Blackburnian warbler

This guy was in my back yard, and it's the second time I've seen him this week. Photographing warblers is an exercise in frustration! Even with him right there, I still had the hardest time trying to catch him. Like most warblers, he didn't sit still for a second. I quickly gave up on hand holding the 500 and grabbed the tripod which gave me a fighting chance. Fortunately he stuck around long enough for me to get a couple of good looks. I didn't have any such luck with the black and white warbler that was in the same tree. I don't know how people get photos of these things!

Liz what a beauty ..so nice .

What a beautiful warbler the Blackburnian is...

You presented him using excellent technicals..That first one is to die for, a slight head turn would have sent this one over the top..Lovely as posted!

Wish I had one.

Oh Liz, They are both good but the 2nd one is Awesome love the Light!!!

Oh wow...both images are beautiful, great job!

Wow...you got some excellent shots of one of our most beautiful warblers! I imagine it's super difficult to get shots of these small, active birds with a 500mm! It's hard enough with my lens. Not to mention getting them out in the open!

Simply stunning!!!!

Wonderful shots Liz...the second one is spectacular & looks three dimensional.

Miniflash wrote in post #5564253
Liz what a beauty ..so nice .

Thanks, he is a beauty. I was very glad to see him in my yard!

busbyea wrote in post #5564276
What a beautiful warbler the Blackburnian is...

You presented him using excellent technicals..That first one is to die for, a slight head turn would have sent this one over the top..Lovely as posted!

Wish I had one.

Thanks! I was thrilled to get some photos. My heart was pounding the whole time.

hTr wrote in post #5564298
Oh Liz, They are both good but the 2nd one is Awesome love the Light!!!

Thanks, the late afternoon light was pointing just the right direction (for once!)

Redrib wrote in post #5564300
Oh wow...both images are beautiful, great job!

Thanks! He did all the work, I just tried to keep up.

ngannet wrote in post #5564329
Wow...you got some excellent shots of one of our most beautiful warblers! I imagine it's super difficult to get shots of these small, active birds with a 500mm! It's hard enough with my lens. Not to mention getting them out in the open!

Thanks, yes it is difficult keeping such a quick bird in the FOV with that lens, at 700mm with the teleconverter on. He was pretty close, too. I tried handholding and that didn't work at all. With the lens mounted on the Wimberley head, I was able to follow him much better.

Zipline wrote in post #5564336
Simply stunning!!!!

Thanks!

sugarzebra wrote in post #5564387
Wonderful shots Liz...the second one is spectacular & looks three dimensional.

Thanks, I do like that second shot because it shows some of the environment, which turned out nicely.

The first shot is perfect - composition, colors, background and sharpness. What a beautiful bird - great captures.

Fantastic shots of that warbler, expecially the second shot!!

Excellent captures Liz.... Luv em both... Probably the best blackburnian I've seen to date...

Those are really amazing.

Two words, Liz, Love-ly! What a fantastic couple of shots.

sf1 wrote in post #5564684
The first shot is perfect - composition, colors, background and sharpness. What a beautiful bird - great captures.

Thanks, I think that was the only moment he was out in the open, just a brief second or two and the rest of the time he was back in the branches.

IraRunyan wrote in post #5564811
Fantastic shots of that warbler, expecially the second shot!!

Thanks!

Stormin_24 wrote in post #5566276
Excellent captures Liz.... Luv em both... Probably the best blackburnian I've seen to date...

Thanks, I was lucky that he was really close and the light was pointing the right way.

OEH wrote in post #5566508
Those are really amazing.

Thanks, my heart was pounding the whole time. I got a lot of butt shots, but I'm glad at least a couple came out well!

csquared63 wrote in post #5566585
Two words, Liz, Love-ly! What a fantastic couple of shots.

Thanks, he is a real beauty, can't go wrong with that!