Stuff Seth Sees

06/14/2026

Henslow’s Sparrow - Slade NWR, ND - Wild

Conservation issues echo across the country in strange ways. Sometimes coming in the sound of a hiccupy “tzit-lic”.

Henslow’s Sparrows traditional range is the remnant grassland of Minnesota south to Missouri, and east towards New York. ND is pretty far out of their established boundaries, but the species has been occurring more and more frequently over the years.

So what does ND have to offer to a little brown grassland specialist sparrow?

Grass.

As the prairies, meadows, and grassland of the sparrows home range are destroyed, converted, and changed to urban sprawl, housing, woody encroachment, or agriculture, Henslow’s Sparrows have a choice.

Either stay in the same place and risk the suffocation of habitat loss, or adapt and move to greener pastures (literally).

The presence of a Henslow’s Sparrow in ND is exciting for us, but it’s a sign of drastic change in their home environments.

For now, I’ll enjoy this little dude on the landscape and his little hiccupy call from the sedges and grasses of the prairie. Surrounded by my favorite prairie songbirds, he’s a welcome addition to the chorus of the landscape. There’s a home for him here for now.

Go get lot.

06/06/2026

To shoot wide or not to shoot wide.

I love Red-Necked Grebes. I love seeing them on the prairie potholes, the northern lakes, and even in mountain wetlands. They’re just a great bird.

Lately, I’ve been shooting more wide angle. Mostly as an excuse to challenge myself, but it’s been a learning curve. I do love how much more of the scene it shows off. I still enjoy my buttery backgrounds coming from a telephoto lens, but it’s good to try new things.

— Posts have been slower lately, and that’s okay. I friggen grinded this spring, basically out every day from February to June. And I loved every minute, but I’m wore out of posting, of editing, and even of shooting.

On top of being wore out, my wife and I just purchased our first house. So my priorities have temporarily shifted, and I’ve been having as much fun with a paintbrush and roller with her as I usually do with the camera.

Our house and backyard does, however, have a lot of potential for backyard birds and even some small micro-habitats, which I’m very excited to build. I’ll turn that backyard into a refuge for wildlife, playground for the dogs, and a paradise for Sammi and me. Stay tuned :)

And go get lost.

05/20/2026

11 down. One to go. (Plus a hybrid for fun)

Grouse have been my photographic muse from when I started photography a touch over 5 years ago. They were the reason I picked up a camera. And in those 5 years, I’ve captured behavior I never could have dreamt of. I’ve been places I never expected and met people that have become great friends.
All in pursuit of grouse.

A lot of folks ask, “Why grouse?”

I often respond with, “Why not?”

Grouse are fantastic mascots of their habitats. They rely on those prime areas of intact grass, young forest, alpine tundra, sagebrush seas, or old growth conifers. They rely on the environment to be at its best.

Grouse are the umbrella species. Protections and focus towards them will protect everything else in their habitat. Rock Ptarmigan habitat is also habitat for Pikas, Ruffed Grouse for a million warblers, Sharptail for Chestnut-Collared Longspurs, Greater Sage-Grouse for Mountain Plover or Pronghorn.

Where you have grouse, you have life.

And I’m a big fan of the life this world has to offer.

Go get lost.

Pictured-
Willow Ptarmigan - AK
Rock Ptarmigan - AK
White-Tailed Ptarmigan - CO
Spruce Grouse - AK
Dusky Grouse - CO
Ruffed Grouse - ND
Sharp-Tailed Grouse - ND
Lesser Prairie-Chicken - KS
Greater Prairie-Chicken - MN
Gunnison Sage-Grouse - CO
Greater Sage Grouse - MT
Greater PC X Sharptail Hybrid - ND

Thank you to everybody who has made these pictures possible. There’s entirely too many to list, but I am grateful for each and every one of you.

The only missing North American grouse?
Sooty Grouse.

Coming to your Instagram feed in 2027 (hopefully)

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

I’ve set a goal of shooting more wide angle wildlife this year. Not only does this challenge my composition and photography skills, but it also pushes my ability to get close to wildlife. For an effective wide angle shot, I need to be within 3yds of the subject, instead of 15 or more away.

It’s a challenge, but it does keep the hobby fresh and forces me to think outside the box. It also provides a unique perspective on the birds

Luckily, some individuals are good subjects.

I wish I could tell you that I had to wear all sorts of camo and wait for hours on the top of a mountain to get this shot, but I didn’t. I sat on my butt on the pavement and just clucked and made chicken sounds. Mr. Willow came right up. These birds are just funny.

Take the easy shots as they come!

Go get lost.

Willow Ptarmigan - Denali NP - Wild

05/13/2026

Rock Ptarmigan and Willow Ptarmigan - Anchorage, AK - Wild

The grind never stops, but I’ll be pumping the breaks a little bit! Today, I photographed the last of the ptarmigan in North America, the Rock Ptarmigan. Two days ago, I photographed Willow Ptarmigan. It’s been a pedal-to-the-metal trip so far, but now I get to slow it down a bit and enjoy the scenery.

I am officially at 11/12 species of grouse in North America.
How friggen cool is that.

Sammi and I will still head into the mountains to look for ptarmigan again, but we’re going to take a few days to rest before hitting another hard climb! Those slopes and snow whipped us flatlanders!

Huge thank you to everybody who has been so generous with advice, locations, and even equipment. This adventure wouldn’t be possible without their help.

More stories to tell and photos to share, but still a few more days to make more memories up here in Alaska.

Go get lost.

05/11/2026

Ptotally worth pthe ptrip.

Willow Ptarmigan - Anchorage, Alaska - Wild

1/2 of the main species targets up here. Looking for Rock Ptarms tomorrow. Then it’s just time to add more photos as it comes!

Wish us luck!

05/05/2026

Paddlefish Camp

It’s not often that you get to camp on the Missouri River in a teepee. It’s also not often that you encounter a fish older than the prairies.

I didn’t get my fish, I still suck at fishing in general, but getting to be a part of it all was special.

Go get lost.