Red-necked Grebes at Osakis (& Birding Blind): bird photography from a kayak: Shooting with Sparky
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
- The trip ends with an unfortunate Sparky misadventure. But the day kayaking on Lake Osakis in west central Minnesota starts out beautifully with video of Western Grebes and Red-necked Grebes. Sparky also films diving Forster's Terns, a Bald Eagle snatching a fish, American White Pelicans in flight, Marsh Wrens and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. [wildlife photography, bird video, wildlife video, Panasonic GH5, Shooting with Sparky episode]
Blog at www.ThePhotoNaturalist.com
Galleries at www.SparkyPhotos.com
Great camera work, so many different birds! My fav was watching the Tern fishing. Too bad about your glasses. Keep on keeping on!
Great video. I do a lot of photography from a kayak and do it the same way you do - handheld, no tripod. It can be challenging at times but that's why it's so fun!
That’s exactly right Glen! Challenging, but fun :-)
Mannn with all that gear in a little 200$ kayak I think I'd just get a hobie kayak or build a custom pontoon sort of thing to stabilize the boat moreso. I guess it depends how careful you are and how dry you can keep yourself lol. I'd dump one of those cameras overboard or soak it with water from the paddle within fewer than 30 minutes haha. Enjoyed the grebes and yellow headed blackbirds! Great footage of the blackbird especially for being done while bouncing around a lake!
Hi Jason, exactly right! I’m not that careful with my gear… In fact I’ve never sold anything in 40 years of photography. I use it until it breaks. I use the cupholder in my engine van as a lens holder. That said, with a new canon R5 I am being much more careful with my stuff :-). If you’ve seen my floating blind videos, you know how close that gear comes to the water… But theoretically it’s all locked down on a tripod head.
Great video! Sorry about the lost glasses.
I'm glad you made it home ok. I've been thinking about taking my kayak there also. Which portion of the lake where you in? Thanks.
Loved this video. The Tern video was amazing and loved the grebes.
Thanks for your kind words Jennifer! The Forster's Terns are beautiful in flight and as they plunge into the water.
GREAT FOOTAGE on the Marsh Wren and the diving Terns -- sorry about the glasses - been there - done that :(
Thanks Doug! I figure other photographers/kayakers/canoeists could relate :)
Those Red-necked Grebes are pretty. Great footage of the Wren foraging.
No Franklin's Gulls?
Thanks Michael!
I worry about dropping my iPhone in the lake when kayaking (and photographing), but the worse to happen to me so far is watching, helplessly, as a pair of sunglasses sank to the bottom. Losing your eyeglasses before a 3 hr drive is a misadventure indeed. I enjoy your Shooting with Sparky video series. Your photography is poetic when not visually sublime.
Thank you so much Bob! I'm sure my iPhone will be next..I smashed the screen a couple weeks ago on an outing.
So gorgeous and I'm very sorry about your glasses.
Thank you Jymme. It was a tough and sketchy drive home!
Great video . Gives me inspiration to hit osakis from a kayak and i live but a mile or so from it. Sorry about your glasses. Thanks for sharing such remarkable photography. Sparky do you know the month western grebes mate?
Hi Bill, Western Grebes usually perform their courtship in mid to late May. Nesting is in June. PS I just sent you a very long email about flooding blinds. Thanks!
Thank you so much Sparky i appreciate it. I.started my granddaughters in photography . One is 12 the other 7 and we have been trying since the oldest was 7 or 8 to see the dance and kept missing it. Ill have to break out the kayaks. Or maybe set up a blind on triscos dairy ...Don Enger used to float over at the other launch . Sadly he passed before we got to go out or to show me his float. Grebes are a magical bird as are most of the water fowl. My wife loved the sounds on your videos. We love your videos and photographs.. maybe will meet in the bog..Bill
Is there a recommended entry spot on the lake for seeing these birds from a kayak?
Hi MinnesotaSteve, Yes, there are multiple public access points, but I usually put in at the dock near the boat ramp in the town of Osakis. The dock is to the west of the main boat ramp. Then you paddle about a mile to the north west and there are a bunch of cattails and that’s where the Red-necked Grebes are. Western Grebes could be anywhere on the lake. Good luck!
@@SparkyStensaas 100 mile drive for me so thanks so much for the tip!