A Taste of Fall

A recent slide in the category of decent photographs has kept me more or less unmotivated to get out. That and some ongoing personal issues that I can't seem to kick. Well, this morning I forced myself out of the room and onto the trail - both doubtful and optimistic. 

As you can probably tell from this photo, it was successful. The Oneonta-Susquehanna Greenway Trail (aka, my go-to trail) was popping with yellow-rumped warblers. This is a bird that I rarely get good photo opportunities with, despite their seemingly boundless presence in the spring and fall. I got lucky with more than a few birds, as they acted super curiously around me. A small gathering of dogwoods provided them and a few other species with a nice hangout. 

Following the passing of two women and their three dogs, the birds along with myself had moved on. The cold air and bright sun felt great today - the warblers would probably agree. Cold air has been hard to come by this October. This is somewhat depressing for a nature-enthusiast like myself. We rely on the cold, the changing color of the leaves and the birds moving south when they are supposed to, as this opens the door for new things. Right now, behind that door waits winter.

There is some good news, as this week our first push of golden eagles came through at Franklin Mountain Hawk Watch. I tallied three on Thursday; our total now just around a dozen. Red-tailed hawks are beginning to move in numbers, along with sharpies and falcons which should be peaking soon. Two weeks ago I tallied over thirty sharpies and over twenty falcons - American kestrel, merlin, and peregrine - which was delightful! Along with them, our first rough-legged hawk of the season, which is somewhat uncommon for October.   

Changing pace; the breathtaking Oneonta night sky has been shining this week. Clear skies and the the new moon allowed for some great stargazing - something that never disappoints. It is always so humbling to lose your thoughts in the stars. Our galaxy has a way of reminding us just how small we are. It is a cure for fear, anxiety and all other worry. Compare it, and our day to day problems are nothing but hiccups. Everyone comes to a bump in the road at some point; now I think I'm getting to mine. Maybe the stars will help me through it.

I think I'll take this morning's walk and run with it (no pun intended). Nature is the cure for everything, right?

K

Thoughts

Always a true reminder of just how small we are....

I'm really not one to write about myself, but sometimes you just have to put it down somewhere. I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Most of it from the early environmentalists; Thoreau; Muir; Beston. It's really helped me find new perspectives on things I've never thought twice about. I've always had such a deep love for the outdoors, ever since a young age, but I am just finally learning how to put it into words. Now more than ever I feel the need to explore. To get lost. To find some place new. A place away from all the madness that goes on every day in the news, or at school. Away from all the pointless bullshit that somehow finds you no matter how positive of a person you are. I am learning to appreciate every second of time I get to spend outside, and looking twice as hard at all of the things I run into. I am reflecting on all of the incredible sights I have seen over the last few years, and constantly looking forward to more. I know that not a minute is wasted outside, and not a single memory fades once you leave. These places will always be there if you need to clear your mind, and they will always inspire you to dig deeper. They have taught me not to exist, but to thrive as I do it. Most importantly, they have given me something to hold on to. There will never be a day when I am not itching to take a walk into the woods, or a journey up a mountain, or a wade into the water. Where the mountains meet the stars, where the oceans meet the sky, and where all that is wild exists in a place so far removed from humanity, you'll find me.

And I hope some day that it will be me writing one of these books; inspiring another young kid to find that passion somewhere, and chase it. But until then, I'll be chasing mine.

Kyle 

Road Trip Gallery

Hey everyone. 

The first part of my new gallery titled The Midwest is now live on the site! Go check it out! 

You can follow this link to view the gallery - The Midwest

Some stories behind the photos are on the way, as well as some more images I've yet to process. What an incredible time it was out there. I hope the photos live up to the hype! 

Kyle 

Yellowstone & Friends - Teaser

So if we've talked the last few weeks, it means you're probably aware of where exactly I've been all this time! My friend Marc and I took a road trip across the country to explore a few of our National Parks...

...and all I can really say is, wow. These places just have the ability to take your breath away and hold onto it until you depart, leaving only pictures and memories to remind yourself just how incredible they were. So naturally, I still have a couple thousand photos to work through, but they're coming, and I can't wait to share! 

I am back up at school now, with a ton of exciting things on the way. First off, our local hawk watch kicked off this week, and I begin counting on Thursday. Secondly, a trip to Massachusetts for some whale watching may or may not be right around the corner... If you'd like to relive the events from last years' trip, you can read about it here.

As always, thanks to all of you who follow along year after year. It means so much to have such a supportive following. I look forward to some more great times this year! Stay tuned.

Cheers.

Kyle

Welcome to the World

Welcome to the world little one. There's a lot to see out there. 

Adirondack Loons

This weekend Matt Zeitler and I took a trip up to Saranac Lake in hopes of photographing some loons...

Common loon flapping its wings 6/24/17.

Well, we did just that. What a truly incredible time it was. I've never had much experience with loons before the trip, so it is safe to say I was blown away! 

The actual location where we set out was just outside the township of Saranac Lake. Here, a system of different ponds (although they were actually giant!) come together, forming a massive area of water, and a great spot for loons. We photographed by kayak, giving us incredible access to both the birds and their habitat, as well as a nice low angle to the water. It can be quite difficult at times to both focus the camera on the birds and keep the boat in the right position, but when it works out the results can be spectacular. 

Despite some strong winds and rough water Friday afternoon, we decided to brave the conditions and paddle out. The first hour or so was relatively quiet, with a loon or two showing their faces only from a distance. Common loons hunt underwater, as they are great swimmers. They can hold their breath for minutes at a time, sometimes making it difficult to keep up with them. One second there's a loon in front of your face, and the next it's gone. There was a lot of this going on ... 

We finally caught a break when four loons decided to fly in and set up in the middle of the pond. They were super accepting of our presence this time around, providing for some nice photo opportunities. 

I love the water droplets on this bird's head 6/24/17.

At this point the wind had really set in. There were waves all over the water, making it incredibly difficult to stay in one position. Matt had much better luck keeping his cool, as he's seemingly had a few more years experience in the kayak than myself! As I battled the omnipotent elements of mother nature, Matt was repeatedly clicking away award-winning photos... Go check out Matt's blog: it's called Orange Birding. 

The next morning was much more rewarding as far as photographs and calm water go... 

Common loon at first light 6/25/17.

We paddled out before the sun broke the horizon, and found a super cooperative loon almost immediately. We spent almost an hour with this bird alone!

Common loon portrait. This bird and I came together as it swam directly towards me and I silently floated towards it 6/25/17.

It was tough trying to capture the surroundings and the birds in the same frame. Between the rocking of the kayak and the difficulty of holding the camera up and down, only a few of these shots are sharp 6/25/17.

Nearby, we spent a couple minutes photographing its nest, which its apparent mate was sitting on. Unfortunately we did not have any loon chicks on this trip; we were a bit early. Though, it was definitely a treat to have a loon on the nest - something I've always wished to see! 

Common loon on the nest. Matt spotted the nest as we paddled by 6/25/17.

... we didn't have loon chicks, but we did have chicks. Any guesses? 

*excitement builds* 

Common merganser chicks looking for their mother, as she dove underwater 6/25/17.

Common merganser chicks!!! 

What an awesome encounter this was. As we paddled out early in the morning, we ran into this mother and her 8 (!!!) young as they swam around. The light was still poor at that point, but luckily later in the morning on our way in shore we would see them again in the sunlight! Common mergansers have never really been on my list of favorites, but I have to say, seeing these gorgeous chicks up close was truly special. I'm glad I could capture it! 

8 common merganser chicks on their mother's back!! 6/25/17.

Before leaving town, Matt and I stopped by a few local trails in hopes of some other species. The targets were boreal chickadee, gray jay and black-backed woodpecker. We had brief looks at a young gray jay and heard two black-backed woodpeckers, but struck out on the chickadee. We did however get a nice look at a male Nashville warbler which was nesting nearby. This was a first for me. 

While kayaking, we put together a short, but nice list of species. Of note were a few cerulean warblers, northern parula, blackburnian warblers, black-throated green warblers, belted kingfisher and a pair of bald eagles.

This bird worked its way from the tree tops to this shrub only a couple feet off of the water. Blackburnian warbler shot from the kayak 6/25/17.

I like this as a farewell shot... Contrasted common merganser and chicks 6/25/17.

There are so many wonderful aspects about upstate New York, and I'm learning to appreciate them more and more the older I get. The vast mountains and lakes, the local food and people, the fresh air... everything about these places is just so refreshing and rewarding. The trip to get there may be long, but the good times last longer. I can't wait to be back!