Scarlet Robins are my favourite part of winter and this week a sweet pair have spent a surprising amount of time bathing in one of my birdbaths.
1/1000, f/4.0, ISO 2500
Canon R5, Canon RF 600 f/4 L IS USM
Scarlet Robins are altitudinal migrators and I adore seeing them arrive. They form permanent, monogamous relationships so I presume these two are my regular visitors. I haven’t seen any Flame Robins this year which makes me a bit miserable. Scarlet Robins (along with other species) are declining in numbers. I hope so much that more properties are covenanted or join groups such as Gardens for Wildlife. As I’ve said before, imagine if everyone planted more locally indigenous natives; wildlife corridors would be enhanced and birds would be able to move more safely through to their feeding areas. It could save species from extinction. What a wonderful thought.
I merged two photographs, taken within moments of each other, to get both the male and the female in the same frame so the similarities and differences could be compared more easily. It’s not something I’m 100% happy sharing, and definitely believe it’s imperative to disclose. Maybe one day I’ll delete the post, or share the separate images.
Settings explained: This is a new segment that I might include in some posts. I shoot fully manual as this gives the best chance to adapt my shutter speed and depth of field in circumstances that can change rapidly. These changes can include lighting, activity and species. In this case the lighting was poor which required a higher ISO than I prefer. I opened the aperture as wide as possible, f/4.0 with this lens, and set the shutter speed to a relatively slow 1/1000 of a second. I didn’t want to go any slower as the birds were constantly moving and I would have preferred to have upped the shutter speed but didn’t want to increase the ISO and take the risk of creating too much digital noise.
Happy birding, Kim
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So beautiful. It’s good to see them next to each other – so clever that you know how to do these things!
They are beaut little birds aren’t they, we are very lucky
Thank you as always Kim – and I really like the new photography settings section:)
That’s good Fiona, thanks for letting me know
Lovely. I share your concern about reduction in our small bush birds and the need for enhancing indigenous planting. Also really appreciate the settings information.
I think that awareness about gardens for wildlife is increasing, I hope so anyway. Thanks for your comments about the settings information, I might add a bit about ethical considerations next time 🙂