Point Pelee Vesper Sparrow

The day before my Sony photo walks began (May 4, 2025), while scouting the tip of Point Pelee National Park, I bumped into old friends John Reaume and Scott Fairbairn. We were making our way towards the tip tram stop when we noticed a cluster of photographers lying prone on the wet gravel parking lot. Naturally, we went to investigate what had captured their attention.

Migration at Point Pelee always promises exciting avian encounters, but this year delivered a particularly special treat: a Vesper Sparrow. Commonly seen by avid birders at Point Pelee, it was a rare opportunity to photograph one out in the open; they are usually found in open grassy areas, making it difficult to get a clear, unobstructed view through the lens.

Capturing this image required a bit of strategic maneuvering. This Vesper Sparrow preferred to stay in front of the cement parking curbs placed to define the edge of the parking spots. It would flit and run between these concrete dividers, almost as if following an invisible pathway, never stopping in front of a decent natural-looking background.

To get the low angle I desired and isolate the bird against the greenery, I carefully positioned myself, holding my camera just off the ground by the lens foot of my new Sony 400-800mm zoom rotated to the top, the articulating rear LCD of my Sony a9 III proved invaluable, allowing me to comfortably compose the shot without lying prone on the wet gravel, unlike some other photographers we had encountered.

It's crucial to remember that while the desire to photograph these beautiful migrants is strong, our priority must always be their well-being. Finding and photographing them ethically during this critical period is paramount, ensuring we observe without causing any disturbance to their vital journey. This rare sighting is a gentle reminder of the delicate beauty that passes through places like Point Pelee and the importance of responsible nature photography.

Vesper Sparrow Running (Pooecetes gramineus, Bruant vespéral, Chingolo coliblanco, VESP). From my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop on May 8, 2025, at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens @800mm ISO 20,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear Mother and Yearling on the run

Seeing a bear explode from a nap to 56km/h (35MPH) is impressive! Even more so as they head directly towards you! My Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska group saw this several times during my workshop in the sacred Halo Bay on the Katmai Coast in Alaska.

Not to worry, although they look like they are about to run us over (especially while looking through a zoom lens @347mm), this intelligent mother is running behind us to use us as a shield from the boar who turned away when he saw us.

Few sights are as terrifying for a mother brown bear in Alaska as a big male brown bear. Adult male bears (boars) are known to kill cubs —and sometimes the mother that defends them. A new study suggests that intelligent mama bears have found a surprising way to protect their young. To shield her cubs from male attacks, mom has to raise them near an adult bear's No. 1 enemy: humans.

Join me in Alaska for the Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska for eight days of brown bear photography! Learn more HERE.

Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear Mother and Yearling on the run (Coastal brown bear, Grizzly bear, Ursus arctos, ours brun) from my June Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony 200-600mm Lens (@347mm) ISO 3,200, f/6.3 @ 1/3,200s Manual exposure. Full frame image.