I'm so glad you're posting these videos! I live fairly nearby (Hamilton) and you've inspired me to try my own "Little Big Year" one of these days. I currently shoot with a Canon R5 with an RF 100-500mm lens, and although I sometimes get pretty good stills, I don't think I could get the same quality of video that you're providing, at least not without a lot more practice! That's so great that you captured those Eastern Wood-Pewees! And getting both species of Yellowlegs in one frame = fantastic!
Thanks a lot, Dean! I have a very similar setup (the R7 instead the R5) and I don’t have any particular skill with my camera. I actually still get frustrated all the time navigating the buttons and menus. The trick is to get close enough to the birds, which does take experience.
Glad we were able to get you on the Great Egret. I was looking forward to seeing it in your video, and it didn't disappoint! Excellent diagnostic comparison of the two yellowlegs species.
I missed the Acadian, glad you got such great video on that little guy! Heard my first LA Waterthrush this season, but wasn't able to get eyes on it. I did get the tropical kingbird up in Maine this July., but you got it a lot closer to home and closer to the camera! Awesome bird! Barney was a great find. Maybe he'll show up this winter?
Your work is amazing and I love how you let the name of the bird and the shots of the birds stay up on the screen long enough to really experience their uniqueness. Very calming, very beautifully captured. Thank you for sharing these!! Just subscribed so I don't miss anything!
I hold the same sentiments as @beckyb4948 in that I live relatively near your home patch and totally love your channel. I particularly like that you present videos with the sound of the bird song. I've tried to learn about birds here in Massachusetts, but your videos are helping me more than the books I've got. As @beckyb4948 says, you're helping me to see where to look for birds. I walk in the fields and woods in West Newbury almost every day. I look for birds, but never see so many as you do. Thanks.
I am * totally* enjoying your videos! I live just a short drive from your "home patch" and have been there several times, but I must admit I haven't seen anywhere near the number of birds you are seeing. Guess I'm going to have to actually hike up to that electrical cut. Your indicating where on your patch you photographed a bird is so helpful!
@@arectechafterwork9772 Oops! Well that is annoying - good catch. I’ll have to fix that in the next video somehow. I use a Canon R7 and 200-500 mm lens.
Greetings from this birder in the Pinelands of southern New Jersey. I'm so glad I found your site. I immediately subscribed. Your videos are excellent, & your manner of presentation makes a viewer feel as if they are on a casual field trip with an old friend & birding mentor.
@@lcador9 I film handheld and then stabilize in post. This creates the artifacts you are seeing. I’m working on reducing this as much as possible. I don’t want to use a tripod.
Oh my gosh, I made it in to your b roll footage thats so funny. Sorry if this is weird, but we chatted briefly on Sunday, and now this video just randomly appeared in my feed and I recognized you. It was nice to meet you, extremely cool Bonaparte's gull find, sad i missed that one! Really great videos, I hope you're able to get a good manx shearwater pic later for your channel :)
That is funny! I went back and looked at that shot again and I see you right at the start. It was nice talking to you too. Getting good shots of the Manx is definitely a goal :).
I really appreciate how much time you give to individual birds. For instance, it’s really helpful to see the difference between common and least terns, for me reviewing both sequences gives me a good number of points to look for when doing ID. Sometimes I see terns only for a moment as they flash by. Also very nice locations and your example of respect for breeding birds hopefully is seen. Do you ever take boat trips out to see birds? Our family often do whale watches just to see gannets and shearwaters. Probably hard to film, but fun if you enjoy boats.
Thanks for the positive feedback, Frances! I do like boat trips and I have actually been thinking about doing a video on birds seen from a whale watch.
Great video! I know you've shared your camera equipment before, but is there a lower tier (less expensive) camera you'd recommend for beginner birding photography? Or is it really just the lens that matters the most?
Not sure what JT uses, but in my older years have parted with my Canon 7dMk2 & Tamron 150-600mm lens (too heavy?) and gone with a Nikon Coolpix P950. Good for video & still shots (see my channel) but not so good for BIFs. Its actual mag is 40x optical, Its 83x refers from 28mm wide angle.
Thanks for the kind words. Both camera and lens are important. The camera is particularly important if you want to capture birds that are in flight or moving a lot. However for a beginner I would start with a superzoom camera. That will bring you close to the birds and let you take lots of good shots. I used those camera for years before upgrading and got lots of good photos.
I'm 78 now, spent time in this area as a child, much loved by my Dad for family day trips. Very early memory of making sandwiches with him, wrapping them in waxed paper, knowing a special day was ahead. He didn't make sandcastles at the beach -- he made child-sized sports cars! So thank you Mr. Birder for bringing those happy times back to me this morning!
You have great footage and Horn Pond looks like a very nice place. I’m in western Massachusetts and I might come visit in the fall. Thanks very much and I’ll send a few others to the channel.
Thanks! I’m subscribed to your channel and really enjoy your enthusiasm for birds. By the way, the Chukar sighting was from Antelope island where you have posted videos - such a cool place.
I live near waterways in MA. I’ve seen the blue Heron, the Cormorant and yr round geese. Yearly we have a nesting Killdeer in the community garden. I doubt I will ever see Plum IS. I’ll ask my dau if she had had the chance to see it. There a very vocal sm bird with blue wings that flys to dip or graze the water. I wish I knew what it is.
Love it there! Amazing birds. It’s really quiet & beautiful! Used to rent a house there for 2 weeks every summer. I really miss it. It’s only 1 hour from my house.
Awesome footage of the Acadian Flycathcer! I am searching for my own flycatcher currently in my neighborhood in Kansas City, MO. I keep hearing a Great Crested Flycatcher in my backyard. I haven't seen him yet, but I hope to soon! I also don't know if it could be a Mockingbird imitating a flycatcher, as I'm not sure if there is a way to tell based on sound alone. I'm keeping my eyes and ears peeled either way!
Thanks! Do you have the Merlin app for sound identification? Great Crested Flycatcher has a very distinctive call, the app should be able to confirm it.
@@JT_Birder I do, yes. That's how I initially thought it may be a Great Crested Flycatcher, due to a Merlin suggestion based on sound ID. The only reason I mentioned the Mockingbird possibility is because a co-worker of mine (who has been birding far longer than I have) said he thought it might be possible. Funnily enough, I just used Merlin to ID it for a fourth time because I heard that very distinct call you mentioned yet again while outside in my yard watching the other birds in my backyard. I still haven't actually SEEN Mr. GCF, but I hope I'll get the chance soon! Thanks for the reply and helpful info!
Awesome video of the Acadian Flycatcher! Your videos this year motivated my wife to try to take decent photos (not videos, yet) of birds in our county in the western part of Virginia. She is only at 42 species so far out of around 100 seen/heard. The Acadian Flycatchers aren't uncommon our woods - calling an flitting in the upper branches this time of year. Its just really challenging to get a decent photo (let alone a video). Also, your Least Bittern is pretty cool too. Thanks for posting your videos.
Hey thanks for the great comment! It’s funny, I happened to be in Missouri last week for a conference and I heard several Acadians so clearly they are not as unusual as I thought. Best of luck to your wife with the photography. If she isn’t using eBird already that is a great way to link photos to specific sightings for future reference.
