This merlin was high in a birch tree and looking down at me.

Find perches: They like dead snags, telephone poles, and low trees for scanning prey.

Best times: Early morning or late afternoon, when hunting is active and lighting is soft.

Focus on flight: Use fast shutter speeds (1/2000s or more) to capture sharp flight shots.

Stay back: They're wary; use a long lens (400mm+) and move slowly or set up where they hunt regularly.

Watch for prey: If you see panicked flocks of birds or sudden dives, a Merlin might be hunting nearby.

Nikon D 500 with a Nikon 500mm 5.6 lens

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Tips for Photographing Merlins

 Photographing a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker can be very rewarding, but they have their quirks. Here are some tips to help you capture great shots:

1. Find Their Feeding Trees
Look for sap wells: Scan tree trunks, especially birch, maple, and aspen, for neat horizontal rows of small holes.
If you find active sap wells, stay patient nearby — the sapsucker often returns repeatedly to feed or tend the wells.

2. Light and Time of Day
Morning is best — birds are more active, and the softer light will make the colors (especially the yellow belly and red throat) pop without harsh shadows.
Cloudy days can also work well for even, diffused light.

3. Focus on Behavior
Action shots — like drilling, feeding, or dripping sap — are more dynamic than static perching photos.
Wait for moments when the bird tilts its head or extends its neck — it gives more life to the photo.

4. Camera Settings
Shutter speed: Fast — at least 1/1000s if possible, since they move quickly (especially when drumming or pecking).
Aperture: Wide (f/4–f/5.6) to blur out messy backgrounds.
ISO: Raise ISO if needed to keep shutter speed fast, especially in forest shade.
Continuous AF (AI Servo/AF-C): Track movements when the bird shifts position.

5. Composition Tips
Shoot vertically when they cling to upright tree trunks.
Leave space above and in front of the bird — sapsuckers often move upward or sideways.
Include some of the tree texture and sap wells in your frame — it tells a story!

6. Approach Carefully
Sapsuckers can be shy and spook easily.
Move slowly, avoid sudden motions, and wear neutral or earth-toned clothing to blend into the environment.
A telephoto lens (300mm or longer) will let you keep your distance and still fill the frame.

7. Listen for Their Calls and Drumming
They have a distinctive nasal "meow" call and a jerky, Morse-code-like drumming.
Learning these sounds will help you find them even if they’re not immediately visible.
8. Background Awareness

Watch for clean backgrounds — avoid shooting with busy branches or bright sky behind them, if possible.Shifting your angle just slightly can dramatically improve the background.

Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick is a premier destination for bird photography, offering a rich diversity of avian species and stunning natural backdrops. Its location along the Atlantic Flyway makes it a hotspot for both migratory and resident birds.

For warbler migration the best time to visit the Island is the second and third week of May. However, the weather plays a a big part on the number of migrating birds. Windas from the SW and clear nights are the best. On this trip I had horrible weather- winds were from the NW completely opposite of what I hoped for. Below is a small gallery of some birds I was able to photograph.

Top Bird Photography Locations on Grand Manan

North Head: this was my favourite location. If there are birds that manage to migrate, this is where you are most likely to see them early in the morning.

Swallowtail Lighthouse: This iconic site provides panoramic views and is frequented by various seabirds, making it ideal for capturing birds in flight against dramatic coastal scenery

Castalia Marsh: A haven for shorebirds, especially during high tide. The salt marsh environment attracts species like sandpipers and plovers, offering excellent opportunities for close-up shots.

The Anchorage Provincial Park: Equipped with trails and observation blinds, this park allows photographers to observe a variety of bird species in their natural habitats without causing disturbance.

Grand Manan Migratory Bird Sanctuary: This sanctuary plays a crucial role in the survival of migrating and wintering waterfowl, including species like the American Black Duck and Bufflehead.