I photographed this American robin at Fort Smith while hiking the trails in Arkansas. It was early on the morning of April 10, 2022. I carried my camera and lens by hand, with no tripod.
Spotting an American Robin at Fort Smith in Early Spring
I took this photo at 7:15 a.m. on April 10, 2022. That is early spring in Arkansas. Fort Smith National Historic Site is one of the Arkansas locations I cover on my blog.
The American robin is one of the most familiar birds in North America. Adults have an orange breast, a gray-brown back, and a yellow bill. Robins often forage on the ground. They look for earthworms and insects, and they also eat fruit.
Because robins are so common, it is easy to walk past them. I stopped and took the shot.
Handholding the RF100-500mm for a Trail Robin
I used my Canon EOS R5 with the RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens. I zoomed all the way to 500mm. At that focal length, f/7.1 is the widest aperture the lens offers. I shot in manual mode and let auto ISO settle on 1250.
A fast shutter speed matters when you handhold a long lens. I used 1/6400 second. That keeps a small bird sharp and offsets hand shake. Here are the settings for this photo:
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: RF100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Technical:
- Location: Fort Smith National Historic Site (Arkansas)
- Date and Time Taken: April 10, 2022 (07:15 A. M.)
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/6400
- ISO: 1250 (Auto)
- Exposure Compensation: 0
- Focal Length: 500 mm
Why I Still Photograph Common Robins
Not every bird has to be rare. A robin on a trail is a good reminder to keep my camera ready. Ordinary birds still deserve a few frames.