One of my most difficult subjects.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are one of North America’s smallest songbirds and their frenetic tendencies make them a huge challenge to photograph well. On October 7, 2017 I got lucky with a few of them in a remote area of Box Elder County.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This one had just completed an enthusiastic rouse which had nearly destabilized him on the perch so his right foot is raised in an effort to recover. Only the male of the species has the scarlet crown and usually it’s completely hidden beneath other crown plumage but here we get a hint of it.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This male dipped his head while a sliver of the crown was exposed so we can see it a little better. The downside is that it made his beak less conspicuous against the darker background.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
At first I wasn’t going to include this shot because in the unprocessed version of the photo the catch light in the eye is so faint it isn’t even noticed by the casual observer so it might as well not be there at all. But I decided to use it to make a point I’ve briefly touched on in the past.
I never add catch lights that aren’t there but occasionally during processing I’ll enhance an existing catch light to make it more apparent as I’ve done here. Sometimes the result is acceptable but other times it isn’t. For my tastes this one is in the latter category because it doesn’t look natural to me. It’s very small, only a single pixel, and the color doesn’t look natural either. I could alter its color and/or size but doing so would cross over my self-imposed limits of how much processing is acceptable in a nature photograph.
Other bird photographers have different processing limits and some have none at all but for what it’s worth that’s how I handle catch lights.
Ron
PS – I can think of few subjects that are more distantly related than birds and water heaters but I learned something yesterday that I thought I’d pass along to my readers who are home owners.
It all started with my water heater. My dad and I installed it in my basement over 21 years ago and it was still working just fine but I was getting nervous about it because it can be a real disaster when they fail and they all eventually do. As you can see the warranty on this one was only for 10 years so I was really pushing my luck. In the past I’ve always installed water heaters myself but because of my bad back and recent surgery I decided it would be really stupid of me to try to save a few bucks and do it myself so I called a plumber.
I purchased my home about 30 years ago and from day one I’ve been fighting low water pressure. Twice I’ve asked plumbers about it but both of them told me I’d just have to live with it. But after installing my new water heater yesterday my plumber tested my water pressure and noticed it was only 40 psi when ideally it should be in the range of 65-70 psi. He fixed it in less than a minute with the turn of a wrench!
I’ve always considered myself a pretty decent handyman but I had no idea that most homeowners, including yours truly, have a PRV (pressure reducing valve) on the water main coming into their house. That valve is adjustable and my water pressure is now nearly 70 psi. Boy, did I feel stupid.
What a joy to not have time to take a nap while my kitchen sink is filling!
Beautiful pictures Ron. My fav is the 2nd.
Thanks, Jean.
Handsome little fellas. I can’t get over how skinny those ankles/tarsi/metatarsi are — doesn’t even look like there’s room for the tendons controlling the digits. Intellectually, I know that the bird is really light, but it still looks like a bowling ball on two toothpicks. 😉
Congrats on the new water heater and better pressure. I’ll have to check my PRV.
Interesting observation, Marty. You’re absolutely right about those legs.
Happy first of May! What a great shot on three (other than, yes, the obvious addition of a pixel). 😀
Thanks, Arwen – you too. Sometimes a single pixel can make a significant difference.
LOVE that ruby speed stripe.
And hooray for increased water pressure – and a plumber who knows his trade. Which it seems the others didn’t, so you can’t be expected to ‘out-know’ the professionals.
Nope, apparently the others didn’t, EC. I can think of no other logical explanation.
Ron, love your photos of this little bird and it’s crown. I googled and found that the crown becomes larger when the bird is excited.
Glad your water pressure improved, finally.
Thank you, Ron
That’s right, Alice. When we can see all of the crown it covers much of the top of the head, And man, is it ever flashy!
Great series Ron! On the water heater,LOL
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
I’m curious, is that poison oak the pretty Ruby-crowned Kinglet is perched on?
Nope, it’s fragrant sumac.
Beautiful photos Ron. Love these Ruby-crowned guys and gals. Probably not accurate, just my opinion, but I am thinking that most birders and wildlife photographers are not among the world’s elite handymen and women. I know for sure that I am not. One of my brothers is not a birder or wildlife photographer, but a retired engineer who can rebuild or repair anything.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
I’m not among the elite either, Everett. But I usually do reasonably well, especially when it involves working with wood.
Ron,
Nice shots and cute LBB. I, on the other hand, am not a handy man at all. Could you please move next door to me?!
Stephen
Stephen, I actually enjoy many handyman projects UNLESS they involve plumbing or electrical. With them I’m often out of my league.
Here we have golden-crowned kinglets. They are just as fast and difficult to photograph.
And Golden-crowned Kinglets are even slightly smaller than the Ruby-crowned.
Ron, thank you for the tip on the pro. I’m going to see if I can locate mine. I know exactly what you mean about taking a nap while waiting for the sink to fill!
Argh I can’t find a way to edit my post and I see that autocorrect has done its magic. PRV is what I meant to say.
Low pressure is an irritation that never quits, Shelley. I’m so glad to have mine fixed.
Gorgeous little birds and photographs. And thanks for the water pressure info.
They sure are. Hard to photograph too.
Really love your first photo…the leaf color brings out the ‘crown’ color nicely. In fact the marbled background adds perfection. I so agree with all you say with this little guy…so small, so fast. I have more photos of where they were than of the bird itself or get it out of focus. They have returned here now. I came across a group of these with Golden Crowned and the Yellow Rumped Warblers. The warblers apparently don’t like the kinglets because they constantly chased the kinglets away. What a circus! And noisy…you wouldn’t think they would be so vocal. I finally gave up and just stood back and watched. Delightful morning!
“I have more photos of where they were than of the bird itself”
I like the way you said that, Kathy. So true!
Wow, Ron – enjoyed your blog today. First for deciding to use the third capture of this little bird I’d never see with these peepers the Lord gave me!! So special!! Second the water heater/PRV lesson. Will definitely checking it out since my bedroom is the furthest away from our water heater. I’m thinking the lower pressure also affects how fast you receive hot water!! I have to run my shower or sink faucet & do something & then come back to them for water that is finally hot – grrr!!
Thanks, Jo Ann. Seems to me that your hot water issues could be related to either or both low pressure and distance from the water heater.
Beautiful little bird and the crown even “matches” the leaves! 🙂 I agree on the catch light in this case – just doesn’t “work”……. A huge improvement in your life – also I’d be VERY angry at previous “misinformation” about something fixable. Had that issue in a rental years ago but that was to do with being at the end of the line more or less. GREAT information to have! Then there’s these “skinny” new fixtures with flow restrictors ………. 🙁
Thanks, Judy. And I know what you mean about flow restrictors.