Fox Kits Playing

I watched this pair earlier in the week and couldn't wait to put it online. Background sounds were recorded at the time when the kits were inactive. The kits were comfortable with my presence as long as no sound or movement was made. 

A Little Variety

Yellow Warbler

After spending so much time sitting or standing waiting for action it was time for a change of pace. The warblers were constantly on the move and in the branches this morning.

Technical: manual focus, 500 mm lens, cropped

Waiting

This is a rare quiet moment as the kits wait for their morning meal. The den site which is ideal for photography has been used regularly, but not necessarily yearly, for the last several years.  Most of the other dens are tucked away in dense cover and very difficult to photograph. I'm currently wading through about a hundred video clips reliving a memorable morning.

Alert Kits

I can't get enough of these guys! I spent 2 hours with them yesterday, mainly filming play. They were alert to the slightest sounds, usually inquisitive but also alert to the sound of danger.  The rustling of my cotton jacket perked there ears on more than one occasion. After saying a quiet thank you to them I let them to go back to their private lives. 

Fox Kits

I feel like I'm running too fast and not able to finish the story. I left the chickadees before they were able to fledge, I have watched a female crane twitch on her nest for untold hours. Today I spent the dry hours watching a couple fox kits. Mom came into feed them but noticed me and did not hang around after delivering the groceries. A good day.

Technical: still image from C100

Spring Chickadees

Everyone sees chickadees at their feeder during the winter. This pair set up a nest and is raising a family. I have been watching the nest daily hoping to film the young peeking out of the nest.  Family commitments will not allow more time at the nest so the young will meet the new world without an awaiting photographer to record them.

Woodland Snail

I can't find much information about woodland snails in Minnesota. The best information I can find says they are transplants that were originally imported for food and went wild shortly after that.  There may be better information out there. If anyone knows I would love to hear from you. When the rest of the world is exploring the woods looking for morels I'm busy photographing snails. There's room for everyone.

Elegant Pelicans

A flock of pelicans soaring is a complete contradiction to their ungainly appearance in the water. Other birds may soar but as a flock pelicans are one of the most graceful birds I have seen.

On the Hunt

Pelicans hunt as a team herding their prey and plunging into the water as a group. After that it's every bird for itself with harassment and attempts at stealing the meal from the successful bird. All in all, a fascinating bird to watch.

A couple in every crowd

There are a variety of terms for it: Marching to a different drummer, head in the clouds, etc. They are the dreamers, the adventurers, the pelicans who find the fish the rest have overlooked. 

The Wave

I watched pelicans yesterday afternoon and took a few shots. Action was non stop for hours and the light was great. This morning I have the fun of editing and wondering, "Why did I take that?". 

Minnesota Badger

I usually think of scientific and natural areas as historic prairie wildflower gardens.  However, they also contain wildlife that is largely overlooked. This badger was in its den for 3 weeks, perhaps the next memory card will have young badgers on it.

Technical: The camera trap placed after obtaining a special use permit from MN DNR. Images are donated for their use.

Dutchman's Breeches

I love the descriptive names of wildflowers, they are so much more elegant than scientific names. Spring gives me a chance to get reacquainted with my 20+ year old 100 mm macro lens. It takes several seconds to gain auto focus and complains with a grinding noise while it searches for focus, like my knees when getting up after shooting these guys.

An Evening with the Ducks

April was a busy month! Ducks have been moving through and despite the persistent winter weather it was a good month to record wildlife.  I used a portable ground blind that sits in front of the tripod, a face mask, and dark gloves to make me invisible to the teal. They tolerated the push/pull focal length changes on the Canon 100-400 lens. ISO was about 12k in the final scenes.

Sleeping Crane

This crane fell asleep on the nest while I was watching it yesterday. There are several things you never hear wildlife photographers talking about. I'm sure more could be added.

1. Watching grass grow.
2. Watching ice melt.
3. Watching sleeping wildlife.
4. Waking up with a back ache after an afternoon chasing butterflies while hunched over and carrying your gear.
5. Don't forget the ticks, and phantom ticks, after laying down on wet grass to get the ultimate macro shot.