outdoor photography

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Wekiva River I just completed my fourth June Challenge.  For those of you who are not familiar, June Challenge is a friendly competition here in Florida.  The gist is this: pick a county in Florida and find as many bird species in that county in Florida during the month of June--they must be seen (heard only doesn't count).  My totals have risen every year: 2012     81 (80/1) Species 2013     96 (95/1) Species 2014     105 (104/1) Species 2015     114 (112/2) Species The main number is the total species followed by the ABA countable and ABA uncountable species in parentheses. Greater Yellowlegs and Black-necked Stilt St. Johns River Short-billed Dowitchers St. Johns River Semipalmated Sandpiper St. Johns River When I began my June Challenge this year, I seriously questioned whether it was going to be possible to beat my 2014 total, but in the beginning of this year I found a g...

Semipalmated Plover Yesterday morning I visited Marl Bed Flats again.  I'm pretty amazed at how good this place has been in May.  It's given me several Seminole County firsts, including a Short-billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and now a Semipalmated Plover. Black-necked Stilts are still here, though in much smaller numbers; now only about 4 remain (out of over 40 in April). I've seen 12 species of shorebirds here over the last week--I'm not sure what it is about this inland location that's attractive to them, but I'm not complaining. Greater Yellowlegs Black-necked Stilt And strangely enough there's also at least one Savannah Sparrow still here.  It's three weeks late in leaving us. As best I can tell it's healthy, so it's really puzzling to me. Maybe it wants to stay for the June Challenge, but I suspect that's too much to hope for. Savannah Sparrow

Greater Yellowlegs This morning I went to Marl Bed Flats with my father and a friend of mine.  We had a pretty great time.  We saw all the usual suspects: Sedge Wrens, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Harrier, Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, and Sora. The biggest highlight for me was seeing a Merlin in the distance--the first I've seen this this fall. Eastern Meadowlark Osprey

Merritt Island NWR This morning I went to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and I had a fantastic time.  I went to Parrish Park (just past the bridge), Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, and Canaveral National Seashore.  I brought my new Canon Powershot S100 camera with me and took the above photo with it.  I'm pretty impressed with the camera so far.  Other highlights were seeing many Belted Kingfishers, a few Reddish Egrets, lots of Yellowlegs, and both Least and Western Sandpipers.  There were many ducks and shorebirds there, but nothing too out of the ordinary.  When I stopped by the restrooms to walk the trails (near where I took the above picture), I saw a Sora and a Clapper Rail.  The Clapper Rail was not acting much like a rail.  It spent a considerable amount of time out in the open--always near cover, but in plain sight.  These are my first sharp photos of a Clapper Rail. Belted Kingfisher Reddish Egret Least Sandpiper...