A LONG 500-mile day trip birding in west central Minnesota. Join me on this “Armchair birding tour” as I photograph American Avocets at the North Ottawa Impoundment (find a rare Snowy Egret), get super slow-motion video of Chimney Swifts in flight in downtown Osakis, shoot Western Grebes on Lake Osakis, and visit a Great Egret/Black-crowned Night-Heron/Double-crested Cormorant colony at Adam’s Park/Grotto Lake in Fergus Falls.
I also discover that a NASA astronaut was born and raised in tiny Vining, Minnesota (pop. 63), which is also the home of the world’s largest clothespin.
Slow-motion video with the Panasonic GH5 and Sigma 50-500mm lens.
July 4, 2020
Sparky Stensaas
thesparkygroup@gmail.com
4 responses to “500-mile daytrip Birding Minnesota June 12: Egret Rookery, Avocets, Western Grebes: Bird Photography”
Joanne Stensaas
July 4th, 2020 at 18:05
Enjoyed the trip and all the birds and scenery. My friend Jan is from Ferguson Falls. She never told me about the otter connection.
Mark and Debra Thurlo
July 4th, 2020 at 22:48
Wonderful photos! I’ve never seen a rookery and that was quite a spectacle . Thanks Sparky 👍🙂
Jo Ann Stensaas Cobb
July 6th, 2020 at 13:34
Tremendous, beautiful, and great cultural history of the towns that you passed through! Enjoyed learning about Karen Nyberg and seeing the avocets doing “ballet” moves. Thank you!
Jan Hanson
July 6th, 2020 at 22:05
Wonderful!, Sparky. My sisters and I follow your beautiful website and appreciate your talent so much. I grew up in Fergus Falls and visit almost yearly and have taken my family to visit the otter, many times. We learned about the white egrets at our last visit. Your aunt Joanne is my best friend so I’ve known about you since your childhood and know your great parents also. I’ve also been to the Lake Wobegon area and also learned about the astronaut from Vining, when I visited the sculpture park. Thanks!