April 20 is always close to being the peak of the spring songbird migration through south Texas. Unfortunately, this spring a constant, southerly wind carried most of the birds right on over us. It was last week, early May, before a “fallout” finally occurred at South Padre Island. It was a little late to see great numbers of birds, but three days of brisk north wind forced a nice diversity of birds to seek refuge on the island. It was a wonderful photography event!
Here are some of the beauties that flew to my lens last week:
Click on the photos to make them open in a larger, sharper format.
![American Redstart_Larry Ditto_MG_2493 American Redstart male twitching about in search of a bug.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/American-Redstart_Larry-Ditto_MG_2493-480x319.jpg)
I saw more redstarts at South Padre Island last week than in the past ten years combined.
![Baltimore Oriole_Larry Ditto_MG_2534 Female Baltimore Oriole feeding at Coral Bean flowers in the South Padre Island Convention Center thicket.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Baltimore-Oriole_Larry-Ditto_MG_2534-480x319.jpg)
![Chestnut-sided Warbler_Larry Ditto_MG_2124 This Chestnut-sided Warbler's urgent need for food brought him within my arm's length on several occasions.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Chestnut-sided-Warbler_Larry-Ditto_MG_2124-480x319.jpg)
![Buff-bellied Hummingbird_Larry Ditto_MG_2402 A Buff-bellied Hummingbird taking its turn at the Coral Bean blooms.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Buff-bellied-Hummingbird_Larry-Ditto_MG_2402-480x319.jpg)
Most of these photos were taken with the Canon 7D camera (set for high speed shutter action…8 frames/second), a 500 mm IS lens, 1.4X teleconverter, ISO between 400-1,000 depending on the light, while maintaining something close to 1/2,000 second shutter speed @ f 5.6 – f 11. Most of the time, I was using fill flash with a Better Beamer attached. I almost always shoot with flash power reduced – 2 2/3 f stops from full power. For shooting songbirds, I recommend using a 25 mm extension tube between the lens and camera to allow extra close focusing. Mine was on the blink last week, but a good cleaning revived it. *One of the pins was sticking and couldn’t spring into normal alignment as the extension tube was attached to the lens. Remember that when yours decides to fail.
![Bay-breasted Warbler_Larry Ditto_MG_2382 Bay-breasted Warblers are always to come by at South Padre. This one gave me several shots, but it never looked at the camera.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Bay-breasted-Warbler_Larry-Ditto_MG_2382-480x319.jpg)
![Dickcissel_Larry Ditto_MG_0138 This bird was one of a flock of tired Dickcissels arriving at the Convention Center as we were unpacking our photo gear.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Dickcissel_Larry-Ditto_MG_0138-480x319.jpg)
![Ruby-throated Hummingbird_Larry Ditto_MG_2965 Ruby-throated Hummingbird male feeding at sunset.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ruby-throated-Hummingbird_Larry-Ditto_MG_29651-480x319.jpg)
Each time this male ruby-throated hummingbird came in, I blazed away, trying to capture that incredible throat at a good sun angle to bring out the irridescent red. Just before the sun set, I got the shot.
Two days later, Steve Bentsen and I spent a morning on his ranch trying to call birds with another friend, Richard Moore. A little after sunrise, we got this Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. The rest of our trip was a dry run, so assumed that the extremely dry weather is causing many species to delay breeding.
![Black-tailed Gnatcatcher_Larry Ditto_MG_3068 It is critical to position the camera to capture a bird in front of a smooth, clean background. This bird wouldn't land on "my" perch, but he did land at a spot with a nice background.](http://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Black-tailed-Gnatcatcher_Larry-Ditto_MG_3068-319x480.jpg)
Awesome shots Larry. I love the Ruby Throat shot. I haven’t seen any at the ranch I’ve worked. All great photos. Your stuff is amazing. May God continue to bless you with your awesome gift. Thanks for sharing!! ♥ sgs