outdoor photography

Saltmarsh Sparorw This past Saturday I decided to visit Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. I haven't been here in forever. I've spent most of my time in Orange and Seminole Counties, so it was very nice to return to MINWR. I was hoping to add some birds to my year list and collect some better photographs of birds that are around here this time of year. Shiloh Marsh I began at sunrise at Shiloh Marsh, hoping for Clapper Rails and Sharp-tailed Sparrows; they're very common here this time of year, and you're pretty sure to see them if you get out on the marsh as the sun is rising.  I saw all three species, but I was only able to photograph Saltmarsh Sparrows; I only saw one Nelson's Sparrow, and it was being too uncooperative. Saltmarsh Sparrow Saltmarsh Sparorw Saltmarsh Sparrow I couldn't believe how many Saltmarsh Sparrows there were, though.  My conservative estimate is 8 (they move under cover so well, it's possible that I saw th...

Tufted Titmouse This morning I met a friend of mine at Mead Gardens.  We a very nice time there, though there weren't many birds to speak of there.  We saw or heard five species of warbler: Ovenbird, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, and a Black and White Warbler.  We also had fun watching a Great Egret preening, a couple Great Blue Herons were in the stream and lake shore.  A Cooper's Hawk also made an appearance by the lake shore, swooping down over a couple White Ibises. Great Egret Since there weren't a lot of birds, we turned our attention to other wildlife.  We saw a couple non-native species, including a Brown Anole and a Red-eared Slider. Brown Anole Red-eared Slider But there were also many Eastern Pondhawk dragonflies there, including this beautiful female. And a Rat Snake fell out a tree near us; I have to say, this is probably the prettiest snake I've ever seen. Eastern Pondhawk Rat Snake

Eastern Kingbird I spent this morning at Merritt Island NWR.  I first went to Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, and that was pretty fun. The biggest highlights were seeing several American Avocets in breeding plumage and my first Eastern Kingbird of the year.  The Eastern Kingbird was right near the restrooms, where I seem to find them every year. American Avocet At one of the stops there was a large mixed flock of wading birds and shorebirds (where I saw the avocets).  Photographically, this was the best part of my morning. At one point, a Peregrine Falcon dove in to attack, I suspect one of the many shorebirds, but pulled out of his dive. I was only able to get a photo after it decided to fly away.  Man, those birds fly fast! Snowy Egret White Ibis Lesser Yellowlegs Roseate Spoonbill Great Egret Peregrine Falcon After Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, I drove down Biolab Road and East/West Gator Creek.  The only significant find...

Yellow-rumped Warbler Canon EOS 7D with Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L (f/5.6 | 1/500sec | ISO 200) This morning I dropped by Mead Gardens again, hoping for some better wildlife than I'd seen earlier this week.  I didn't get what I'd hoped for, but It was still nice to visit the park and come back with some photos.  Yellow-rumped Warbler numbers are increasing in the park (today I found 5), and Wood Ducks are always nice to photograph, especially when they're perched on wood.  It was also fun to see a Marsh Hare standing on its hind legs.  It stayed that way for a while until it turned, noticed me, and took off. Wood Ducks Canon EOS 7D with Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L (f/5.6 | 1/100sec | ISO 1250) Great Egret Canon EOS 7D with Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L (f/5.6 | 1/320sec | ISO 1250) Marsh Hare Canon EOS 7D with Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L (f/5.6 | 1/125sec | ISO 2000)

Great Egret Great Egrets are one of the many white herons/egrets that are commonly found in the U.S.  They are the largest of our white egrets, and they can be distinguished from the others by their yellow bills and black legs.  I seem to find them frequently with food. Great Egret Great Egret Great Egret Great Egret Great Egret Great Egret Great Egret Great Egret Great Egret

Northern Flicker This morning I dropped by Mead Gardens before work. I'd seen an "empid" flycatcher there over the last few days I hadn't been able to photograph.  Others had seen it too, and yesterday several people photographed it, recorded its call, and confirmed it to be a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.  I didn't know that this morning.  All I wanted was to photograph it to help identify it.  Funny how things work, though.  I found the bird, and I took several photos, but all of them were blurry (my camera focused  on the leaves behind the bird).  So I didn't get the photograph, but I did get the ID.  And it's a lifer for me.  Hopefully it will stick around one more morning and let me photograph it tomorrow. Great Egret But this morning wasn't a photographic loss.  A Northern Flicker posed nicely for me, and A Great Egret caught a frog and played with it long enough for me to get a few photos.  Interestingly, this egret an...

Canada Warbler This morning I went to Mead Gardens to participate in the Orange Audubon Society's bird walk.  They put one together every spring and fall during migration times.  I only had about 45 minutes to be with them, but about 5 minutes of my time there made it entirely worth while.  We found a Canada Warbler--a beautiful male.  Most of us had a pretty good look at it, but it was pretty far away, so my photo isn't as great as I would like (the head's a little blurry).  But it's a life bird for me, and it may well be years before I see one again. Great Egret I picked up my son and we went to Central Winds so he could exercise (he's preparing for a 5k race next week).  I walked around the park to see what I could find.  We found nothing extraordinary.  The best find was a Chestnut-sided Warbler.  Other warblers we saw were Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler,...

Yellow-throated Warbler This morning I spent an hour before work at Central Winds Park.  Northern Parula are everywhere, as usual, but a Yellow-throated Warbler posed nicely for me, and for that I'm very grateful.  I also found a Black and White Warbler and a couple American Redstarts. The last two weeks of August have been so nice for migrants (I've found 11 warbler species so far) that I can't wait to see what September will bring. Yellow-throated Warbler Other highlights were a Great Egret perched nicely in a tree and a few early morning Wild Turkeys. Great Egret Early Morning Wild Turkeys