WARBLERS, GREAT SUBJECT FOR TESTING

American Redstart, Bankston County Park

Just back from a business trip I had the desire to go out and look for some wildlife yesterday evening . The steep and wooded river valley in Bankston County Park has been a good spot many times before and in the month of May there is often a good chance to get some warblers in front of the lens. Both species I found will probably breed in this area and there was a lot of calling going on.

It was the first time I didn’t bring the tripod and relied completely on my handholding capabilities and the amazing focus system of a new Nikon Z 6 III. It was very windy, even in the valley, and these little birds never seem to hold still, but I had a good number of sharp shots I could choose from for this blog post. I have used the new Z6 III since two weeks now and all I can say is, I’m very impressed with its focus system after extensive testing with the long lens and the teleconverter attached.

Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x,   @ 840mm

Yellow Warbler, Bankston County Park area

NATURE CLICKS #578 - AMERICAN REDSTART

As promised in yesterday’s blog post I show you another warbler that performed as crazy as the Yellow Warblers. Acting like a flycatcher, snatching insects mid air from, and being perched on the branches that overhang the river in Bankston County Park, the American Redstarts are just a delight to watch. As the Yellow Warblers, the redstarts nest here and raise their offspring. They spend the winter in southern Florida, southern California, and in Central America.

It sounds all technical but I have been really thrilled last weekend watching these two warbler species catching insects at the Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River in Bankston County Park, a place I can highly recommend to any wildlife photography friend in the Dubuque, Iowa area.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon FTZ adapter, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Sigma APO Teleconverter 1.4x EX DG, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, @ 850 mm