Depending on the water level of the Danube above the WaterPowerPlant Ottensheim-Willhering there is sometimes a nice big gravel bar where birds like the little ringed plover search for food and even breed. That's why I have visited this place for some bird photography in Spring this year. I like the little ringed plovers very much, since they are not so shy and come pretty close to you if you have enough patience to wait for them to encounter you.
The best time for this type of photography is in spring, when the little ringed plovers look for breeding places or already breed at the riverbed. In this time of the year, you just need to lay down on the flat ground and get closer to them with little steps. In this position, you are also already at a nice angle of shooting.
Little ringed Plover checking me out. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 06:19 pm |
| ISO | 500 |
I like the little ringed plovers very much since they are pretty reliable birds, if you see them running around at the river bed during the time you are just spotting for possible pictures. You can go down and maybe scare them away, but they will usually return pretty soon and then you are ready for some shots. For the best results I always lay down flat on the ground to get in the same high as the bird, and then I wait. For these birds you don't need any camouflage but only stay calm and don't exaggerate your movements. In fact, some of these birds are very curious and encounter you in no time.
If there is some grass growing at the gravel bar they like it very much since they have some cover. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 06:14 pm |
| ISO | 500 |
But still they like it if they have some cover on the ground, so they are not so good visible to predators. Their feather color on top is pretty much the same as the gravel, if they duck down they can hide pretty good from predators in the gravel. A little of grass and vegetation is good for them if they want to hunt for some insects. I love watching them since this always looks very funny. They run a few meters then they stop, look around, sometimes they pick a little insect and again they run a few meters.
Little ringed plover at its natural habitat. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 06:14 pm |
| ISO | 500 |
Gravel with little vegetation the perfect hunting ground for little ringed plovers. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 06:17 pm |
| ISO | 500 |
Little ringed plover. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 06:17 pm |
| ISO | 500 |
Should I hide or not? Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 06:18 pm |
| ISO | 500 |
I come closer, the photographer is not dangerous. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 06:19 pm |
| ISO | 500 |
