Birds are perennial favorite targets for nature and wildlife photographers, not because they're easy to photograph, but because they're difficult. Not to mention that they're fascinating creatures to look at when they’re frozen in time. Capturing sharp photos of a bird, whether it's in flight, perched among the dense branches in a tree or dramatically swooping in on its prey requires experience, skill and a camera and lens combination that can keep up. In this week’s Instagram Follow Friday we feature a group of bird photographers who are using Sony Alpha cameras and their long lenses to capture all the action. Check out their work and give their accounts a follow for more exciting bird photography in your feed. Tag your Sony photography posts with #BeAlpha for your chance to be featured, and follow @sonyalpha for your daily dose of Sony photo inspiration.

Tag your Sony photography posts with #BeAlpha and follow @sonyalpha for your daily dose of Sony photo inspiration.

Danny Khoo – @dannykhoo_photo

Danny Khoo is a hobbyist photographer based in Singapore. Using his combination of the Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master, and sometimes with the addition of a teleconverter, he captures a variety of close-up bird shots. Whether it’s an action shot of a bird or more of a portrait, you’ll see birds like you’ve never seen them before when you follow his account.

Andrew Scott – @andrew_scott_photography

Andrew Scott is a wildlife and landscape photographer based in England. On his Instagram account you’ll find a wide variety of bird and other wildlife photography. From owls flying to swans swimming and woodpeckers pecking, he captures it all with his Sony Alpha system. He took this photo of a red kite using his Sony  Alpha 7R III and Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G.

Alex Phan – @alex_phan714

Alex Phan is a hobbyist wildlife photographer based in California. Thanks to the success he’s had with his Sony Alpha system, his passion for capturing up-close and detailed fast-action wildlife photography has grown. He captured this shot using his Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master. Stay tuned to AlphaUniverse.com where next week we’ll be featuring the Sony Alpha gear he packs in his bag for bird photography.

Nathan & Jess Jones – @nathan_and_jess_jones

Nathan and Jess Jones are hobbyist bird and nature photographers based in the UK. Using their Sony Alpha system they capture birds of all shapes, sizes and colors. They like to use the Sony Alpha 9 and Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master and call it an “awesome camera and lens.” They used this camera and lens combination to capture the incredible image below of a barn owl flying at them.

Neel Sarkhedi – @neel_sarkhedi

Neel is a wildlife and nature photographer based in India. You’ll find all kinds of animals as you scroll through his account, including plenty of different birds. He has a passion for nature and believes that if you look deep into it, then you will understand everything better. Whether he’s capturing birds mid-flight or mid-feast, he’s doing it with his Sony Alpha system. He took this shot using his Sony Alpha 7R IV and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master.