Tag Archives: Bicycle Birding

Birding by Bicycle: Horned Lark!

September 28, 2017Year 4Bicycle Birding, MN North: McQuade Harborrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Yesterday I added a new trusty mount to my herd, a mountain bike. This new bicycle will not often be used for trail riding. Instead I plan on biking the numerous remote wilderness logging roads found throughout northeastern Minnesota. Although I can reach all of these areas via my Subaru Outback and then hike, the bike allows me to quietly cover much more territory while getting some nice exercise.

This is my second bike which may now equipped for bicycle birding. My road touring bike, aside from taking me all over North America with Molly on self-supported bike tours, doubles as a birding road bicycle.

My biking kit is pretty basic but includes:

front handlebar bag capable my Canon SX-60 super zoom bridge camera
tire change kit
phone and wallet
light cycling jacket

In addition, I always have my monopod attached to the bike. When you are in the middle of a 20 mile ride, upon getting off one’s bicycle because of heavy breathing (remember, this is exercise) it is hard to hold a “zoomed camera” very steady. Try giving birding by bicycle a try! (see prior post with a similar them … shows closeup of my equipment)

The Horned Lark I photographed this morning

Birding Bicycle #1: Mountain Bike used for riding dirt logging roads. I also used this bike to explore some remote lakes. Six hours later I would return by car to photograph the Northern Lights display! (good to see areas in the daytime first)

Birding Bicycle #2: Touring Bike used for riding paved roads

Mountain Bike Birding

April 23, 2017Year 4Bicycle Birding, Costa Ricarichardhoeg@gmail.com

Before three days ago, I had never mountain biked in my life. Now that I am a pro at my new sport, I have expanded my exercise to include birding. If you have never used a super zoom camera, getting away from a trailhead via hiking or in my case … mountain biking will immediately help you understand the usefulness of a bridge or super zoom camera. It would be 100% impossible to bring a DSLR with a decent zoom on a bike, but my Canon Sx-60 fits nicely in a camera case strapped to my handlebars. See my photo taken yesterday morning up atop a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Some things I have learned via my two birding rides which will be incorporated into tomorrow’s 6 am jaunt. First, I will strap my monopod to my bike. It is hard to hold a camera steady when the body is heaving from heavy breathing. Mountain biking definitely gets the blood running! Second, I will have a washcloth along to wipe sweat and condensation off my camera. A few photos I took this morning were through a steamed over lens. Drying same on a sweaty bike jersey is sub-optimal!

Thus, here are today’s images … and another bird ID challenge. I have named the first bird the Fork Tailed Bike Bird (edit addition: figured it out on my own … Turquoise-Browed Motmot) while the second bird is a Blue Grosbeak. Apparently SW Minnesota in the extreme northern edge of this birds range, while Costa Rica is at the very south side of it’s range.

Finally, at the end of yesterday’s mountain bike ride I heard a loud hourse howling or yelling. Twas not a bird, but upon looking up to the high canopy of trees, I was rewarded with the sight of Howler Monkeys. Cool!

Bicycle Birding!

June 22, 2016Year 3Bicycle Birding, MN North: Amity, MN North: Cloverlandrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Most folks bird by car, and then hike. In my case, the bicycle is often my preferred mode of transportation. Yesterday morning I set off at 7 am for a 30 mile jaunt up the hill from Lake Superior, and then a nice tour through the rural lands near my home, before enjoying a 2.5 mile downhill glide back to the shores of Lake Superior and home. When taking this kind of ride it pays to think about the position of the sun before setting off. One wants to be able to see w/o squinting into the sun. (read my post: Bird Photography by Bicycle)

If you enjoy photographing birds, it is on bike rides where a super zoom / bridge camera really shines. My Canon SX60 (read my camera review) easily fits in my front handlebar bag, and my monopod is trapped to my rear bag. When biking I can easily pull my camera out of the handlebar bag for a quick photo w/o even dismounting from my camera. For better images, I dismount and use my monopod.

Here is a very brief trip report. On Seven Bridges Road during the first mile near my own house I had fun observing many warblers, an Indigo Bunting, a great crested flycatcher and a red-bellied woodpecker. Upon climbing to Lester River Road, a huge number of Common Yellowthroats were present in addition to normal “farm birds”. Roberg Road which I use to bike between Lester River Road and Lakewood Road yielded a gem. A Sandhill Crane was having a morning snack, and this sighting is the closest I have ever had to the Duluth city limits.

I was actually disappointed to not see my American Kestrel family in a farm known to me out on Korkki Road … only the Kildeer family was in evidence. Upon taking the long downhill to Lake Superior the big lake did not yield up any interesting watefowl. In addition, to the birds my ride was relaxing and beautiful … the wildflowers (lupines) are in full bloom, and the rest of the scenery was also grand!

Seven Bridges Road (Great Crested Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Red-Bellied Woodpecker)