On my recent trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, the subjects I focused on most were Snow Geese and Red-winged Blackbird flocks on the auto tour route.
I decided to take a video of the geese and blackbirds with my phone early on because I wanted to talk about them briefly in it.
View the video on YouTube.
Still photos can’t capture the sounds and movement that videos show, and the geese and blackbirds were sure putting on a show.
Snow Geese coming in for a landing at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge – Canon R7, handheld, f9, 1/1600, ISO 1600, +0.3 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light
Yet, I also wanted still photos, so after a few videos with my phone, I had to pick up the Canon R7 with the RF 100-500mm lens attached for those.
With so many birds moving around, it can be a challenge picking out which birds to focus on.
Snow Geese in a field with a Red-winged Blackbird murmuration – Canon R7, handheld, f9, 1/5000, ISO 1600, +0.3 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 100mm, natural light
That day the birds were far enough away that I could zoom back and get sharp photos of the geese with the blackbird murmurations, which is what I have wanted for some time.
I have been here for two winters, and I’ve been seeing more blackbirds this winter than last year by a long shot.
After a bit, I decided to take a few more videos, but with the Canon R7 instead of my phone.
I was delighted to get the blackbirds lifting off, in murmuration, with the Snow Geese in this video. It was wonderful to also get some of the geese flying in and out of the video.
Flock of Snow Geese with blackbirds flying over their heads – Canon R7, handheld, f9, 1/6400, ISO 1600, -0.3 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 159mm, natural light
I had to be a bit picky when selecting the images I’m sharing here today because at times there were blackbirds flying between the geese and me that were out of focus, and they looked messy.
Trying to get the birds on the same plane of focus can be a challenge.
Flock of Red-winged Blackbirds flying over a large flock of Snow Geese – Canon R7, handheld, f9, 1/5000, ISO 1600, Canon RF 100-500mm at 114mm, natural light
The Snow Geese were loud and constantly on the move, the Red-winged Blackbirds in murmuration were chaotic, but I enjoyed every single minute that I had with them. Mother Nature does put on amazing shows.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Snow Goose photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my Red-winged Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
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