Any general tips for taking pics of birds?(the flying kind)

Also how do you deal with the shot that got away

inspired by a few of your pictures and having 2 Blue tits and 2 Robins who hang around in the garden all day I got the camera out today.

get camera ready on little tripod on arm of sofa (right next to patio window) fill bird feeder with lovely live wriggling worms about 6 feet from patio and wait wand wait some more.

nothing appears, watch a film constantly looking out of window nothing. Bah

walk to get coffee leaving camera set up stop and look out of window just as a robin arrives on its usual perch a few feet away. Don't want to go for camera as if I move ot will fly off

Then a blue tit arives and lands next to it on the same branch then the other blue tit lands on the other side of it!

for a few seconds a frigging robin blue tit sandwhich 6 feet away!! then teh robin does its usual humbing bird impression which would been a good pic on its own as it eyes up a worm.

Never! never have they frigging done this before in fact until recently the blue tits always attacked/harrassed the robins when they arrived.

I swear they are taking the piss

think I'll try cars at least you can get them to stay still

Birds are not difficult subjects - but look at it from their perspective you're a lot bigger than them, if you were a blue tit would you want to eat worms with a great hulk [You] sitting 6 feet away with a strange looking object in his hand - the camera
You need the birds to become used to seeing you sitting in that position B4 trying to take photo's of 'em. Why not make up a dummy out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper, and leave the dummy in you chosen camera position for a few days B4 trying to take some photo's - Good Luck
Bird photography is certainly NOT for the impatient.

Awsome shot! the detail of the feathers is amazing


I take it you were aimed at the little stand waiting for one to land? or are you able to move the camera around.

problem I have two large cage feeders and they can go in at any angle also they can sit anywhere along the branch where they eye the worms up.


I'd had an idea though looking at that pic.
I could sit in the shed with the doors open. The robins already will stay in the garden as long as I don't get too close sometimes they will fly in the tree next to me as I put the worms out.
but I only have a basic point and click. No lense that would get a decent shot at that distance.

Ed, thats stunning!

Top tips too, cheers.

I love taking bird pics, but they are so difficult to catch particularly with a great pose. As said you need loads and loads of patience. Set up a feeding station close to some trees / bushes so they can hide / perch with protection. This should attract them to the garden.

I’ve recently started to use a 100-400mm lens, but find the best results setting the camera up in the garden at a known branch where the birds perch. A remote shutter release is ace for this as you can have a brew while watching them flutter about. You need loads of patience though.










Or just go to a bird of prey sanctuary and fill ya boots

get yourself a 400mm of sorts

Seagull taken in my back garden




I want a penguin


Catch them when they least expect it!

a few

Nikon D80, 18-200 VR Lens @ 200mm, F5.6, 1/60, ISO200, handheld taken through double glazed window

Love that!

Nothing a little croppage and PS won't fix