SWIMMING WITH RED THROATED DIVERS (SMÅLOM)

Red Throated Diver take-off

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/3200, ISO 1400

Once again I've had the pleasure to to travel with MrJanGear Equipment for Photographers and test out the new version of their floating hide, Version II. This time I spent almost 50 hours in ice-cold Icelandic waters during an intensive week at Icelands north western corner. The new version of the floating hide offers improved features like : possibility to lower the camera even lower to the water, light weight and easy operation in use, light weight (5,3 kg) and super compact for travelling and also improved details on the tent cover. The combo works really great and has given me incredible nature experiences beeing "invisible" on Icelandic waters. 

Beeing so light it is however sensitive to waves (camera movement), so I recommend relatively flat water and also primarily walking the bottom compared with swimming. 

MrJanGear Floating hide : https://mrjangear.com 

Thanks to MrJanGear for idea & equipment !! Also thanks to Jan Goddefroy, Minna Lindroth, Markus Varesvuo, Boris Belchev, Rainer Leifried and Philippe Garcia for inspiration & great company !    

This post is only Red Throated Divers (Gavia stellata). Other stuff will follow !

MrJanGear Floating Hide version II : floating device with camera & lens and tent cover.

(the metal pieces in the background is NOT a part of the floating hide)

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Red Throated Diver take-off .... with blue Lupinus in the background

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/2500, ISO 1100

Red Throated Diver take-off

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/3200, ISO 1600

Red Throated Diver take-off

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,6, 1/2000, ISO 2000

Red Throated Diver flight

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,6, 1/2000, ISO 1800

Red Throated Diver touch down

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,6, 1/3200, ISO 3600

Feeding at mid night

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/800, ISO 1400

Red Throated Divers breed in small freshwater ponds and on Iceland they find their food in the sea. All feedings were Small Sandeel (småsil / Ammodytes tobianus). This fish species is extremely important for food-chains in the sea, ... for both fish & birds ... and man compete with them. 

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,6, 1/1000, ISO 900

Bringing Small Sandeel (småsil) for feeding

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,6, 1/3200, ISO 4500

Red Throated Diver chicks

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/6,3, 1/1250, ISO 2500

Red Throated Diver chick

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/6,3, 1/1250, ISO 1000

Wingstrech

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1250, ISO 250

Wingstrech

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/6,3, 1/1600, ISO 500

Resting

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/1250, ISO 1100

Composition with yellow flowers (Marigold / Bekkeblom)

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,0, 1/500, ISO 1600

Composition with yellow flowers (Marigold / Bekkeblom)

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,0, 1/500, ISO 1600

Yawning

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 3200

Calling in early morning mist

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,6, 1/500, ISO 500

Wing flappings

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,60, 1/3200, ISO 2500

Wing flappings

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/5,6, 1/3200, ISO 3200

One of many close ups !

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/1250, ISO 1600

Red Throated Diver & floating hide in action

Nikon D5, 600 mm 4,0, f/4,0, 1/320, ISO 2200

Transportation of floating hide out of the water

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