Join Minnesota naturalist, author, publisher and wildlife photographer Sparky Stensaas on his forays into the field to photograph birds, mammals and everything natural. Shooting with Sparky videos are short episodes taken in the field on actual photo outings. Learn tips and tricks for great wildlife photos. Wildlife photography, bird photography, nature photography, wildlife video, bird video, behavior, Canon 7D, Great Gray Owls, wolves, grizzly and more.
I'd be afraid for my camera out there like that. Just found your videos in Florida and I see you hunting birds in Florida the way I do. Being in a floating blind with your camera inches off the water is next level. Brilliant stuff.
Thanks! I’ve never been really careful with my gear, and I’ve never had a camera get too wet in the floating blind… It does get splashed, but they’re built to take it. Love Florida!
Love the video of the Brandt’s Cormorants, you captured the blue of their throats. We have lots of Brandt’s Cormorants in Monterey Bay, but I’ve never seen the blue throat
Thanks Fred! I must say that I didn’t know much about either the Brandt’s or Pelagic cormorants so it was really fun to see the Brandt’s blue throat and watch their courtship behavior.
I would really love to get back out there during migration and visit Point Reyes …and in winter for the big waterfowl concentrations at the wildlife refuges up in the valley.
Hey Sparky, don't be afraid to reach out to us, your fans, when you are out looking for lifers. For instance, I live in Rohnert Park CA and know where the birds find food during different seasons. I am sure I am not alone in wanting to help you make your videos even more spectacular. When I first moved to the area I called the local ranger stations. I would often be connected with a fellow birders and wildlife experts this was immensely helpful in finding the places for birding that few know about. Looking forward to watching the behavior videos. Thank you for the amazing job you do.
Hi Bob, the behavior birding idea is still evolving in my head, but the whole idea is to put the “watching“ back in birdwatching. But people love listing too so it would combine the two. I’m getting the website up and going, but it’ll be months before I do the reveal.
Great as ever Sparky and a damn site warmer than that day in Superior forest a few years back. I’ll be in this area in October. Hope I can catch up with some of the species you saw. Alan.
I continue to be astonished at how adept you are at finding these birds and then getting images of them! I hear many of these birds as I wander around the same places you are showing in Northern California, but when finally I find them, I never can get my camera in place before they've disappeared. Good shooting!
I saw my lifer gray fox about 10 years ago and it was amazing. Two of them came to the feeders at our Welcome Center in the Sax-Zim Bog. My friend and I were the only people there and I got lots of photos. They were eating sunflower seeds beneath the feeders in the snow.
I was quite astonished to see your shots of Guinda in the Cache Creek area. I am very frequently in that area with my camera. Had we met there, seeing your birding camera, you would have immediately been on the other side of that locked gate and right up into very steep ground and some interesting scenes, with birds that I am not skilled at photographing. I am impressed with your catches of birds in that area--birds that I do not even know to look for!
Love the music! Same as music on “Justified”. We too were snowbound but had to stay at Yellowstone hotel. It was so nice, everyone was rolling with the punch & we all enjoyed each others company.
U R in my country❤️Yes, Sugerpine. FYI when talking about the “Sierras” it’s singular cuz u r taking about “one” Range. The Sierra Range.🥰 LOVE YOUR VIDEOS 🥰. I’m 83 & don’t get out anymore so your videos r a delight to watch. Thank you
Sparky you have some great photos there , what I liked the best was the 9 baby common Merganser's they are so beautiful also your portrait of the Male Lazuli Bunting .
Thanks, Gary! I really appreciate you listing your favorite photos. That is very helpful! Family is my favorites. It’s a little bit of a different type of image.
Hi Sparky, I watched this yesterday and thought then that the fawn's left front leg was not right. The mid leg joint seemed wrong and the fawn had a slight limp. Not criticizing the rescue, I likely would have done the same thing. I'm just wondering if the fawn will survive. Often injuries seem to heal themselves or the animal learns to adapt to the problem. Just curious if you noticed the front leg problem. I always enjoy your videos so keep them coming..
Hi Richard, I did notice that it was a little scraped up, but I thought that was just from when she was scrambling to try and get out of the crevice. But I think the wobbliness is from just being born. Truly, I think this fall was born that day or the day before. Even if I had noticed that I probably wouldn’t have done anything different. I’m not a big wildlife rehabber. She seemed to walk just fine after she rejoined mom. Wildlifeheals pretty quickly as well.
Mount Lassen is NOT in the High Sierra- it is part of the Cascade Range , as is Mt Shasta. The northern boundary of the Sierra Nevada is the north fork of the Feather River…otherwise a nice video, thanks
Almost too many things to comment on, very cool video. Down here in the madrean sky islands of SE AZ for a couple years, originally from upstate NY, basically birder paradise. These western birds are something else aren't they
Love the sky Islands! What a great place to be! I did a three-part Southeast Arizona series a couple years ago… Actually, I think I did several series. I’m a big fan of portal and the Chiracauhuas!
I got lifer Sooty Grouse in the coast mountains of Oregon to the west of Roseburg a couple years ago. I had been hearing them calling for weeks and then finally saw a female with chick's on the side of the road. Then heard a male up the hill so I scrambled up there and finally saw a male Sooty Grouse way up in a tree. I got what I consider one of my major trophy bird photos of it.
You should have shown us some aggressive Mountain Lion fighting moves Sparky 😂. I lived in Walla Walla Washington for many years and was fortunate to see 14 of them in my time in that area (Blue Mountains) but never had to fight one, Thank God.
I was watching an episode of the Beverly Hillbillies last night that I had DVD'd. It was titled "The Bird Watchers" and featured Wally Cox. He mentioned seeing Hermit Warblers while living in the mountains.
Saludos.Un viaje interesantísimo,muchos avistamientos,especies que faltan fotografiadas ya,etc.Cada día valoro más las aves.Hay una frase qué es mi favorita, La fotografía es plasmar el momento,para en el futuro recordar el pasado.Gracias
I live in the Central Valley of California. And I would not recommend visitor in the summertime because of the heat. Today we had a temperature 111, we’ve had a heatwave for about 12 days.. best time to visit Northern California for birding is November through April. That’s when the migration along the Pacific flyway is in full force.
All true Fred! Good tip for first time visitors. Someday, I would like to see the wintering flocks of waterfowl. On this trip though I wanted to see birds on their breeding grounds… And most of the trip I was up in the mountains or along the coast and the temps were really nice.
I was lucky enough to see the San Jacinto wetlands filled with waterfowl in January this year. Spectacular! The inland empire has some gorgeous birding.
