Wildlife Photography From A Kayak

 

I want to start taking wildlife pictures from a kayak. After doing a bit of research and watching many You Tube Videos, I purchased an Old Town 106 fishing kayak. It is extremely stable for a kayak and will work out ideal for me fishing and taking wildlife pictures.

I have always wanted to kayak and set out trail cameras. Earlier this week I loaded my camera gear and several trail cameras and paddled a Massachusetts river looking for moose and bear then pulled the kayak up on the riverbank to search for a good spot to set out camera traps. No moose or bear were in the cards for the day, but I did find a nice area to set out the trail cameras.

The morning provided me the opportunity to take a few bird pics and to see how the tripod setup would work in the Kayak. I couldn’t be more pleased; I could paddle easily and sit comfortably with the camera set up in front of me. I’ll just need to get out a few more times to get comfortable with it. If there was ONE important tip I could share, it would be to place your camera and lens in a waterproof bag getting into and out of your kayak. It’s during this time you’re more apt to slip or lose your balance.

Jim

Bear Sign

 

Even though I’m fortunate to camera trap many bears in Massachusetts, it’s not too often I find bear sign other than scat. Over the last several years I have located a bear babysitting tree and a bear day bed. Slowing down my hiking pace and learning what to look for certainly helps.  I would have never anticipated finding four different kinds of bear sign in a 25-yard-long X 10-yard-wide area. In that small area of 250 sf, there is a downed rotten tree and on two occasions a bear has clawed at it looking for insects, a short stomping trail and two scent marking trees along with hemlock saplings that have been straddled when several of the bears exited the stomping trail. I positioned a camera trap facing the downed tree hoping a bear would come back and search for insects. Two bears have crossed over the tree , Maybe the insects have all been eaten….. Reconyx, GardenPro, Browning trail cameras.

https://youtu.be/EMKDcvClm4Y

Jim

Bears In The Berries

 

Two of my Massachusetts camera trap locations continue strong with consistent bear activity. The first area has lots of wild blueberry bushes that are loaded with berries. No problem finding bear scat filled with blueberries. Another week or so I will hike in and check those cameras. The second location has a bear stomp trail. I noticed it about a month ago and set up a trail camera. Sure thing, a trail camera videoed a bear stomping leaving scent with the bottom of its feet. The TC also videoed the bear scent marking a tree with its back. That is about as good as it gets with locating bear sign, right? NOPE, following the stomp trail a short way gave up a downed rotten tree that a bear had started to rip apart looking for insects. A week later I checked the downed tree and the bear had returned and ripped the tree apart even more looking for insect. (Missed opportunity on my part). Not wanting to miss a third opportunity I relocated one of my TC’s to the rotten downed tree. Hopefully in the next week or so the bear returns and forages some more.

I am starting to think about the upcoming moose rut and hope to capture a nice bull on video. Late August I will start moving cameras. I have already started scouting looking for new areas to set cameras.

Jim

Plenty of Moose

 

It has been a good year camera trapping moose. Hopefully this fall with the rut, bulls find my trail cameras. It has been a wet summer to say the least in Massachusetts. Last night serious thunderstorms and heavy rain blanketed the area, Rivers and streams are swollen to capacity. The weather looks good for this coming week. This will give time for the water to recede.

I did find a tree that was hit by lightning from the storm. When the tree was struck, it sent a six-foot splinter flying about thirty yards away and stuck in the ground standing straight up.

The pond I was at has two beaver lodges in view, both appeared were close to being submerged. My guess is the inside chamber was full of water and that is why the resident beavers were swimming around it.

 

Jim

Bears Still Scent Marking

 

Young male scent marks tree. This camera trap has only been at this location for a week. Several weeks ago, I stumbled upon what looked to be a bear stomp trail in this stand of hemlocks. Previously, the camera trap was set about twenty yards away, catching a bigger bear straddling hemlock sapling, Further investigation showed impressions in the soft substrate. So, I moved the trail camera hoping to video any bear leaving scent with its feet Well, the camera trap did not video and stomping activity but did capture a young male scent marking a big ole’ hemlock in mid-July. The video is on the cover page of my website.

Jim

Moose Calves & Winding Bear

 

It’s been a bittersweet week! The eaglets have fledged, and I no longer need to travel to the swamp. I’m a bit disappointed nest watching has ended. However, it gives me time to move on to other outdoor adventures. This morning I located some decent bear sign that I’ll share with you in the coming weeks.

Last week one of my camera traps videoed a cow moose with twins! This is a first for me,

https://youtu.be/Q81HDGStWl8

 

Ever wonder how a bear stays so elusive. It has a tremendous ability to smell danger long before you see it.

 

See how a bear might react if it heard or winded you? Likely this bear has picked up my scent. About an hour earlier I was changing the SD card in this trail camera, then made a big loop bushwhacking looking for bear sign, before hitting a cart road on the opposite of the swamp from the bear. I would estimate two hundred yards away. Notice when the bear stands up, it pivots left then right, using its nose to try and determine which direction my scent is coming from. Then the bear turns, opens its mouth using its olfactory senses to also try and determine scent direction.  Massachusetts – Bushnell Aggressor

Jim

Eagle Nest

 

My temporary address for the last twelve weeks has been Swamp Side Massachusetts watching an eagle nest. What an experience to say the least!  I spent about 90 hours watching the nest site. Some visits lasted only an hour and others four and five hours. You sit patiently hoping to get a minute of fast action when an adult eagle makes a food drop.

There were a number of outings that were complete boredom, like “watching grass grow”, This activity certainly challenges one’s patience. However, watching and photographing the eaglet’s feeding was exciting. I missed several food drops while setting up and another while dilly dallying with camera settings. I had sat for hours only to miss the opportunity, becoming distracted. I was pretty upset at myself for that. It is a process of learning. That happened only ONCE. Watching the eaglet’s behavior and interaction was an interesting and rewarding experience.

My goals for this project were:

1)      Learn more about eagles & nesting.

2)      Improve camera skills.

3)      Take field notes.

4)      Do I have the patience to see this through?

5)      Put together PowerPoint Presentation to share.

The project goals were check marked completed! Hopefully next year there will be another opportunity.

Camera equipment used:

-          Canon 7D Mark ii

-          400 mm lens

-          1.4 convertor

All photos required heavy cropping

Jim