Photographing Shorebirds on the California Coast | Northern California Fine Art Photographer
Recently I went camping on the California coast with some wonderful, fun, adventurous women. Those days were a great getaway from my ordinary day-to-day. I love that! One early, foggy morning before anyone else was up, I decided to go down to the beach to enjoy the environment and take a couple of landscape photos just to document being there. Coffee, beach chair, and camera in hand, I headed over the dune toward the waters’ edge. As I reached the top of the dune I saw so many shorebirds. I immediately turned around and headed back to the car for my long lens. I hadn’t intended to shoot wildlife. I only wanted to just relax listening to the waves and watch the world go by. But, I could NOT pass up this opportunity of photographing all those shorebirds.
Photographing Shorebirds on the California Coast
Shorebirds offer photographers a wealth of opportunities for stunning images along the picturesque California coast. Understanding a bit about bird behavior, choosing the right gear and camera settings help to ensure optimal photography opportunities. Whether you are a seasoned bird photographer looking to enhance your skills or a beginner eager to capture the beauty of shorebirds in their natural habitat, a morning photographing these shoreline occupants is sure to elevate your photography experience.
You can be sure they will not be posing for you! But, there are moments to catch as they forage for food and preen. A few minutes of observing them revealed behaviors that were repeated. That’s when I needed to begin to predict their behavior. After watching them move systematically down the shore, I knew I needed to get ahead of them. So, I made sure to position myself a little ways down the beach in order to wait for them to come my direction. I stayed low, made no sudden movement nor sound. I wanted to gain their trust so they’d stay around. Sure enough they headed my way and seemingly gave me no notice. In fact, there were times when they got a bit too close! Imagine that!
Having the right settings is paramount in any photography situation. Since these birds were not flying, but merely searching for food and eating, they were moving fairly slowly. But, that didn’t mean I used a slow shutter. There is nothing worse than finding out after a potentially fantastic shot that the shutter speed was too slow resulting in a soft image.
Nature First
As tempting as it may be to get that perfect shot, it's crucial to remember that shorebirds aren't just props for the portfolio – they're living creatures deserving of respect and protection. I try to always prioritize the well-being of the birds and their habitats above my need for the ultimate photo. A photo is never worth compromising the welfare of these beautiful beings.
The following photographs were made with my Canon R8, 100-500mm, 1.4 extender. Most were shot at f/10 1/800s ISO 1600.
Marbled Godwit
Marbled Godwits - Seeing Double
Godwit scratch.
Marbled Godwits were not the only shorebirds there that morning. There were several sanderlings feeding and preening as well. They are FAST little movers!
Sanderling
Sanderlings and gull.
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As a published, featured northern California fine art photographer living in the greater Sacramento area, I specialize in fine art landscape, nature, and still life photography. My style is authentic, fresh and personality-driven. I offer several educational opportunities including workshops and photography mentoring. You can learn about them by going to SERVICES and WORKSHOPS. While currently living in rural northern California with my husband and a couple thousand walnut trees, I post regularly to Instagram.
Please CONTACT ME with any questions or to schedule your learning session.
Serving Yuba City/Marysville, East Nicolaus, Wheatland, Lincoln, Woodland, Davis, Roseville, Rocklin, and the greater Sacramento area.
(530) 633-7575
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When I began learning photography, birds were not on my radar as subjects. People, nature, landscapes, still life, and general things of interest to me were my subjects. In fact, I’ve never really cared for birds. It might be because I was attacked by a rooster once upon a time.