Orange-crowned Warbler

I always make it a point to arrive early for my photography workshops. It’s not just about possible travel and baggage delays; it’s also about giving myself a chance to settle in and explore the area before the official program kicks off. That proved to be a great decision during my recent "Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska" workshop.

On the first morning in Kodiak, before the hustle and bustle began, I met up with my friend and participant, Dave Evans. We decided to take an early stroll around the local boat launch, harbour and walk the trails on Near Island; often a goldmine for wildlife photographers, frequently offering fantastic opportunities to capture a diverse range of bird species, seals, and even the majestic Stellar's sea lions.

We were hoping to catch some exciting action, and I was patiently trying to frame a good shot of a Black-billed Magpie when a flash of movement diverted my attention. Perched for just a fleeting moment was an Orange-crowned Warbler. It was a quick, unexpected distraction, but one I was absolutely thrilled with! While the Magpie decided to play hard to get, I was more than pleased with the warbler's unexpected portrait.

Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata, Paruline verdâtre, Reinita coroninaranja, OCWA) Kodiak, Alaska, before my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens @700mm ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.