Figuring Things Out

     I recently treated myself to a new camera, I had my sights on a Nikon d500 for a while and I finally gave in. I rarely buy myself something fancy, so I went for it. Except this new camera is more computer than camera. It has so many settings and fancy modes I had to figure out. I went out with it one day and every single photo was grainy. Then I went out yesterday and had the grainy issue again, before switching to another mode and my pictures became more clear. Then today, I *GASP* read the manual. I learned a lot and put that new found information to the test and I am so pleased with my images.

Having a little knowledge about what in the heck "ISO" is, I was able to adjust and get some shots of the wood ducks at Big John's Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
I was originally using the multi-frame setting, but everything was grainy. I had always used a sports mode on my d5100, to capture birds as they moved, but even ducks that were floating still were grainy.
When I made this discovery of taking clearer photos, I spent wayyyyy to long taking pictures of ducks, and re-tracing my steps to get pictures of one of the exciting ducks I saw.

I spied some female green-wing teal, little did I know this stud was hanging out across the water. Again, game changer when I fussed around with the camera settings.
Even with my camera proffed on the sill of the blind and this bird sitting still, the other setting was all grainy.

I love sexy duck season.

Sexy ducks have to be extra on the lookout for predators.

A female green-wing teal dabbles in the water among the wood ducks.

This boi can't even get over his own reflection.

Teal bottoms <3

What a little darling duck!

Earlier I had seen a Eurasian Wigeon on the East Pond, so I back tracked over.
But first grabbed a test shot of this American coot having a snack.

Bird was far, but there he is.
A v sexi boi. 

Among American Wigeon, the Eurasian Wigeon sticks out with that rusty head and peach stripe. I was very happy to find him.

He was happy to see me too. I think?

After learning ALL the options within a setting, I practiced on the birdies at my feeder. Which are mostly and sometimes only house sparrows.
This fella made a fine subject,

I learned about how to set and change up the focal points and adjust how the focal points all work according to the setting you're in. So I took this is that burst frame mode, and ta-da! It is not grainy! Yay!

So when I heard it rained potatoes last night in Green-Wood Cemetery, I knew they would be a perfect bird to try out what I had learned. Mostly because they kinda just sit, like a potato.
These potatoes are American woodcocks the most peculiar bird, but also the best bird.

Front head on, their vision is not so great.
Since they spend so much time probing the soil they see better above and behind them.

They are also very cute.

I also love how their large eyes perfectly capture their surroundings. In Green-Wood they capture the trees and headstones.

While this bird had it's back to me, it can see me just fine!

I was delighted to see so many!

And you wonder, why are you all so hunkered down?

Because hawks.

This red tail was ready!
I saw a woodcock fly and have a red tail in close pursuit. Thankfully for the woodcock, who is not the fastest flyer, neither is the red tail.
Red tails are built for power over speed, so chasing a bird can be tough. It can be done, but it has to be well executed.
This is a young red-tail, so it may not have its style perfected.

And after a short rest, something grabs its attention.

And off they go!
That banded tail, lacking red is the easiest way to tell a young bird from a mature adult.

This little timderdoodle was in the spotlight under the shade of a low hanging pine.

Woodcock can be a challenge, often they see you before you see them. Their camouflage is superb and chances are you will flush one if you are not looking hard enough. Or even if you are focusing on looking specifically for woodcock, you will still accidentally flush one.

I love these little birds so much.

Before leaving, I met up with my friends and we visited the Dell Water and had this little winter wren come out, stomp around, and tell us off.
A perfect little bird to end this visit with and share with friends.
And also pleased that I am beginning to figure out this new camera.
A happy little afternoon!