Heat haze is the invisible prankster of photography. You line up a crisp shot of a distant bird, a shimmering horizon, or a dramatic landscape… and the result looks like it’s been gently stirred with a spoon.

Here are my go-to tips for getting sharp(ish), usable, and occasionally jaw-dropping bird photos when low light is doing you no favours.

Razor-sharp bird photos don’t come from gear alone. They come from attention. The kind that notices a tiny head turn, predicts a launch, and keeps tracking even when your subject decides to teleport behind a twig.

Auto ISO can feel like giving your camera a little job to do while you focus on the bird. Sometimes it’s a lifesaver. Other times it quietly makes decisions you wouldn’t choose.