Getting Better: Eurasian Nuthatch

Posted on by Ilze

Today, I finally felt well enough to take my new lens out for a spin! Bundled up in my coat, hat, and scarf, I ventured outside for a brisk 20-minute walk. The chilly air was refreshing, and it felt so good to be out again.

While out, I spotted a tiny, adorable Eurasian nuthatch. He darted around, making it tricky to get a good shot, but I managed a quick snap. He’s such a little thing – delicate, quick, and full of life. I couldn’t get as close as I wanted, but it was still a thrill to capture him.

Here’s to more little adventures and reconnecting with nature. 🐦📷

Ilze

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23 thoughts on “Getting Better: Eurasian Nuthatch”

    1. Thank you! I completely agree—nuthatches are such energetic little birds, and they rarely stay still long enough for a good photo! I feel lucky to have caught this one in action. Do you get to see them often where you are?

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      1. They are here near the river, but I don’t see them often but, I do hear them. I see at least one type of nuthatch when I’m up in the mountains. I feel really lucky if I manage to get a decent photo of one. We have three types here. The White Breasted, Red Breasted and Pygmy. We also have a Brown Creeper that is much bigger and really hard to spot for me anyway.

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        1. How amazing to have three types of nuthatches around you! It must be a real treat to hear them, even if they’re not always visible. I can imagine how exciting it must be to catch one on camera, especially with the variety you get to see. The Brown Creeper sounds challenging to spot, but what a prize it must be when you do! You must have some great tips for capturing fast, small birds like nuthatches! I imagine a sunny day would be ideal for clear shots, rather than a gray, overcast autumn day. Do you have any specific techniques or settings you use when trying to get those perfect action shots? I’m always looking to improve my bird photography!

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          1. I shoot in Manual Mode, wide open aperture, and set my shutter speed at 1/500s min to start and if I’m setting my own ISO I base that setting on the light. If it’s gray out and I’m shooting with a lots of trees like the up in the mountains I start at 1250 or higher. When the light gets better I drop the ISO. Sometimes I use Auto ISO. I have sensitivity set to my native lowest ISO, and a minimum shutter speed of 1/80s and Max ISO is 3200.
            I really try to keep my shutter speed at 1/500s for best image quality (IQ) but, sometimes when a bird is static I can go lower and still manage a decent image. I hope this helps. 😊
            Is this about what you’re doing?

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            1. Yes, I usually keep my shutter speed around 1/500, but the challenge is with ISO. Given the aperture I use, I end up needing a high ISO, especially with Latvia’s gray skies and early sunsets around 3 pm. I’m definitely looking forward to summer, when the light lasts longer and conditions are better for capturing those fast little birds! Do you have any tips for editing?

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    1. Thank you! It felt like a little reward to catch it at the right moment. There’s something so satisfying about spotting these lively birds up close! Have you seen any interesting birds lately?

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