Red-breasted Merganser Red-breasted Merganser – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 160, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 220mm, natural light

You don’t always need to have long focal lengths to get close up images, this Red-breasted Merganser image was taken with a moderately priced Nikkor 70-300mm VR at only 220mm and it is practically full frame.

How did I get an image of a wild Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) from so close?

Patience:

I approached the bird very slowly from the water by sitting on my legs and shuffling them forward and keeping my appearance as small as possible.

Observation:

Watching the bird carefully for any sign or alarm or distress. If I noticed the bird show either sign I stopped dead still and waited. When I could see clearly that the bird was relaxed I would inch forward.

The series I have of this bird numbers over 100, it was so relaxed it preened while I photographed it.

It also helped that the bird was in a location where it had become habituated to humans on the beach, that can help with shorter focal lengths.

Then I retreated as slowly and as carefully as I approached it without disturbing the merganser. That felt awesome.

Mia

Taken at Fort De Soto County Park’s north beach in Florida.

Click here to see more of my Red-breasted Merganser photos plus facts and information about this species.