billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Black Hooded Nanday Parakeet flyover Green Cay Florida.
Courtesy Aubuchon South Florida Photo Guide Service.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Did you take this picture? The solid white sky looks phony. In the few times I have been to Green Cey, I never saw a sky like that.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Exposing for the birds. You always expose for what you are shooting. Not the sky.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Thank you for clarifying. You are right about exposing for the birds but exactly how do you do that for small objects moving quickly?

I will be at Green Cey and Wakodahatchee in a few weeks.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I shoot in Manual and I take a reading from a green tree, or green grass, both reflect about 18% of the light, just like a gray card does. So I take a manual reading, drop a stop or two from that reading and as long as the sun is hitting the subject the same way it was hitting the trees or grass I am right on the correct exposure no matter what small objects are moving in front of me. By the way, those Parakeets are flying very fast.
As far as focusing goes, I use the tracking mode in all of my five focusing modes, they are, small center spot, medium center spot, large center spot, Zone (which is about the middle half of the viewfinder image) and wide.
Usually, once the camera grabs focus, the tracking will follow it no matter where it goes.
At Green Cay and Wakodahatchee, I am usually close to anything that moves, I use either my Sony 200-600 or 600 f4 lens. Usually shooting a 30 fps RAW at whatever ISO will give me a minimum of 1/2000 sec. 1/4000 sec. is preferent.
I also offer a free guide service at both locations depending on my availability.

jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

Great shot Bill

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Fabulous!

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

This is exactly the kind of response I like seeing here. Thank you for your time and thoughtfulness. I like your process and will try it out. Meanwhile, we have a tentative date and I will contact you privately.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Nice capture