I recently photographed an Eastern Phoebe near the edge of the lawn behind the tennis courts in Montgomery Township. This area, which features a volleyball net and is bordered by large trees and shrubs, provides an ideal habitat for this flycatcher. A small stream flows through the woods, adding to the serene environment. The Eastern Phoebe is a small, hardy flycatcher that is often one of the earliest migrants to return in the spring. The Eastern Phoebe’s song is a raspy, emphatic “fee-bee” or “fee-bee, fee-bee.” When I first saw the Eastern Phoebe I confused it with the Eastern Pee Wee (Contopus virens) which is extremely similar in appearance.
The Eastern Phoebe is a common sight in New Jersey, particularly in spring and summer. They are among the first birds to return in the spring and can be seen well into the fall. They prefer open woodlands, farmland, and suburban areas with a mix of trees and open space, much like the environment near the lawn behind the tennis courts. They primarily feeds on insects, catching them in mid-air or picking them off vegetation. They also eat small fruits and berries. They are commonly found perching on low branches or other structures.
I stood still and unmoving for several minutes. Over time, I have learned that when photographing birds, the fewer movements I make, the better. The Eastern Phoebe seemed comfortable with me even as I slowly raised the camera and lens to compose my shot. Minimising movement and being patient are crucial techniques for wildlife photography, allowing the subject to remain relaxed and natural.
Using my XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens, I was able to capture the Phoebe from a distance without disturbing it. The long focal length of the lens was essential in observing the Eastern Phoebe's natural behaviour while allowing me to get detailed shots. I typically use the AUTO ISO settings I have programmed into my Fuji X-T3 to manage the varying light conditions efficiently:
- AUTO1: ISO range from 160 to 12800 with a minimum shutter speed of 1⁄250 sec. This setting is ideal for general bird photography, balancing the need for a fast shutter speed to freeze motion with a broad ISO range to adapt to lighting changes.
- AUTO2: ISO range from 160 to 12800 with a minimum shutter speed of 1⁄500 sec. This setting is perfect for capturing faster-moving birds or action shots, ensuring even less motion blur.
- AUTO3: ISO range from 160 to 12800 with a minimum shutter speed of 1⁄60 sec. This setting is useful in low-light conditions or when capturing more static scenes, allowing for greater light sensitivity at slower shutter speeds.
For the Eastern Phoebe, I set the camera to CH (up to 11 frames per second (fps) and ISO of AUTO1 with a shutter-priority speed of 1⁄250 sec which I set manually. The Fuji X-T3’s sensor performs exceptionally well, and digital noise isn’t noticeable until about ISO 6500. The scene was well-lit, so none of my shots exceeded ISO 3200, ensuring clean and detailed images.
During the outing, there was significant backlighting from the sky, which created a challenge. I managed to recover highlights and bring out some of the shadows using Adobe Lightroom. This post-processing step improved the overall visibility and detail of the Eastern Phoebe.
While my Manfrotto tripod is excellent for landscape photography, it feels cumbersome and restrictive during bird photography outings, especially when trying to follow erratic bird movements with my heavy XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens. I believe a monopod would be more beneficial for stabilising my camera and lens, reducing motion blur while providing the flexibility needed for dynamic bird photography.
