Bird photography in Yucatán: flamingos, herons and how to get close
Celestún and Río Lagartos are world-class birding spots. Learn the lenses, settings and boat techniques for photographing flamingos and wildlife.
Yucatán is a paradise for bird photography, with flamingos in Celestún and Río Lagartos, herons and egrets in the mangroves and hundreds of migratory species in winter.
Lens
Birds are small and wary, so reach matters. A 150-500mm zoom like the Tamron is ideal; on an APS-C body like the α6700, it reaches the equivalent of 750mm.
Settings
- Shutter 1/2000 or faster for birds in flight, 1/500 for perched birds
- Aperture f/6.3 to f/8
- Auto ISO
- AF-C with bird eye detection and tracking, plus burst mode
From a boat
Tours in Celestún bring you close to flamingos. Keep your elbows tucked, use stabilization and a fast shutter to counter the boat’s movement. Ask the guide to approach slowly and turn the engine off.
Best times
Early morning gives soft light and active birds. Flamingos are most numerous in Celestún roughly from November to March.
Ethics
Never chase or flush birds for a photo, keep a respectful distance and follow the guide’s instructions in protected reserves.
Next: Long exposure with ND filters: silky water and streaking clouds
