Bird-Nerding in a Kayak

I would have never brought it in my kayak.

When I had my Nikkor 200–500mm lens, I was initially excited about the types of close-up bird shots that I would get when DW and I were out paddling. Up to that point, I was using my Nikon D7200 with a 70–300mm lens, which was much more compact and fit inside a 5-litre dry bag.

With that old Nikkor lens, I got the equivalent of 450mm reach, in terms of a full-frame camera. With the beast lens, as I called it, I could get up to 750mm if I used it with my crop-sensor camera.

However, I never took it with me in the kayak. At more than three kilograms, it was unwieldy: Were I to swing fast while tracking a moving bird, I could see myself capsizing.

That wouldn't be fun: with a strap around my neck, it would be like an anchor, taking me down with it.

Now that I have my Sony α6700 with a 70–350mm lens (105–525mm equivalent), not only do I have better reach than with the D7200 and 70–300mm lens, the camera is smaller and lighter. It looks so small in that dry bag.

On Sunday, DW and I took our kayaks out on the Ottawa River, putting them in at the Blair Road Boat Launch, near the Upper and Lower Duck Islands. Our Paddlefolk joined us for the first time in what seems like ages.

Of course, I set up my kayak with my video camera to make a YouTube video. But I also packed up my camera, on the off chance that I saw anything worth photographing.

There's a channel that cuts through the middle of Upper Duck Island and we entered it, thinking it might come out again on the west end of the island. But almost immediately upon entering the channel, we noticed how quiet it was, being free of motor boats.

We could also hear myriad birds in this protected area. I saw and heard so many species, though they were hard to spot: when I saw them, they were in flight and moving too fast for me to stop paddling, retrieve my camera, and capture them.

There was a great blue heron that we startled and saw zig-zagging up the channel, seemingly trying to get away from us one crossing at a time. And further up the channel, we saw the unmistakeable white of a great egret.

It was too far away and seemed to have its back turned to us, as we paddled closer. And as the great blue heron approached it, the egret also flew further away.

I had my camera in the opened dry bag, on my lap, ready for capturing birds. If I had a good opportunity to snap a shot, I'd be able to point and shoot quickly.

I lost sight of both the heron and egret as we reached the end of the channel. As it turned out, it didn't offer an exit from the island.

Our friend Brian, who had paddled ahead, waved at me and pointed up toward the top of a dead tree. Sure enough, the egret was perched atop one of the branches.

I paddled a few strokes to give myself momentum but not too much. Just enough to keep me moving closer while I traded my paddle for my camera.

It wasn't the best light, but I took about a dozen shots plus some footage for the upcoming video. By the time DW and Nina caught up to us, the egret was gone.

I think it would be great to return to this spot for a sunrise paddle. I think the bird activity would be even better.

Perhaps we'll return at the end of bug season.

The kayaking video will likely be ready in a week or so. Stay tuned.