All Fawkes Focus Albums

Why I Photograph Birds

By Mike – Bird Enthusiast & Camera-Wielding Observer

It all started with a blurry shot of a robin in my backyard. That terrible photo sparked an obsession that’s taken me from city parks to remote wetlands, all in pursuit of capturing birds just being birds.

This collection isn’t about perfect portraits – it’s about real moments. The awkward poses. The hilarious fails. The split-second triumphs. Every album here tells a story about the birds and my journey to photograph them (often while covered in mud or mosquito bites).

Bird Photography Adventures: A Wild Collection of Wings

Explore the Albums

1. Birds of Prey: The Sky Bosses

  • Featuring: Hawks, eagles, owls
  • Behind the Shot: That time an owl glared at me like I owed it money
  • Fun Fact: Red-tailed hawks make that classic “eagle scream” in movies

2. Waterbirds: Graceful & Goofy

  • Featuring: Herons, egrets, pelicans
  • Behind the Shot: The pelican that photobombed beach selfies
  • Fun Fact: Great blue herons can strike faster than you blink

3. Songbirds: Tiny Divas

  • Featuring: Warblers, finches, cardinals
  • Behind the Shot: The cardinal that attacked my red hat
  • Fun Fact: Chickadees remember thousands of hiding spots

4. Woodpeckers: Nature’s Drummers

  • Featuring: Pileated, flickers, sapsuckers
  • Behind the Shot: The 5 AM gutter concert
  • Fun Fact: Woodpecker tongues wrap around their skulls

5. Shorebirds: Beach Sprinters

  • Featuring: Sandpipers, plovers, oystercatchers
  • Behind the Shot: The “is that a rock?” incident
  • Fun Fact: Sanderlings outrun waves like pros

6. Gamebirds: Feathered Fireworks

  • Featuring: Pheasants, quail, grouse
  • Behind the Shot: The grouse that stole my snack
  • Fun Fact: Killdeer fake injuries to protect nests

7. Herons & Egrets: Marsh Ninjas

  • Featuring: Great blues, green herons, snowy egrets
  • Behind the Shot: The egret that danced for fish
  • Fun Fact: Bitterns can disappear by pointing their bills straight up

8. Kingbirds & Flycatchers: Tiny Tyrants

  • Featuring: Eastern kingbirds, phoebes, pewees
  • Behind the Shot: The kingbird that dive-bombed my hat
  • Fun Fact: Some flycatchers use tools (like bait!)

9. Pelicans: Feathered Dive Bombers

  • Featuring: Brown pelicans, American whites
  • Behind the Shot: The pelican that stole a fisherman’s catch
  • Fun Fact: Pelicans can spot fish from 60 feet up

What You’ll Find in Every Album

✅ Real Behavior – No baited shots, just wild birds doing their thing
✅ Camera Settings – EXIF data included for photography nerds
✅ The Stories – Both my wins and hilarious fails
✅ Conservation Notes – Why these birds matter

My Photography Philosophy

  1. Patience Over Perfection
    For every sharp shot, there are 50 blurry ones. That’s part of the fun.
  2. Ethics First
    I never disturb nests or alter behavior for a photo.
  3. Progress, Not Perfection
    My early photos are… not great. And that’s okay!
  4. Share the Love
    These images are free to enjoy (just don’t use them commercially).

Join the Adventure

Bird photography doesn’t require fancy gear – just curiosity and willingness to:

  • Sit still longer than you think possible
  • Get dirty (mud is basically my second skin now)
  • Laugh when things go wrong (often)

Start Exploring:
Pick an album above and see what the birds were up to!

Happy Birding,
Mike
FawkesFocus.com

P.S. Special thanks to all the birds who ignored me completely – you taught me the most.