Nikon Z6II - Subject Tracking for Bird-in-flight Photography

For me Bird in-Flight Photography is difficult! But after receiving feedback from people saying that Auto-area AF with Subject Tracking works quite well on the Nikon Z6II I wanted to see if it was worth using this AF Mode for BIF Photography.
The Nikon Z6II doesn’t have Bird-Eye AF, so the only way to tack a bird in flight is to use Auto-area AF, Auto-area AF (people), Auto-area AF (animals) (cats and dogs).
But the Z6II Subject Tracking doesn’t recognise birds, so I just use Auto-area AF with Subject Tracking for Bird in-Flight Photography.
Social media Links!
Facebook: bit.ly/39TcPEO
Photography Gear used:
Nikon Z6II
Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E VR
INNOREL VM70CK Carbon Fibre Monopod
LEOFOTO VH-10S Tripod Head
Sony ZV-1
Vanguard Altra 264AP Tripod
OPPO X5PRO

[@ambrosechiu2338]

great technique Charles. I never seen Osprey in flight at Osprey house. probably will need to spend some times waiting for it.

[@CharlesNPhotography]

Thanks Ambrose, it really is a game of patience and luck to see an Osprey in flight there. Best times are on an incoming tide and early morning or late afternoon

[@ambrosechiu2338]

@CharlesNPhotography thanks Charles for the tip. have you visited Toorbul Bird Roost? best time is 1 hour after high tide.

[@gyalbobhutia2825]

I sold one of my z6II to buy the z8, IQ of z6II is very good when taken in High ISO than the z8 but because of autofocus capabilities of z8 I mostly use the z8. For me z6II with z8 autofocus would be the ideal wildlife camera.

[@CharlesNPhotography]

Yes, I really like to get the Z8, but it's out of my price range. I'm hoping that the Z6III has bird-eye AF and if it has I'll buy one

[@gyalbobhutia2825]

@@CharlesNPhotography even I am looking forward to sell my second z6II to buy the z6III if it has the bird eye AF that way I will have my backup camera z6III with 100-400z lens and primary one with 500 PF & z8.

[@CharlesNPhotography]

@@gyalbobhutia2825 If I was to change today, I'd be buying the ZF, as it does about everything that I want. And the Z8 is out of my price range.

[@57sapke]

I also trried BIF auto area AF with subject tracking, but for me it was a complete disaster, so I stick to wide area (small) with best results. At the end of the month I will trade in my Z6ii for a Z8 and hopefully better results.

[@CharlesNPhotography]

Thank you and that's why I also stated that I generally use wide area AF (small)

[@dylannewton76]

Just out of curiosity could the tracking focus issues be related to your focus/release priority settings?
I'm not familiar with Nikon stuff (I'm a Lumix shooter)

[@CharlesNPhotography]

No! When it comes to photographing birds I don't have focus lock before the shutter activates.