2 Days of Winter Bird Photography – Dipper, Gear and Campfire
For two days I'm going to photograph birds
by a small stream in Denmark. But I also have birds at home
and by my live stream, I have to take care off. I'll talk a bit about some of the equipment, I use. But for most of the time I'll do bird photography, which can be challenging sometimes. And of course a fire, some coffee and some food. So if you ready, it's time to get out there. Ah! Oh! It's so shy the little one. What a shy bird. Oh, that was nice. First photo today. And the interesting thing
about the little Dipper is the fact, that it's kind of an indication of a clean stream, because the food it is after here, are small larvaes from insects
and small freshwater shrimps. And for these things to be in a stream like this, it has to be very clean and in a very good condition. So when I see this little Dipper
here in the little local stream, I know, that water quality is just very good. And that makes me happy. It always dives towards the direction of the stream, because the stream is coming here, and it needs to get all the way down to
the bottom of the stream to find these larvaes.
And then it uses the shape of itself,
and the push of the stream, to get down without using so much energy. And it's actually able to walk down
on the bottom of the stream and find these things. It's so nice. So the Dipper just went down the stream. And I don't know, if it was scared of me,
I don't think so, or it just want another place, to catch its food. Try to look here. It's doing the feather and relaxing. And I don't want to push this way. First of all because there's a lot of branches,
and I will definitely scare it. So the plan now is to let it have a rest. Go further up the stream,
because usually they have territories. And in this stream I have seen
two or three different Dippers on the way up stream. So I think, we leave this place for a little while. Go up the stream look for Dippers
to photograph, to film, to watch, to admire.
And then, after a cup of tea, we come back here
and use the last light hopefully to photograph, and get some really good photos
of that little one over there. So let's pack the backpack and go. You can come with me. Ah, yeah. This is actually the perfect condition for the Dipper. Clear water, clean water. I can see plants on the bottom,
which also indicates it's nice. A good quality. And another thing I'm looking for
are stones with small white shitmarks on it. Because that indicates a good sitting place,
a hunting place for the Dipper. I have experienced too much,
when I walk out here during the week, that I just come forward too fast. And then the result is the Dipper flies up,
before I actually see it. You know the classical thing in wildlife photography.
So here the binocular is my best friend. Now I know, that the next 20 metres are clear. So then we can move 20 metres. Stop.
Look in the mirror glass again and move on. Nothing. Well. Let me turn off that camera,
and then I'll move up the stream. And if, or when, or if I find the Dipper… I'll bring you with me. So see you then. Sorry. False alarm. It's hail. Hail or snow. It's kind of a mix between it. Lets get in shelter under this big tree.
Ah. I wish, I brought a lens for landscape photography, but I have the 100-400mm
and the 600mm with the converter. But yeah. 100-400mm could be nice,
but now I'm in Dipper mode. The other day I was out here,
without camera of course, I saw three White-Throated Dippers on,
I think, 1 kilometre of stream. So now I've only seen that one. But I'll give it another 50 metres. And if I don't see any other Dipper… Yeah, then I'll go back
to the one back there downstream. Oh, this is beautiful. The sun is about to set now. And I reckon, I have… I don't know. 20 more minutes here. There's a lot of light, but as soon as I get down to the little stream again, it's very, very, very dark. That is my last chance today. Let's see, if the little Dipper is over there. And yeah. I don't see it. At least it's not sitting
the same place as, it did the last time. But… Ah! No. No Dipper. Okay. Game is over for me for now.
But I have a plan for tomorrow. The last tea. Good timing. Tomorrow I'm going to bring a different lens. I'm going to photograph in a completely different way. And I'm bringing some clothes that… I'm not so concerned about the camouflage. But it does camouflage me a lot better than this. But what I'm most concerned about, is tomorrow I want to be able to lie down in the snow for a longer period of time without getting wet, which I'll be in this clothes. So looking forward to tomorrow. And hopefully that little fellow will be back. But we'll see. See you then. Feed the animals. Do you want one? Here you go.
I couldn't wish for any better weather than this. Clear sky. Probably 8° frost. And no wind. Perfect weather for me to photograph the Dipper. But first this little morning routine. I basically love to feed the birds out here on my terrace. And I can sit in there in the window, you can see. That is where, I use to sit and edit my videos.
Just in there. And then I can look out here at all the birds. And also it makes me really happy to know,
that these birds are just having a great time here.
They can come here every morning
and pick up the sunflower seeds. And yeah. Are you coming? Come on, let's go. The last little thing I have to do, before we can
head out towards the White-Throated Dipper, is to put some snacks out
in front of the little camera, that I have down here in the meadow,
just where the forest starts. And that little camera is live streaming
to another YouTube channel, I have 24/7. For these of you, who don't know. The purpose of that camera
is basically just to get an idea about the diversity of wildlife and birds
on this little piece of land, where I live. And also to bring some joy to the people, who don't have the option to get out in nature every day. So that's a project, I'm pretty proud of. Oh, see. That is my photo blind. See, there. I haven't used that for a while actually. Because… Yeah, because what?
I don't know. I had a lot of things to do. But now, let's hurry up. Because I want to go to that Dipper.
Sooner rather than later. So, Bjørn. Come on. We're about to go home. Job is done. Now we can begin. So, now… Can you move from the frame? Look nice. So now I'm almost done packing
for going to the Dipper. And promised just to talk a little
about the changes today. So yesterday it was a Z9
with the 600mm with a build-in converter. And I talked about,
that was a little heavy yesterday. Because I used the tripod most of the time. Today I'm going to change that. So that rather than this beast, we're going with this guy here. The 180-600mm. And I'm not going to use the tripod with this. I'm just going to handheld it and try to see, if I can get these photos of the of the little Dipper. About the clothes… The reason why I don't use this so much, is because…
Listen! So it's very, very noisy,
because of the fabric it is made off. And when you hear, when I walk it's like so… So for the deer, the fox, it's just not usable. Even though I'm sitting still,
and I move my arm, it's too noisy. But just for today I think, it's perfect. Because it's only 5° frost outside which means that, when I'm down on the ground in this clothes,
I'll be soaked within half an hour. With this one it's kind of waterproof with membrane. So I think, I'll be able just to lie down there and wait. I'll bring my other clothes also. Because this is warm and maybe too warm,
when I walk around. But now basically… Oh, yeah. Of course today some tea, food, a little camera the DJI.
What is it called? Action 3. Just so I can hopefully take that and show you,
what's going on, when I'm sneaking around. And then of course a little pot,
some water and some coffee in the back, so I can make some coffee out there, when I run out. But now… Are you frozen in time? You want this one, don't you? Yeah. No, eh…
I just need to put it all in the back. And then let's head out to the White-Throated Dipper,
and see if we can get some nice photos. And you need to stay at home. I just told him, he has to stay home. It's too cold. He's 13 now. But yeah, let's get packed. So now… I'm ready to be on the ground without getting wet. And also because the fabric is so slippery, it's much easier to move forward. The downside, as I told you, is this… But our little friend there
is probably not that sensitive to sounds.
But just to make my point very clear let's just compare the setup from yesterday, with the big equipment and the backpack, and then the one I'm going to do today. So have a look here. This is the setup, I had yesterday. Just get the hood off. Just without this clothes. But you see the benefits of that is,
that it's just very comfortable. I can sit here and relax and wait. And when something happens
I already have the stone, where it maybe sits. And then I have this very nice movements
of the telephoto lens. Good light, good low depth of field. And everything I need is in the backpack,
if want another lens or things like that. The drawbacks is that,
when I have to sneak through thing like this. The backpack is heavy.
It's hard to get up. It's like… Oy, you know. You have to lift this,
and if you want to just move a little to one side… You're just a big mess. So what I want to do today
is to take this backpack… Basically find a place in the forest
covered with some snow, so it's out of sight.
And then I want to leave my 600mm
and the tripod here. And basically what I want to do,
is just to take this kit. Where are you? There you are. Here. And I'll just be going like this. Very light. I can move, I can be very quick. And I have the flexibility here from the 180-600mm. So let me pack this in the back. Let me hide that in the forest,
and then let's go. See if we can get some photos today
of the White-Throated Dipper. So! With that done we are ready. I feel safe now, it's very difficult to see,
if you don't know, it's there. Quick but efficient. I've been looking forward to this. Let's get to the little stream. I think, today is my lucky day. Because I basically just came down to the stream,
and there it is. Fishing and swimming, the little Dipper. The problem now is, that I don't have the tripod. And I love to put up the tripod and take that camera,
so you can see, what I'm seeing. But another drawback with my new strategy today but…
Let's just try, if I can handheld. I want to show you,
how it flew up the stream because… Because I was faffing around with the camera. But try to look here.
Let me try to play the last one, I got. A second. There. Look. There it is. It's not that bad to photograph it and film it. But it's really hard, when I want to share it with you,
because then I have to take this camera. I might just turn that off. Put it somewhere.
And use the little DJI thing. Because I think, that's better for both of us. But now I have to find that bird again. Let's just hope, it didn't fly very far away but… Oh! There it is. Do you see the Dipper? Right there. Let me put this camera. Because we don't want to miss it again.
Hold on. I put the camera here,
and then I just sneak forward. And use the little DJI thing. Here it is. Look. This is really nice. It's a little far away. And now I wish,
I had the 600mm with the build-in converter. But if I had the 600mm with build-in converter,
I might not be in this position with that Dipper. It's always like that. There's a stone between me and the Dipper,
where it is now. And I really wish, it would come on that stone. How often do we say that
to ourself as photographers? Oh, it would be nice if [sound]. But sometimes it's just to appreciate, how it is. Now it disappeared a little further up the stream. Ah. That was nice. Now I have a few good photos
of the Dipper on my camera. Everything from now on is bonus. But of course I want to push my luck just to see,
if we can get one more good photo, before I make a fire, make a cup of coffee.
Perfect. Oy. The weather is really changing now. I better get back. See if we can get that last photo. That would be nice. Oy, oy, oy. Nice. If we are lucky, we'll see the Dipper on the way back. Dipper, Dipper, Dipper. It's all about the Dipper. I feel the snow stops just as fast as, it begins. Oh, imagine to get a photo of the Dipper
sitting on a little stone in the water. And then snowflakes falling down. And maybe the sun coming through. And maybe some ice hanging down from the rock. There are many things to imagine. Wait. Yeah. It's there. I'm back at the location,
where we ended the day yesterday. And it's sitting in a different place.
A much better place.
If I can get down there. Wait. I'm talking and talking let me show you. Wait. You see it? Just in the middle of the frame. Sitting there. Oh. Let me show you. There. Do you see it? Let me see, if I can get in position.
But this one is going to be hard. Because it's just sitting there watching.
But yeah. Let me go. This is really nice. This is such a good position. For the first time I'm actually in an angle,
that is really nice.
Oh, it was nice. I'm in a really good position now. But… The Dipperr has moved further down the stream. And… Yeah, I don't know. He's coming back. He's coming back. This is nice. The last light. Oh, go away. Why do I have to fight with a stick? Pointing my eyes.
Oh, he's so nice. Beautiful. Now I want to do something, I really like. And that is to leave the bird. And put a lot of effort into not scaring it. And then just have my coffee
and my dinner in the forest, while thinking about, you know. Now it's still sitting here resting
on the beautiful little stick or stone.
Or what it is. So yeah. See you when I get away from here. That was muddy. The day is saved. Really nice. That was the bonus. When I packed this gear, I thought to myself: There was something with these trousers,
that was annoying. And it was not the sound. What was it?
And I was thinking, I couldn't remember. But now I know. Definitely know. It is, that I need to have a belt. Is that, what it's called?
The one around your waist. Because I feel these are
hanging down around my knees, because they're a little too big. And they don't tighten that well in the waist so… Now I have it here. I'll put a belt on, when I come home.
And leave it on, so I don't forget it the next time.
So I'll spare you in the video for all of the
"me taking up my pants". Ah, that was nice. This is so nice to sit here waiting
for the sausage and the coffee. And what a day, what a day. And I can't wait to see these photos
a little bigger on the screen at home. But they look promising. I mean, not the best photos in the world at all.
Far from that. But just a wonderful memory…
Oy, the sausage here. I think, it's about to get done. Give it a little more. What I mean… The photos are just perfect memories
from a few very good days out here with the little stream and the Dipper. And I really hope,
you enjoyed being with me on this little trip.
And now I think, I need some food. I need some coffee. And then I just want to sit here and relax a little bit. But thank you so much for being here with me. And see you out there..
