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Thanks Bill! As always I appreciate your support. Good luck with the eagles and Z8. I forgot if I mentioned, but I switched to the Z8 in august myself.

Thanks so much for your kind comment! Photography wise, for the loons from a kayak that doesn't stay totally still, I prioritize shutter speed ahead of ISO, so I shoot manual with auto ISO and let ISO float where it needs too. If the loons aren't really moving and the water is still, I can maybe get shutter as low as 1/500 or 1/640 but otherwise need to keep it above 1/1000. If its pretty bright light, ISO might be around 1000 but for those smooth darker water shots ISO is closer to 2000-2500 and even higher when the light falls lower.

Thanks as always for the support Sue!

I know, its been a cold winter so summer is starting to sound appealing. Thanks for watching and the support!

Thanks for checking out it out and for the suggestion. You know that is definitely the most frequently asked question I get so I seriously might make that video in the upcoming year. I am putting out the final video for the 2024 loon season this friday and indirectly it shows a little more behind the scenes type footage, but not a direct explanation of how to shoot from a kayak

Thanks Lawrence! I appreciate you checking out the video and the kind words.

Thank you Gijs! I appreciate it. Yes these particular loons are quite tolerant. I always give them space but inevitably they just come near me, fishing and feeding their young. Hope you are well!

@@johnwelchphotography Hello John,that is exactly the way i am approaching birds.Give them space and let them get used to me.After some time they know that they don't have to fear me and let me come closer.The feeding time is the most exciting moment when you see them hunt and feeding their chicks. I wish you all the best in life....😊😊

Hi Thomas, I appreciate you watching the video and subscribing! I checked out your gannet video with your photos, some nice stuff that brought back memories of my time with them on the other side of the Atlantic. I think the flight shots with blurred wings you created were really cool, I will have to try that out!

Wow, that is surprising to that you had no loons this year. That is definitely prime country. We have had them on pretty much every suitable lake and pond in the northern half of my state (New Hampshire).

Thank you for the condolences, I appreciate that. Yes, their call certainly is my favorite too. Thanks for watching and commenting.

Thanks for that input. You probably bring up a sentiment shared by others who would prefer the loon calls without music. Something to consider for next for me for sure. Thanks!

Thanks for checking it out! Yes, I am happy I finally found some chicks and I feel bad for the pairs that failed. But that is the way things go out there in nature, definitely setbacks.

Thanks Bill, I am working on the stabilization on the water.

Hey Harris, glad you got to follow a pair this year. Maybe the other chick flew off? Thanks for watching and the support!

Sorry you couldn't make it out to them and that it was slow in your usual spot. It seemed like there were a lot more nest failures than usual across the region just based on talking to some people. But I had some interesting stuff happen as the season progressed. Thanks for your support again!

Thanks John for sharing your experiences. You are right, the loons definitely convey the sense of the North Woods where I get to live. I am glad my video got to bring you back to memories with your Dad and that they are something you shared with your grandkids.

Thank you Gijs, glad you enjoyed!

Thank you for watching it and taking the time to comment!

Thank you for watching and glad it had value!

Thanks for watching and for the kind comment! I agree they are beautiful!

Thanks so much for checking it out Joe. I appreciate the support!

This is an excellent comment and breakdown of the meaning of the loon calls, of which they have 4. You are right about the hoots, by far the most relaxed of them all. Yes, for all of the time I spent with them, that loon at the end did seem to be engaging with me. So who know what it had in mind (again not that loons have the same kind of "mind" we have. Thanks again for watching and for such a thoughtful comment!

I agree! I had to go back this year and photograph them again because of that.

Yeah it really was something with that chick swimming up to me with the sounds like that. I mean they were comfortable with me but usually they would just be interested in eating or preening and stuff like that. Mysterious to say the least.

lol! Yes and they get free parking too.

Thanks Brian, I agree about the loon calls. They actually have a few different ones that mean different things. I appreciate you checking out the video!

Thanks for watching and the feedback, I appreciate it! Those were the goals!

Thank you Tim. Yes, that is a great point. Spending time in nature has always been a constant way to provide balance in all the phases of my life.

Thanks for the feedback Jeff. Interesting to hear that's how some of the segments came across. In my head the purpose of those parts is to address a wide audience, many of whom may not be familiar with the practice of wildlife photography and give a sense of the etiquette and in my state, the law (there are fines and imprisonment for 'loon harassment'), regarding approaching loons. I have witnessed some people with cell phones paddle right up to loons with chicks and freak them out, so I guess that is more what I had in mind rather than online haters. I am shooting at 800mm effective focal length, and sometimes cropping, so I just didn't want to give the expectation that you can get so close as to fill the frame on a cell phone. But thank you again for the constructive feedback.

Thank you so much Sandip! It is pretty out there

Wow, thanks for sharing that anecdote. Yes, we aren't so far removed from those times. Nor immune from future instances.

That's great you got to see some loons. The fog is one of my favorite conditions for them. Please suggest away!

Thank you! I appreciate you watching and your support!

Thanks for checking it out and leaving such kind feedback! Appreciate it!

Thanks Liam! And glad you shared that anecdote, even still sometimes I come across some situation in wildlife photography and get excited but then have to check that and think things through from the animals perspective. I will check out your new wildlife video, glad you had time to make one amid the home remodel. With 3 kids myself, the most home improvement I can muster right now is clearing a path on the floor so no one trips!

⁠​⁠@@johnwelchphotographyI could only imagine trying to do it all with kids! That’ll come soon enough but for now the home reno is already cutting down my wildlife time! All good problems to have. I’m headed up to Acadia (Schoodic side) for a few days during the 4th, seeing your vlog has got me thinking of targeting loons at Jones Pond. Good luck, talk soon!

Thank you for watching and leaving that kind comment!