Least Flycatchers

With about 4 ft of snow in the backyard, the spring can't come too soon! Here's an image from this past summer with a little story:

While out "on safari" I came upon a Least Flycatcher's nest. I actually spotted one of the adults with a bright orange butterfly in their beak and tracked it returning to the nest with my binoculars - I never would have seen the nest otherwise. The lighting conditions at the time were not ideal - midday with nearly overcast skys, so I resolved to come back. The nest was located about 12 feet up, 20 feet from the edge of a logging road (about 15 miles from the nearest paved road) and faced east. I speculated that I would have to get up really early for optimal light - when the sun was low in the sky the light would come through the tree cover from the road, but once the sun started to climb, the nest would be in the shade of the forest canopy.


I woke up early the following Saturday - while the forecast had been cloudy with chances of rain, when I got up (~5:30am) the eastern sky still looked completely clear. As my dad says - you have to "make hay when the sun shines" so I quickly dressed, strapped a 16ft extension ladder to the roof of my vehicle and loaded up my gear. I got to the location by about 6:30am to find perfect lighting. I quickly set up the ladder against an adjacent tree ~15 feet away and secured it solidly with a ratchet strap for safety. I bungee-corded a 4 foot dowel horizontally to an overhead branch above the top of the ladder and draped a couple large (~6ft x 16ft) sections of camoflage netting down to hide the ladder (and me). I then climbed up to near the top of the ladder (I stayed down a few rungs so I could lean forward against the tree comfortably) between the layers of netting and poked my lens through a hole I cut and started shooting.


I admit I was initially a bit concerned that the birds might be stressed by my presence, but I was happy to that they just carried on as if I wasn't even there. At one point, neither of the adults returned to the nest for ~10 minutes and I started to contemplate packing it in, but soon thereafter a ruckus started in the trees about 30 feet away and I poked my head out of the blind to see a pair of adult American Robins dive bombing a small Sharp-shinned Hawk. Once the sharpie flew off the little flycatchers resumed thier regular rotation at the nest.


I got about an hour of shooting in excellent light before the sun got high enough that the nest went into the shade of the canopy (~8am). The biggest problem I had photographing this family was that the adults seemed to prefer the nub of a branch at the front edge of the nest and would almost always land with thier back to me - this was one of the few shots where one of the adults came in from the side. I do wish the photo had a more interesting prey item - the adults brought in a few more interesting things (small butterflies, wasps, etc.), but always with thier backs to me. This shot is basically right out of the camera.


Canon 5DII -- 400mm f/5.6L -- ISO400 -- 1/800 @ f8 -- EV -2/3 -- handheld

Maybe the best photo I have seen here in my few short months.
Incredible and your story is just as good.
Nature photography at it finest.

Fantastic image! love everything about it!!

Great story Jeff and glad you got a few with a good angle! Tough to get all the heads in a good position so glad you will have a bunch more opportunities! This one is very well done!

I believe I first saw this shot of yours on Flickr perhaps? I've always remembered it - it says so much about how the birds live, where they live, and gives a very rare glimpse into their family life. Amazing image and perfect moment captured.

Jeff:

Persistence paid off in spades. I like the way the nest construction is so well shown, the feeding behaviour, composition, sharpness, exposure.

Congrats on a fine image.

Cheers

Randy

Hi Jeff,

I just love this! What a treat for you to have been able to both observe and photograph this nest. You really went out of your way to prepare for the conditions. I enjoyed the backstory too. Thanks for sharing.