I only have 18 hours to photograph these elusive winter ducks in SW New Mexico

[@BlueCatMediaGroupInc]

The image of the Western Grebe interacting with the Ring-necked duck was terrific. Perfect timing on that capture Brent! The BLUETTI is definitely a powerhouse in a small package. Excellent video!

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! I really lucked out with the Grebe shots, and yeah, that Bluetti does a pretty solid job!

[@mikeerickson6714]

Brent and Brittney what a great video, thank you for the time you two put into these, they are wonderful.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks man, I'm glad you liked the video! It was a fun one for me to make.

[@Kellysher]

Brent, I love watching your channel, your enthusiasm is infectious! I can tell that you genuinely get excited when you see wildlife. You are “my people!” I too freeze my butt off in OH winters to get photos of anything. My friends think I’m nuts. I get itchy if too much time passes and I can’t get out there. Even if I come back with 1 or 2 keepers, they are still all memories for me. The surprised Western Grebe is great. I’ve only seen 1, but I did manage a few shots, but yours are awesome and tell a story! Great work!

[@BrentHall]

Hey thanks Kelly! 😃🙏 You guys get a lot of good winter ducks up there. I really want to get up there in may for Magee Marsh.

[@Kellysher]

@ if you come for the spring migration, bird week, there is so much to see along with Magee. There are so many amazing locations along a few mile stretch. Ottawa National park, Metzger marsh, Howard Marsh. A little further away is Maumee bay state park. Which is home base for the festival and inexpensive lodging that books up fast. It’s an hour and a half or so from my house, but I make a zillion trips over a few week period. I plan to stealth car camp in the Maumee parking lot this year, so don’t tell anyone! It is really a fun time.

[@Stelios-Photography]

Very much enjoyed the photography and especially the camp set-up details ...all the best!

[@BrentHall]

Hey thanks, I'm really glad you liked it!

[@adammutolo5800]

Appreciate your videos, sincerity and service to our country. Hope this can get you few gallons for the heater on the next adventure. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@BrentHall]

Oh man, thanks Adam! That really means a lot. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

[@josephnash3015]

Nice Work! The ability to stay overnight where you shoot, makes a big difference!

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! Yeah, it makes a big difference for me to be able to get out there the night before and be ready to roll before sunrise.

[@jeffolson4731]

The Ring-necked popping up in front of the grebe was great. We all have different nemesis birds I suppose. For me it is red-head ducks. We just don't have many and they tend to appear on larger bodies of water. There are a few lagoons/pond near me that if you just sit on the shore the Hooded Mergansers will come within 20' of you. Same for the Buffleheads. So far the Ring-necked ducks stay a little further away but they still get close. If you can stand the cold and damp, our winter ducks are back and willing to pose in the Puget Sound Area. The Short-eared owls are back and further south into King County than I have ever seen them before. If you go up to Skagit Valley you basically have to keep your eyes closed to not see Bald Eagles.

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, we don't have many redheads here either, literally just a these few. That's crazy how close the hoodies come in your area though!

[@robhamilton8993]

What is the 21-60 crop rule

[@theeds]

I think he means at least 2160 pixels in width

[@hstein27]

All those western grebe shots were superb. Those looks it gave the duck were perfect. If you ever get the hoodies doing their head bobbing and croaking for mating, it's really something else!

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, I really want to get some more hoodie action. I just need to get out more, earlier, and stay longer because they spook so easily over here.

[@hstein27]

@BrentHall they're very common here in MA in fall and winter and they're easily spooked, same with ring necks and buffleheads.

[@MartinFransson]

Great to see you out in the field shooting birds in the face again! 😀 I´m working on one of my own from earlier this spring, but with Crested Grebes and Common Goldeneye. BTW, your shots turned out amazing! Edit nr 2: my nemesis birds are A: the Capercaillie and B: the Kingfisher

[@BrentHall]

Oh thanks man! Yeah, kingfishers are tough for me too. I hardly ever get decent shots of them. The one I got in the video wasn't even in focus, lol.

[@JohnDoranski]

I enjoyed your morning comments as I spent 21 years as a combat arms soldier waking up in very cold weather with no place to dress per se. A Bradley Fighting Vehicle with 3 others is a very tight fit and only 4 feet of head room (and my vehicle heaters never worked!). Really enjoyed the video you two put out.

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, that's no fun at all, lol. The only decent place I ever slept in the military was boot camp and my A school,. 😅😁

[@davidbarr9475]

Brent amazing grebe shot. I actually have a red breasted Merganser shot like that coming right at me head down and those amazing eyes. Getting super excited here on north central Ohio for the ducks. 16 different species last year. I mainly shoot predator birds. But after last years first time getting the ducks, I'm hooked 😊

[@BrentHall]

Oh thanks man! Yeah, ducks can be addicting once you really start watching them. So much fun to photograph.

[@seb2549]

Looks like you could use a camo/green yoga mat for all these eye level shots :)

[@BrentHall]

I have one...I just left it in the car. 😒🫠

[@seb2549]

@@BrentHall Lol, I was wondering if that was the case :)

[@msmith2016]

Dude - you need an RV. I bought one last May that I'm still working the kinks out of but when I do, you and I are going to do a day at your favorite alpine lake.

[@BrentHall]

At this point, I'd love just about anything bigger than this crosstrek, but I just have to make the most out of it for now.

[@msmith2016]

@@BrentHall RVs are an adventure in their own right - and not always a good one. There's something to be said about the simplicity of a tent or a rooftop like you have. Ah, the look on your face when you flushed your birds. I always say when I come around a corner that now I will find the birds I didn't see. And there they go...

[@johnnyguerra3754]

Great video as always. I have two questions have you ever thought about a van and is this Lake Roberts?

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! I think about vans every day. I think about anything bigger and better than this crosstrek, actually, but I can't afford anything right now, so i just have to make the most out of my tiny setup. And yes, that is lake roberts.

[@johnnyguerra3754]

@@BrentHall got it. Well a van is a game changer. We love ours and the fact that we financed it for 15 years is even better.

[@teamgig]

I really really enjoyed this one. Can I press the like button twice?

[@BrentHall]

No, 3 times please...

[@tedbrown7908]

Lived in Alamorgordo back in 79-81.

[@khansecond]

Enjoyable video. Might I ask what that keyboard is you use? It looks awesome in combination with that LotR set!

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! It's the Drop LOTR Rohirrim keyboard.

[@khansecond]

@@BrentHall Thanks for the reply!

[@Mikedegot]

I might be freezing for birds for snowy owls soon. Haven't made up my mind. It's one thing to think of the adventure, it's another thing to be out there freezing my toes off.

[@BrentHall]

Truth. I definitely think about going out more than I actually end up going out, lol.

[@PeterLariviere]

Come for the photography but leave with roof top tent info...my wife and I have a travel trailer but it is not practical for some trips we have planned over the next 3 or 4 years. So we have been looking at the roof top tent option but the cold is an issue (for both of us). So the power bank and the diesel heater option could be a very practical and safe solution. So thanks a lot for the great info..and the photography was exceptional as usual.

[@BrentHall]

Oh nice! I'm glad the video helped in an unexpected way. 😁 I am definitely happy with my setup for what it is. I'm very happy with the tent. In fact it's my favorite rtt out there right now. I'll be making a separate review about it, and another video all about my whole setup and all the car and camping gear, hopefully soon.

[@PeterLariviere]

@BrentHall looking forward to seeing it. Oh by the way lots of hooded merganser here in Eastern Ontario during the summer!!!

[@RichardBO9]

Brent, this is an awesome video.

[@BrentHall]

Why thank you, my good sir! 😃🙏🎩

[@kapilbhallafoto]

What is the 2160 rule for cropping?

[@jewelypix]

Love your channel & Great Video.. You’re lucky Brittany shares your interests, my hubby is the complete opposite 😯 My friend & I were out in the cold yesterday to photograph & film Eagles at a Dam. They have been coming there every Fall to nest for years. I’m hoping I got some pretty good shots. Looking back into my camera they looked really good but we know how that goes 🤷🏻‍♀️ Have A Great Thanksgiving 🍗

[@BrentHall]

Thanks, I really appreciate that! For the most part camera lady and I do have the same interests, though she really doesn't care for camping as much, but she will go if it's for work.

[@jimowens2283]

Kingfisher is my nemesis bird.

[@BrentHall]

They're definitely hard for me to get decent shots of too! That one I got in this video was actually not in focus, but I posted it anyway. I didn't even know he was there then I heard him and he took off and flew right by. I'm surprised I even got him in the frame with how fast he was going.

[@jimowens2283]

@ Definitely a goal for 2025.

[@colintraveller]

Overlanding / Camera video .. Quality concept

[@BrentHall]

Thanks man!

[@ilpoheikkila4773]

Cool video!