Tundra Bird Photography & Birding Churchill Part 2 Hudson Bay

[@g57462]

Wonderful video of your adventure thank you Sparky 😊

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much!

[@patkeen8668]

Wonderful work! Thanks for taking us along!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks, Pat! Hope you are enjoying this very late winter season :-)… Oh, I guess it’s spring… In theory.

[@chantaljacques7664]

Great coverage of this wonderful destination! Thanks for sharing!

[@SparkyStensaas]

It is one of my favorite spots on the planet!

[@joshdewitt8796]

Sweet!! The long awaited part 2!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Finally got it. Done, Josh! Thanks for waiting.

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks for sharing such a wonderful video, keep up with the awesome content 🐦👍🤗

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much Miguel! I certainly will.

[@andrewlamberson539]

Fantastic video and images! What an adventure!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much, Andrew! I love it up there, though the weather can be pretty fickle

[@rerolley]

The rocks through the rain covered window is a cool shot.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you rerolly! I also really enjoyed those shots. Funny that they are one of my favorites because this was a wildlife photography trip.

[@janvanholten7592]

The landscape is really beautiful and very photogenic. The Arctic is outstanding.

[@SparkyStensaas]

I concur! Definitely my happy place.

[@frednorman1]

Great videos. Thanks for the tour!

[@SparkyStensaas]

You bet, Fred! It’s an awesome place.

[@ryanmarshik8971]

So many great clips/shots. Zodiac tour looked amazing and Cape Merry. Wow!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Wish I had brought my GoPro and long pole. Would’ve been interesting to get some underwater belugas. They came very close.

[@Pedro-nf2rr]

Hola: espléndido documental de naturaleza,un placer seguirte.gracias.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much, Pedro! I don’t remember if I’ve asked before, but what country are you from?

[@Pedro-nf2rr]

@@SparkyStensaas España

[@SparkyStensaas]

@@Pedro-nf2rr Nice! That makes sense… My wife teaches Spanish in the high school and said it didn’t look like “Mexican Spanish”

[@Pedro-nf2rr]

@@SparkyStensaas Hablamos el mismo idioma,pero por lo general Sudamérica tiene si propia adaptación del español. Saludos a la Srta profesora.😉

[@TracyBirds]

Was waiting for this video, so beautifully done, Sparky!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you, Tracy!

[@TomReichner]

What a great video! The Arctic Hares from 9:16 to 10:10 were amazing! I especially love that half & half pelage they were in. If I found them I would spend all day with them! Also, that still image of the lichen on the rock at 16:31 is stunningly beautiful. Good eye spotting and composing that! The arial image at 34:20 is also gorgeous!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much, Tom! And I really appreciate the specific comments. Always fun to hear what resonates with folks!

[@normanfranke4041]

Oh my gosh, you've outdone yourself. Truly inspiring video and images. Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you, Norman! Glad you could join me on this virtual trip!

[@chriscarlsen2100]

Your photography and video skills are absolutely amazing. I've never comment before because I watch your stuff on my TV, but I had to pull it up on phone and tell you how much I love your videos!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much Chris for your kind words! Are you a bird photographer too? Where do you live? I also prefer watching KZbin videos on the big screen TV :-)

[@almeadows8277]

Another great video, Sparky, and you captured some coveted species beautifully. I do think your rainy, abstract inukshuk were some of the best, however.

[@SparkyStensaas]

I agree, Al! It’s funny that those images were just about my favorites from the whole trip :-)

[@wildaboutbirds71]

Absolutely fabulous mate! I so enjoy watching your videos and this is one of the best. Inspiring and has fueled my passion to finally make that dream trip to Churchill. Thanks for sharing 👊🏻

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much! Is a fantastic place for bird photography in mid to late June.

[@BobMacNeal]

Fox on the rocks! Beautiful still photography and video clips in this one Sparky -- even by your high standards. You continue to raise the bar.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks Bob! Appreciate it. Yes, the fox photos are some of my favorites from any Churchill trip. Sometimes gray skies are the best. :-)

[@jeroenschoondergang5923]

Amazing surroundings and great work to make us a part of your experience. I love tundras for fishing and photographing. Cool that you took some time for the passerines, they are my favourite photo subjects.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you Jeroen! Sounds like you are maybe Dutch? Do you go up to Scandinavia for tundra? You may be interested in my three other Churchill videos. Have a great day!

[@scooter5193]

Nice video and photos. What a great experience. Like you pointed out - so many of the species are seen during migration. It’s interesting to see them in their nesting grounds. Thanks for sharing your trip.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you Scooter! Yes, it is almost like you’re seeing a whole new bird. Different behaviors, songs, plumage.

[@servanfotografie15]

Enjoyed again so much..Sparky thanks for bringing to us.. Loved loved.. to see the Hudsonian Godwitt female and Male.. with the Black tailed-Godwitt as our national bird in the Netherlands like our responsability to keep the breeding numbers high because its not going well (even in our country with the most breeding couples in the world) are the Hudsonian (in our country called the Red ..) and the Marbled Godwitt really amazing species. Thanks..:)

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Servan, Very interesting! I had no idea the Black-tailed Godwit was the Netherlands national bird. I am sure there are many conservation projects around that bird. They are a charismatic group of Shorebirds!

[@servanfotografie15]

@@SparkyStensaas thanks Sparky yes a very special family group and here the Black tailed (called in Netherlands Grutto because he 'says'that in his breeding call)bird we grew up with by and in the meadowlands. In total 4 worldspecies with the Bar-tailed Godwit as the 4th. I give regulary bird photography workshops here and deliver bird photos for our national bird protection organisation. Really love to meet in future, one dream specie to see and photograph ánd dream movie of yours with the floating hides is of the Western and Clark's grebes and their displays..in the Pothole region

[@RJCunningham-cx5vw]

Sign me up - I'm ready to go.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Ha! You should definitely get up there

[@gconn190]

Reminds me of the walks about I believe it was La Conner Washington and the snow geese. Solo birding is lonelier than a group but is so much more peaceful. Love the quality of your vid.

[@SparkyStensaas]

I’ll have to look that one up Gregory. Thanks for your kind words! I love solo trips, but I also enjoy going with my friend Ryan I also sometimes enjoy, shooting with many photographers such as in Yellowstone… Mainly for the camaraderie.

[@Hulbatross]

Very cool Sparky!! At 30:36 those look like common mergs, not red breasted.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you Jason! And, yes, you are correct. Those are Common Mergansers.

[@alanclark4951]

Great little video,what state are you in? We are getting palm warblers here in Nova Scotia now,May 3rd 2023,Cheers!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Alan, I live in northern Minnesota near Lake Superior. It’s been an extremely long winter and I still have some snow left in my woods as of May 8. The only warblers back have been Yellow rumps and a few Pines. That should change in the next few days. You live in a beautiful place… I haven’t been to NS for many years

[@MaidenBklyn]

Wow amazing footage. Who knew the tundra could be so beautiful! -- All the colors and textures! I especially enjoyed the Arctic Hares and Willow Ptarmigans. All shot on the R5?! What lens do you use? I'm currently test driving the R7 with 100-500mm lens because I wanted something not too heavy for longish bird walks, however there is a lot of warping/rolling shutter esp. on panning flight shots.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Marisa, Thank your kind words! Yes, all of it was shot on the R5 with the 100-500 mm lens. I am lazy and only shoot video hand held but the stabilized body and lens help a lot. I have not experienced the rolling shutter at all. Not even on birds in flight or panting. I wonder if it’s more with the electronic shutter. I only use that rarely. Overall the lens and camera combo are unbeatable for wildlife video. I think many lens-camera combos, could do just as well for stills photography.

[@kathyporter6479]

Great video. Can you really hear the Beluga whales breathing like that while sitting on the shore?

[@SparkyStensaas]

Absolutely, Kathy! All that was recorded either from the zodiac or from shore. Sometimes you can actually hear them “singing“ on very calm days. I’ve experienced that once. July and August are probably the best pets for belugas.

[@kathyporter6479]

That is incredible. They looked so close too in your videos.

[@SparkyStensaas]

@@kathyporter6479 in the zodiac sometimes they were the closest 20 feet away. From the shoreline, they would occasionally get within 50 to 100’.