Very hungry birds!

Thanks. Beautiful country.

Essentially a back lit subject, high dynamic range problem. I'd start by capturing the shot in RAW format or HDR. Also, it might be instructive to spend a day experimenting using HDR, bracketing various apertures, ISO settings etc and evaluating the results for what produces what you like best. The RAW format with post processing should help in that it can pull detail from a somewhat under exposed subject. Good luck.

Try this link to start. I think Nikon can answer your questions and you don't need an account:

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?lang=en_US&articleNo=000002313

There are DOF calculators available on the web to help solve this kind of problem. Assuming the subject is 50 ft away and you were set at 200 mm the DOF at f2 would be 2.3 ft but at f9 it would be ~10 ft, probably enough to capture the second squirrel in acceptable focus. Alternately you could reduce the focal length. The DOF for a 50mm lens at f2 at that distance is ~42 ft; DOF is infinite at f5.6. As you can see the focal length is also significant factor easily adjusted with your zoom lens. Thanks for sharing this problem with us.

Really good products. I started using it based on Joel Sartore's recommendations in his Gat Geo photo courses. Of course, he makes money for endorsements but in this case he's right it's top quality gear particularly the L brackets and monopod heads.

Looks like you had some fun solving a problem! Thanks also for the info (cameral info etc.), most leave that out.

Thanks for the resource, it struck me as generally useful and I've bookmarked it. Merry Christmas!

In addition to the many options mentioned here you might also consider the National Geographic "Great Courses" series on photography. It covers basics of exposure in addition to suggestions about equipment, creating photographs under different conditions, different subjects etc. I hope this fits what you were looking for and enjoy the trip.

Thanks but I have one. Good luck with your sale effort.

i'm confused. The last picture is for a 70-300mm. ??

Try this; it's for the D version:

http://download.nikonimglib.com/archive2/HEzFG00Jj7zi02k5hGg06wuiSj75/AF50_1.8D_CH(80_DL)09.pdf

Documentation of the prior version AF 50mm isn't available from Nikon anymore but you might find something on the web if you google for it.

There is a Nikon support site for may of their products here: https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/index.html

AZ themed stocking! I'm sure she appreciated your efforts

She will when it's full!

I have to say you all do some beautiful work. Have a Merry Christmas!

A stocking for a daughter living in Arizona from a mother in Pittsburgh.

Christmas stocking made for a daughter living in Arizona; we're in Pittsburgh.