The family went down to Minneapolis for the weekend to cheer on my wife’s first time competing in a triathlon. However, the bird project must go on! Time was brief for getting outside to hike and bird, but I still found some neat photo opportunities.
Day 170: Wood Ducks at Dusk
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Day 171: Great Egret
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Day 172: Barn Swallows
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The Finisher!
Bicycling, birding and photography are a great combination. Yesterday I took a 24 mile ride on the Luce Line Trail. This rails to trails route which starts in the western suburbs of Minneapolis and proceeds into the rural countryside allows one to get some great exercise and also access areas not reachable by car. While one certainly may walk your local trails, when on a bicycle the birding photographer may quickly ride between prime habitat locations, and then either slow down or dismount for birding. By keeping a good lookout which in transit, unexpected sights will often present themselves.
My setup for birding photography is simple. I have a handlebar bag where my camera is stored for easy access. In addition I have a monopod lashed to rear bag for stabilizing my camera during long distance zoomed shots.
Here are a few photos from my Luce Line Trail bike ride. Please realize songbirds are just starting to migrate into the area. Photographic opportunities are yet a bit thin this spring.
Some of my equipment
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Yellow-Rumped Warbler
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Yellow-Warbler
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Baltimore Oriole
As another Winter storm bears down us here in northern Minnesota, this fact combined with having our two grandchildren visiting (ages 2 and 3.5 years) meant extremely limited time for my morning bird walk this morning. Both of these cardinals were at the extreme limit of my zoom lens, but at least they were happily singing to greet the impending storm!
Red on Green
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Red on White
