Bushtits are not easy to photograph. They are hyper-active and they feed, most often, deep in the bush. Then too, I don’t encounter them much, even in my travels, so they are always a treat. These individuals were part of a small flock that was literally attacking a bush at the south end of Famosa Slough in San Diego. For a few moments there they were all over, or rather all through, the bush.

The only hope with a bird like this, in a chance encounter, is to shoot bursts of shots (the Canon SX40HS manages something between 3 and 4 frames per second) and hope for the best…that is, select the best later.

These shots are all uncropped at 1240mm equivalent field of view (840mm optical plus 1.5x digital tel-extender).

The final shot, though I barely managed to keep the Bushtits in the frame, has, I think, a tension about it that is consistent with the hyper-active subjects.

Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation. Because of the rapidly changing light the ISO and shutter speed were all over the place, from 1/640th at ISO 400 (1) to 1/250th at ISO 125 (2).

Processed for intensity, clarity, and sharpness in Lightroom.