This article shares a small selection of quick shots from 6 stops, captured during a day out with another photographer who was visiting my local area. While I had some camera gear with me, my main objective wasn’t to capture a lot of photographs, but rather serve as an area guide, and to identify some image opportunities.
All of the images featured in this article were captured handheld, and are displayed in the order in which they were created during our photography session that day.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge. To view this article in a range of other languages click on the Canadian flag in the upper right corner.
Our first stop was at Grindstone Creek. Unfortunately there has been so much rain in Southern Ontario this spring and early summer that the water level in this area is much higher than usual.
This has resulted in very few wading birds like herons and egrets staying at this location to fish. There were a few small birds periodically taking flight, and some interesting side lighting on some swans. After grabbing a few quick shots we moved on.
Our next stop was at LaSalle Park in Burlington. We explored the spit area looking for photographic opportunities and found some blackbirds launching into flight.
Taking note of the direction and angle of a bird’s head is always important to observe, as they indicate the likely flight path a bird will take when launching into flight.
We then walked along the boardwalk at LaSalle Park and found a few squirrels… before deciding to move on to our next location.
We then used the Cherry Hill Gate entrance to access the boardwalk at Hendrie Valley. We found a few red winged blackbirds taking flight and some other small birds. Rather than using Bird Detection AI to capture this image of a blue jay, I shot in Manual Mode using a single, small auto-focus point to ‘thread the needle’ through various branches and twigs.
Another one of our quick shots was trying to capture the moth in above image taking flight. This particular moth was extremely quick launching into flight. I backed off the focal length with my zoom lens to help increase the likelihood of getting a successful image capture.
Our next opportunity for some quick shots was at a small cormorant nesting area adjacent to Eastport Drive in Hamilton. There are a few trees very close to this four lane industrial access road where numerous cormorant nests are located.
I knew from an earlier visit to this location that there was also a night heron nest in this area. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a ‘non cormorant’ bird flying past. This was a classic ‘wheel around and shoot’ moment that bird photographers face on a routine basis.
This image suffers from severe cropping, but it at least documents a night heron in flight. This night heron was 54.8 metres (~180 feet) feet away, and captured with my lens fully extended to 600 mm (efov 1200 mm) and demonstrates the value of Bird Detection AI technology.
In between calling out approaching birds, I was able to grab a few quick shots of cormorants in flight. Using Bird Detection AI was very effective in focusing on these birds-in-flight, and separating them from a very busy background.
The next opportunity we had for some quick shots was at Windemere Park, which is further along Eastport Drive in Hamilton. While my friend concentrated on photographing swallows taking flight from some nesting boxes, I grabbed a few quick Pro Capture H images of bees in-flight around some yellow blossoms.
Our final stop of the day was at Biggar Lagoon Wetlands in Grimsby. This is my favourite location to photograph swallows and Purple Martins during the spring birding season.
The final three images featured in this article are all from the same Pro Capture H image run. As you can see from the image above, I don’t fret about clipping the wing of a bird if the image illustrates a dramatic moment.
Using a fast frame rate of 60 fps (with Pro Capture H for example) allows a photographer to capture a range of potentially useable photographs from the same, short duration image run. Even though this specific technology on my E-M1X locks focus and exposure based on the first frame of the image run.
All three of these final photographs were captured during an image run that was only 1/4 second in duration. If I owned an OM-1 or OM-1 Mark II, I’m sure I’d be doing a lot of photography of birds taking flight at 120 frames-per-second.
Technical Note
Photographs featured in this article were captured handheld using camera gear and technologies noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1541 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
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A lovely read with of course phenomenal images, I haven’t had much luck with flying birds – but getting great results when I can get out. The SFN is a nightmare at times and photography takes a hit
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your supportive comment… we’re glad you enjoyed the article.
How you are dealing with your SFN challenges remains an inspiration.
Tom
Always a good read and a good look at your images.
I sometimes wish I had never exchanged my EM1X, even though it was for an OM-1; it was a powerful beast.
Hi Jerry,
I’m glad you enjoyed the article 🙂
Every camera has its advantages and challenges. The most important thing is to buy and use what best meets our individual needs.
Tom