Yellow-throated Warbler

On the morning of May 10, 2019, during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park, a Yellow-throated warbler was the star visitor. We had an amazing morning watching it creep over the branches of the trunk of a few trees, much like a Black-and-white Warbler, before it jumped onto this perch in front of the out-of-focus marsh background.

Why Point Pelee? Location! Location! Location!

Point Pelee is part of a peninsula at the crossroads of two major migration routes, extending into the western basin of Lake Erie. It is one of the first points of land spring migrants reach in the pre-dawn hours when crossing Lake Erie at night. Point Pelee’s diverse habitats provide shelter for more than 390 recorded species of birds.

On rare occasions, you may witness a fallout of migrants in the park.  Fallouts or groundings of songbirds occur when a warm weather front advancing from the south or southeast meets a cold weather front moving in from the north or northwest.  Birds will descend when the two fronts meet at ground level or when the birds flying on a warm front override a cold front.

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica, Paruline à gorge jaune, YTWA) Photographer May 10, 2019, during my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP at Point Pelee National Park of Canada in Leamington, Ontario, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @800mm. ISO 5,000, f/5.6 @ 1/2,000s Manual exposure.

Long-eared Owl.

In his play Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare wrote, "Then nightly sings the staring owl." These words certainly apply to any of these big-eyed, big-headed birds, for owls do indeed stare. And in that staring face, we can see some of the owl's adaptations for life in the dark.

Unlike the eyes of other birds, an owl's eyes face straight ahead, like our own, giving the bird binocular vision. Unlike human eyes, however, they do not move in their sockets, so the bird must swivel its head to follow moving objects.

Although owls see well in dim light, most depend on supersensitive hearing when searching for prey. Long-eared Owls have hearing so acute that they can snatch prey in complete darkness.

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus, Hibou moyen-duc, LEOW) Ontario, Canada. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds. All rights reserved. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera and Sony 200-600mm Lens (@600mm). ISO 400, f/8 @ 1/125s Manual exposure. Full-frame image. Join me for my annual Owls Galore Workshops in January.

American Redstart Displaying

An American Redstart displaying during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. We had so much fun trying to get a clean background as this stunning warbler bounced around, trying to get noticed by a female.

Male American Redstarts display to females during courtship by fluffing plumage, raising crown feathers, spreading wings and tail, and bowing.

Still space for you to join the fun and photograph spring migration in all of its glory at one of the top 10 migration hotspots in the world! Learn more about my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop HERE.

American Redstart Displaying (Setophaga ruticilla, Paruline flamboyante, AMRE). Point Pelee National Park of Canada during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds all Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/2,500s Manual exposure.

Yellow-throated Vireo

This Yellow-throated Vireo was photographed during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. I used my Sony 600mm f/4 G Master lens with my Sony 1.4X teleconverter.

Due to a medical emergency that resulted in a cancellation, there is still room for you to join my May 7-11 Songbirds of Pelee workshop at Point Pelee National Park. Come and experience the magic of spring migration at one of the top 10 birding destinations in the world! Learn more about my Songbirds of Pelee spring migration workshop HERE.

These little insect-eating birds resemble the warblers with whom they often migrate. Vireos, however, have somewhat thicker bills, search more slowly and carefully for food, and are less colourful. Eleven species breed in North American woodlands and thickets, constructing cup-shaped nests suspended from tree branches' forks.

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons, Viréo à gorge jaune, YTVI) from mySONGBIRDS OF PELEE GALORE WORKSHOP Point Pelee National Park of Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 1,600, f/13 @ 1/400s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Great Grey Owls LOVERS

Happy Valentine's Day

This image was made in Ontario, Canada, on January 26, 2005. I have a series of about 80 images that I kept from this incredible moment in a field behind a water treatment plant in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. Witnessing the affection, vocalizations, and gestures these two Great Grey Owls performed was incredibly touching and unforgettable!

Great Grey Owls LOVERS (Strix nebulosa, Chouette Lapone, GGOW) Ontario, Canada January 26, 2005. © Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D Mark II with Canon 100-400 zoom lens @120mm. ISO 250 f/6.3 @ 1/1,600s.

Short-eared owl

This was the last frame from the first of my Winter Owl workshops, which concluded yesterday. The snow was a welcome treat after many weather-related challenges (Rain & tropical weather)!

The Short-eared Owl was first described in 1763 by Danish bishop and amateur naturalist Erich Ludvigsen Pontoppidan. They have also been called the Evening Owl, Marsh Owl, Bog Owl, Grass Owl, Meadow Owl, Mouse-hawk, and Flat-faced Owl.

Short-eraed Owl in Flight (Asio flammeus, Hibou des marais, SEOW) The last frame from my first Winter Owls Galore workshop that concluded yesterday. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 12,800, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image.

Golden-winged Warbler

A Golden-winged warbler from my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP at Point Pelee National Park of Canada in May.

Tennessee Warbler

There was no shortage of warblers during my recent Songbirds of Pelee Workshop. There were times when it was hard to choose which species to follow; a great problem to have!

The Tennessee warbler specializes in eating the spruce budworm. Consequently, its population goes up and down with fluctuations in the population of the budworm.

Kentucky Warbler

A Kentucky warbler poses briefly during my recent SONGBIRDS OF PELEE workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Kentucky warblers are rare visitors to Canada, but a few are seen yearly at Point Pelee National Park.

Snowy Owl SOLITUDE

A Snowy Owl from last winter’s WINTER OWL WORKSHOPS. Allowing for a generous negative space adds definition to your subject, and it reduces the negative impact of a busy composition by acting as a buffer, an area in which the eye is drawn back toward the subject.

Northern Harrier

A beautiful male Northern Harrier backlit by the setting sun and colourful clearing clouds was the final treat after a cold afternoon with a dozen short-eared owls during one of my Winter Owl Photography Workshops last winter.

Also known as the marsh hawk or ring-tailed hawk. The male is bluish-gray above with white underparts, a distinctive coloration that earns it the nickname among birders of "Gray Ghost."

Prairie Warbler

During my recently concluded SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP, a Prairie warbler momentarily pauses in the open in nice light after migrating over Lake Erie to Point Pelee National Park.

Pelee always delivers the rarities! The Prairie Warbler is a scarce bird in Canada, occurring only in southern Ontario, where there are likely fewer than 300 pairs.

Summer Tanager

Here is a Summer Tanager from my Songbirds of Pelee workshop in 2005 that I recently rediscovered while looking for the Ruby-crowned Kinglet image posted HERE.

For all intents and propose, it is simply a “bird on a stick,” but I love the monochromatic setting that accentuated the bird's colours. I significantly desaturated the red channel to prevent it from looking fluorescent, as the older digital cameras had a really hard time with the reds.

I had skipped over this one because there was too much noise (for me). I am blown away by the new AI-powered noise removal in the recently updated Adobe Camera Raw. The unfortunate side of this discovery is the time I will have to invest in reprocessing my older images.

There is still limited space for my free Sony Photo Walks at the end of May. The walks will be in English on Saturday, May 27, and in French on Sunday, May 28. There is a $15 charge to prevent no-shows with limited seating, but you will get a $15 Gosselin Photo gift card at the event. Click on the image below to register:

More Snowy Owl workshop kudos

Images copyright and courtesy Dave Christopher.

“I wanted to take a moment and let you know how much I appreciated your Snowy Owl workshop last week (Jan 23-27, 2023). You impressed me with your intimate knowledge of the owls. You knew where they would be, and what they were going to do before they did it. And you were right! I also appreciated your vast knowledge of photography and your willingness to share as needed. I enjoyed the conversation in the van, the humor and your attempt at singing (not the best but great effort!).

But first and foremost, I judge a photography workshop on the number of “wall hanger” photos I get. I can honestly say that I’ve never come home from a workshop with more keeper photos than this one. I’m attaching 3 photos from the week that I like a lot, but could easily attach another 15+ that I like equally as well. My home photo gallery will be greatly enhanced!

Thanks Chris, for a great week! I’ll definitely be doing more of your workshops in the future!”

— Dave Christopher USA (January 23-27, 2023 Owl Workshop)

Snowy Owl Fire Flight

Chris Dodds knows how to do a workshop!

I had the pleasure of attending Chris' Snowy Owl Workshop this past January. To be honest, I did not know much about Chris before the trip. All I knew was the quality of his images on his website and that I wanted Snowy owl pictures. Needless to say, Chris met and exceeded my expectations. He goes over and above to get you in the right place at the right time to capture the best images possible. Having been on numerous workshops around the world with various leaders, I can say Chris worked harder than most..... He also made sure that we were in position to get a variety of images and not just 1000 photos of the same animal behavior. Chris knows his birds and what they are going to do next (as much as humanly possible). He teaches in a way that things make sense. I was getting frustrated with my photography before this trip. I was able to get great shots before the workshop but felt that the percentage of great shots to missed shots needed to be better. Chris explained ways to change a few of my bad habits in a way that no one else ever did. I have tried manual exposure in the past but never got comfortable with it but after a day or two with Chris it clicked in my mind and my images improved and percentage of keepers went up.
If you get a chance to go on a workshop with Chris I would highly recommend it. I know I will again.

Rick Susi  Orlando, FL, USA

Amazingly, there is still one spot left due to last minute cancellation:

Pine Warbler

Point Pelee Migration - Last-minute cancellation!

Due to last-minute cancellation, there is only one spot available on my May 7-11, 2022 Songbirds of Point Pelee Workshop.

Kudos

I was impressed on how much Chris cared about making sure everyone was learning, engaged, and getting the most out of the trip. I look forward to my next workshop with Chris!

Michael Lyncheski Gladstone, New Jersey, USA

Snowy Owl SCREAM

A Snowy Owl screams on the coldest morning of the year @ -33C plus wind chill. I have to confess: I was considering breaking out the butane camp stove and making a hot cup of coffee after realizing there would be no glorious light with lake effect clouds interfering with my plans. I am glad that I stayed out and got this territorial scream as another owl flew into its winter territory. I watched it fly off and chase a Tundra Swan until they disappeared beyond the horizon and then broke out the hot coffee - smile.

Snowy Owl Frosted Sunrise

Sometimes the best mornings are the coldest mornings (smile). It was a dark and frigid start with ice fog and hoarfrost everywhere, but I couldn't find an owl to save my life! Just as the ice fog was burning off and the sky lit up in all of its magenta glory, there she was.

Cold weather photo tip: Be sure to acclimatize your camera and lens to the cold! It is really important to allow your camera and lens to adjust to the outdoor temperature; If the lens is not the same temperature as the outdoor air that you are photographing in, then the lens elements become unstable resulting in distortion or an image that is not razor sharp. This is especially true of lenses that use fluorite elements!

Why do lenses use fluorite elements? Optically clear transparent fluorite lenses have low dispersion, so lenses made from it exhibit less chromatic aberration, making them valuable in high-quality camera lenses, microscopes and telescopes.

Winter Owl Workshop Last Minute Openings

There are a few last-minute cancellations for my Winter Owl Workshops. The season is off to an epic start with loads of owls arriving for the winter over the last few weeks. Learn more about my Snowy Owl Workshops HERE.

Chris Dodds knows how to do a workshop!

I had the pleasure of attending Chris' Snowy Owl Workshop this past January. To be honest, I did not know much about Chris before the trip. All I knew was the quality of his images on his website and that I wanted Snowy owl pictures. Needless to say, Chris met and exceeded my expectations. He goes over and above to get you in the right place at the right time to capture the best images possible. Having been on numerous workshops around the world with various leaders, I can say Chris worked harder than most..... He also made sure that we were in a position to get a variety of images and not just 1000 photos of the same animal behaviour. Chris knows his birds and what they are going to do next(as much as humanly possible). He teaches in a way that things make sense. I was getting frustrated with my photography before this trip. I was able to get great shots before the workshop but felt that the percentage of great shots to missed shots needed to be better. Chris explained ways to change a few of my bad habits in a way that no one else ever did. I have tried manual exposure in the past but never got comfortable with it but after a day or two with Chris, it clicked in my mind and my images improved and the percentage of keepers went up.

If you get a chance to go on a workshop with Chris I would highly recommend it. I know I will again.

Rick Susi Orlando, FL, USA

Great Gray Owl WINTER SQUALL & Private Winter Owl Workshops Announced

A wide-angle black & white view of a Great Gray Owl against dark storm clouds in Quebec, Canada. Despite working with a wide-angle lens (the Sony 24-105mm f/4 G OSS) at 28mm and choosing an aperture of f/16, the sky in the RAW file lacked the detail that I saw with my eyes. The solution was to replace the sky with Photoshop using the new Sky replacement feature that usually works surprisingly well.

Private one-on-one Winter Owl Workshops announced

Skip the Covid-19 Coronavirus risks and join me for a private one-on-one winter owl photo tour offered in January and February. The cost is $1,500.00/day plus expenses and sales tax. Includes guiding to the owls and as much instruction as you would like. Spots are filling quickly (currently booked up until Jan. 20), so make sure to reserve your day(s) soon!