopping by and following!!

Romicas: Thanks, and your welcome.

Chandramouli S: Great point, so very true!

Betsy: Thanks! I too miss a lot of good photo opportunities. Sometimes I thing that there's a lot of luck that goes into it.

Kelly said...

...pretty cool! I haven't scored a bonus bird in a photo yet, but I've missed a good shot of a great bird because I was too busy paying attention to another...a fun post!

Jan said...

How cool! I've never seen one, to my knowledge. Although I probably wouldn't have recognized one if it was right in front of me;)