Tips and advice for getting great wildlife photos
After a long stretch of windy, rainy days, I was able to get the boat out yesterday to see who’s about on the ponds. I headed up to visit the Westons Tuesday and the Middletons today.
I’ve been playing with a GoPro waterproof video camera and caught this cute scene:
The Westons’ pond has a lot of marsh with very clear, shallow water. The turtles have awakened for the season. First there were lots of painted turtles around. I found several huddles and a few parades – a couple to several turtles following each other underwater. My guess is the leader is a cute lady turtle. The snapping turtles seem to take longer to wake in the spring. Perhaps it just takes longer for the longer turtles to warm? One of my goals for the camera is to get some footage of the snappers underwater.
The Weston’s pond was downright balmy when I arrived, 43° with a light breeze. Any wind ruffles the water, you’ll notice lots of my shots take advantage of the flat water for the reflections. And, working with a long lens in a kayak, even a gentle breeze makes it difficult to manage.
This morning, I headed out to visit the Middletons. The forecasted clouds weren’t to be found, the pond was dead still and it was warm enough to feel my fingers as I headed out before dawn.
As I paddled out from the boat launch, an intruding loon arrived on the pond. The Middletons went to evict him(?).
Shortly afterwards, the wing-rowing loon departed the pond. The remaining challenger moved off away from the Middletons who went to breakfast at the other end of the pond.
It was getting to be time to head out, so I took the boat back to the launch. As I was putting the kayak straps on the car, I looked up and saw a veery sitting on a branch just about over the other side of the car. He? was unbothered by me, and flew down to forage on the ground next to the car while I packed up.
I’m watching the weather for tomorrow morning. One app says rain, the other says no….
I’ve been able to get out to visit the Middletons and Westons a couple times in the past couple weeks. Spring is in full swing on the ponds, let’s see who else is around.
Every spring, brings new subscribers, welcome. I’ve been following loons on three ponds since 2012. My blog has gotten popular enough that I’ve learned to be vague about the loons’ homes to protect them. There’s a pond to my west that hosts the Weston family, a pond to my east that hosts the Eastons and the pond in the middle hosts the Middletons. I’m photographing from a kayak, using Canon gear, with lenses from 400mm to 800mm.
On Saturday, May 3, at 1:00 pm, I’ll be at the Rockingham, VT, Public Library to give my slideshow ‘An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon.’ Free and everyone welcome. The details are on the Library’s site: https://rockinghamlibrary.org/northern-loon/.
On to the photos.
Monday April 14 was a chilly 27° when I put the boat in to visit the Middletons. One of them was swimming leisurely on the east end of the pond when I put in. I headed the other way and never caught up with that loon again.
On the 18th, I was on the Westons’ pond at dawn – a chilly 23° had me breaking a skim of ice to get out from the boat launch.
I was back to visit the Middletons on the 23rd. There was a heat wave and it was 39° when I put in. The Middletons were sleeping in again.
I heard an American bittern singing in the reeds and headed over to see if I could spot him. He made a short flight as I approached, landing behind some brush. But, I knew where he was down to a couple dozen square feet. When I came around the brush, I spent several minutes looking for him before seeing him in plain sight in front of the reeds. But, with a branch interfering with the shot. I took my eyes off him for 15 or 20 seconds while I moved the boat. When I looked again, I was sure he’d flown when I wasn’t looking. After about 10 minutes searching, I found him – when he took off from the same spot he’d been standing the whole time.
The Loon Preservation Committee banded the pair of adult loons on this pond last summer. I was curious to see if the same pair returned. I watched and waited while they preened to see if I could spot the bands.
There are signs I’m shaking off my torpor and am preparing for spring. I’ve been out a few times, let’s see what I’ve found.
First, the signs that spring is indeed here. The Middletons returned last week and the Westons showed up yesterday. Bluebirds have been checking out the box on the deck – and so far, the camera is working again. The song sparrow that summers in the azalea near the deck has returned. He’s been sitting on the deck railing calling out to declare that the lands between the driveways and from the road to the trees are his territory and beware all who enter. Ducks and turtles are out already. And our road is turning to mud.
I made several trips to the coast looking for birds, with some success.
Last week, I made it down to southern Vermont where spring had been fully installed. Peepers were peeping and turtles basking confirmed it. I found a pair of ducks foraging before stopping to take a bath.
The kayak is out of the basement, the roof rack is on the car. As soon as we get a decent morning, I’ll be out visiting with the loons.
I’m also looking for mammals. Anyone have bobcats, foxes or coyotes kits around? I’m always on the lookout for any mammal larger than a squirrel. Also looking for owl and woodpecker nests. If you’ve got critters where I can come and go without bothering you or them, I’d love a chance to photograph them.
I’ve been asked to come up with a red fox exhibit, so I’ve been digging back through the archives to see what I can come up with. Here are a few of my favorites.
This next weekend, November 22-24, I’ll be at the 802 Arts House Celebrate Vermont Art Show at the Doubletree in Burlington, VT. I’ll have lots of prints, note cards and calendars. Stop by and say hello. All the show details here: https://www.starbirdevents.com/celebrate-vermont.
My 2025 New England Wildlife Calendar is still available. You can order them on my site www.IanClark.com.
On to the foxes. I think some of the first professional level wildlife photos I took were of a fox den in Swiftwater, NH, back in 2013. A friend found a den and tipped me off. I was able to set up my blind and watched the family for about 25 hours over several mornings. And I was hooked. Fox kits are just too cute to ignore.
I hear there are several snow owls that have been spotted in New England. I’ll be out looking for them after I get past the show next weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!
Great blue herons are pretty common around the Upper Valley. All three of the loons’ ponds host great blues each year. Over the years, I’ve gotten a number of good shots of them. I’m pondering a ‘Heronscapes’ exhibit and have been digging through the archives to see what I’ve got. Let’s take a look.
The Hartland, VT, Public Library will host me to present my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon, this Wednesday, November 6 at 6 p.m. Free and everyone welcome. My print exhibit of loons is hanging in the Library through the end of November.
And my 2025 calendar is available:
On to the herons.
Trying something different today; a story with some background on one of my favorite shots.
Since my last post, I’ve had more excitement than I need. The circus-style tent at the Stowe Foliage Art show came down and destroyed my booth. Thankfully, it collapsed early in the morning and no one was injured. I’ll be doing the Celebrate Vermont show at the Doubletree in Burlington November 22-24 2024 using a booth borrowed from one of my competitors, Jonathan Hart. Thanks Jonathan!
In happier news, my 2025 New England Wildlife Calendar is now available.
Let’s go way back to 2013, the year after I met the loons. On a visit to the Middleton’s pond, I was exploring a cove where they like to breakfast. They were still off in the main part of the pond and I settled in to wait for them. While I waited, I noticed a painted turtle in the lily pads.
I’ve never seen a turtle take a bite out of a lily before or since. I’ve seen a couple that have taken insects from the flowers or lily pads, but never the flower.
Looking back at the files from this morning, I didn’t get any remarkable shots of the Middletons. But, I did photograph a cow moose and her calf, several turtles and eastern kingbird nestlings getting fed. But, I remember the turtle.
Loon season in the Upper Valley is coming to a close. The Middletons and Westons decamped about two weeks ago. The Easton chicks hatched later, they’re still on their pond with mom. For now.
I’m packing up for the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival this weekend, October 11-13. I’ll have note cards, my 2025 wildlife calendar and prints big and small. Come on out and have a look. All the details about the Festival here: https://stoweartsfest.com/.
On November 6, I’ll be a the Hartland, VT, Public Library at 6 pm. I’ll also have a print exhibit of some of my favorite loon photos hanging in the Hartland Library during November.
Sunday (10/6), I headed up to visit with the Eastons. Fall has arrived in force – it was 37° and foggy when I launched.
The Easton chicks are still on their pond and are finishing their lessons on how to be loons. The Middletons and Westons seem to have departed for the season.
Tomorrow – Saturday October 5 – I’ll be giving my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon at the Richford, VT, Town Hall at 10 am. On November 6, I’ll be a the Hartland, VT, Public Library at 6 pm. I’ll also have a print exhibit of some of my favorite loon photos hanging in the Hartland Library during November.
And next weekend I’ll be up at the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival October 11-13 with note cards, calendars and prints. Come on out and have a look. All the details about the Festival here: https://stoweartsfest.com/.
I made it up to visit the Eastons on the 24th. Mom and both chicks were out and about. The chicks should be able to feed themselves by now, but are still willing to pester their parents for food.
On the first, I made it back to check in with them again. Fall has arrived.
And a shoutout to everyone working to protect the loons. They have lots of great info about loons online. A few sites to check out:
The Loon Preservation Committee works to protect and study loons in New Hampshire. In Vermont the Vermont Center for Ecostudies does work with loons and other wildlife. The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation works in the Adirondacks. And The Loon Project works in the Upper Midwest.
I had a chance to check in with the Eastons and Middletons over the last week. Let’s see what they’re up to.
I’ll be up at the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival October 11-13 with note cards, calendars and prints. Come on out and have a look. All the details about the Festival here: https://stoweartsfest.com/.
I’ll be giving my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon a couple times in the near future. First is at 10 a.m. October 5 at the Richford, VT, Town Hall. And again at 6 p.m. on November 6 at the Hartland, VT, Library.
This week, the folks behind the Lake Fairlee loon cam, Doug Tift, Sean Brown and Eric Hanson, gave a great presentation on the success of the cam. The cam is offline for the season, but they’ll have it back up in the spring. They’ve got a collection of highlights from this past season up at https://www.youtube.com/@LakeFairleeAssociation/playlists. They’ve captured lots of great video of various behaviors and interactions with the other critters on the ponds.
September 17 was a beautiful day above the valley fog. The Eastons were enjoying a light mist when I arrived. Mom and the chicks were at the south end of the pond, with the chicks hounding her to be fed. Dad took the morning off and drifted leisurely alone at the north end of the pond.
On the 20th, I made it over to the Middleton’s pond. Friends on the pond said they hadn’t seen the Middletons for a week. I spent a couple of hours on the pond without finding them, they’ve moved on. They’ve left a little earlier than in previous years. Most of New England’s loons will winter in the Atlantic between Cape Cod and Maine. Of course, they don’t all read the manual and there will be some that go off to other places. They may well stop on a larger pond to the south or east of home before continuing to the Atlantic. This time of year, it is common to find ‘rafts’ or ‘asylums’ of loons gathering on ponds. Without having to worry about chicks, they’re more social.
The Loon Preservation Committee banded the Middleton adults this year. It will be interesting to see if they both come back in the spring. I’ve been following the loons on the pond since 2012. From his behavior, I think we’ve had the same male the whole time. We lost the original female in a fight with a goose in 2017. Let’s hope the Middletons have safe travels and reunite in the spring.
Last week I had a chance to visit with the Middletons on a foggy morning, here’s a brief update.
And, I’ve gotten a slew of new subscribers in the past week. Welcome. I follow loons on three ponds every year. To protect their privacy, I don’t share which ponds. But the loons on the pond to my east are the ‘Eastons,’ the loons to my west are the ‘Westons.’ The pond in the middle hosts the Middletons.
This coming weekend, I’ll be at the Artrider Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst Show in Tarrytown, NY. Stop by and say hello. All the details about the show are on Artrider’s site https://www.artrider.com/fall-crafts-at-lyndhurst-2024.
Next, I’ll be teaching a workshop, Photographing Your Student Athlete at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester on September 28. This is designed for parents with kids playing in Little League through varsity. We’ll be working with cameras with interchangeable lenses, if you’re shooting with a phone, this may not be for you. All the details on the Currier’s site https://currier.org/class/photography-in-motion-with-ian-clark/.
Just a couple more…. I’ll be giving my slideshow An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon at the Town Hall in Richford, VT, Saturday, October 5 at 10 am and again at the Hartland, VT, Public Library on November 6. Still working to find the exact time, but it will be something like 5 pm. I’ll post when we get it finalized.
On to the loons… The Middleton chicks were 11-weeks-old when I visited last week. They look like they’re doing well. Dad (he’s banded) was the only adult on the pond. This time of year, it is likely that mom took some time off and is resting on a nearby pond. You’ll see why she needed a break below.
I hope to get back out to visit the families again next week, will update when I can.