CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

We have seen so many spot-on images of the beautiful birds of Florida. As a group, you almost make it look too easy to "capture" them.

Questions: What one bird, or bird family, in Florida presents you, individually, with a true photographic challenge and why do you feel that way?

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

From Ohio but can I answer. can I,can I ?? :mrgreen:
Erv

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

Absolutely, Erv. By all means, go for it! That goes for anyone who wishes to name a bird and the photo challenge it presents.

Carioca

I've been trying to get a good hummingbird pic for a long time, now. Gotta get busy with that, since summer's already here.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Well I find any bird that is white, or any that are black. Those two colors always give me a headache with definition and contrast. I can get a great picture of a goose, but the black head always leaves something to desire. Never get eyes to look good. And on white birds it is a challenge to get good detail in the feathers. Then there is red! Geez And then the ones that fly! I can go on and on.:-D :-D
Erv

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

What is the main challenge you face based on your experience so far? In your opinion, is it an equipment based issue, a knowledge based issue, or is it related to the aspects of a hummingbird?

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Florida photographers have the same problems that photographers all over the world have. They do have the advantage of two things: #1 Habitat and #2 They have many overwintering birds from the eastern part of North America.

Large birds are relatively easy. They move slower and more sedately and you don't have to get so close to them to have a reasonable image size.

For me it's the small birds and I'm not talking about feeder birds here, I'm talking about the ones that stick to the high canopy and move constantly. How about it Florida Guys, when was the last time you posted a picture of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet???? These guys are on speed! We have them up here in PA and I see them frequently and they drive me to distraction. How can you focus on something that never stops moving? In my 35,000+ bird photo library I have only 36 pictures of these babies and most of them aren't very good. I can't tell you how many pictures of empty branches I've deleted....Or just a few tail feathers going off the edge of the screen. All I want is one to stop for 10 seconds and put his ruby crown up. Is that too much to ask?

And then there are the skulkers. You know, the ones that never give you a clear view and as soon as you bring the camera up to your face go deeper into the brush! Let's not go there....

One of my best Ruby-crowned Kinglet photos

Carioca

Small target, moves quite fast. Last year, I set up the camera with the intervalometer script, got a half-dozen decent pics in a four-hour period.

They found the camera noise disturbing at first, but got used to it fairly quickly.

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

b-p, after this kinglet, what bird would be #2 on your list of feathery challenges?

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

Interesting strategy. What part of the day did you use for this four-hour period?

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Canonshot; I could go on and on about a lot of species. I won't even talk about some of the rare ones.

The one bird that I would like to photograph that is fairly common is the American Woodcock. I've seen them, usually it is a quick tail end view as they head for cover, I've heard them, especially on an early spring night in a wet meadow. But do you think I have ever found one that I could photograph? No...Never...not once!

Carioca

Morning, only because that was the best time for direct sunlight. The rest of the day, the feeder would be in shade.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I think that the most challenging bird to shoot in Florida would be the Yellow-billed Magpie.

Opus Loc: South East Michigan

I visit Florida every winter and have yet to get a good picture of a Kingfisher and not because of lack of trying. Every time I get close enough using a 500mm lens they just always move at the last second. Very frustrating.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

I live in Florida and believe it's a bird shooters paradise. I really don't have the patience to stalk down little birds and recognize that I'm missing an opportunity for capturing something special. On the other hand, I love shooting big birds and keep trying to capture that perfect action shot or something really different like the shots I've attached.

Great blue with a skewered catfish


Osprey with breakfast


Early morning osprey fight