outdoor photography

Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlews have to be one of the most fascinating birds around.  I mean, just look at these guys--the large size (for a shorebird), the enormously long bill, and the curve of it.  It's shaped just right to get down  into sand and mud to grab burrowing shrimp and crabs. Watching them hunt for food is pretty great as well.  The plunge their bills into where their food has burrowed and twist their necks all around to get at their prey. Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew

Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlews are crazy awesome birds.  It's pretty amazing to see them at work.  They can get those bills down pretty far into the sand in search of crabs and other food.  I found this one at Fort De Soto yesterday.  It was actively probing the sand, and I saw it catch at least two crabs.  If I found nothing else in the park than this, it would have been a good day. Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew Crop Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlew

Black-legged Kittiwake I had plans to find a Seaside Sparrow this morning, but those were foiled by the weather.  The morning was foggy, rainy, and windy where I was going to look.  So I had a last minute change of plans.  I drove down to the Skyway Fishing Pier and found the Black-legged Kittiwake that has been seen there--a lifer for me. Black-legged Kittiwake Then I went to Fort De Soto, which is only about 25 minutes away.  I love this place.  On the way I saw a Nanday Parakeet, and once in the park, it was fun to see a mixed flock of gulls and shorebirds, and also this Red-breasted Merganser. Also seen here were Royal, Forster's and Sandwich Terns, a couple American Oystercatchers, and many Willets and Marbled Godwits. Red-breasted Merganser Marbled Godwit Willet Forster's Tern American Oystercatcher Then I found a Long-billed Curlew actively feeding on crabs. I think I remember reading that one was seen here, but I'd forgotten...

Long-billed Curlew It's always fun when you get two lifers in two days. Yesterday a Lincoln's Sparrow  and this morning a Long-billed Curlew.  I drove down to the Joe Overstreet Landing and had a great time there.  The Curlew was very cooperative and easily found.  It was hanging out with numerous Wilson's Snipe. Then I found a Crested Caracara perched on a fence post, and it took off when I was focused on it, so I had sharp photos.  Eastern Meadowlarks were very vocal on the drive into the landing, and I love hearing their calls. Occasionally one would pose on the fence for me.  And on a sad but fascinating note, I found a couple Turkey Vultures that were working on a Raccoon carcass by the road. Long-billed Curlew Wilson's Snipe Crested Caracara Crested Caracara Eastern Meadowlark Eastern Meadowlark (I normally don't photograph birds with with lighting like this, but this one had such an iconic pose, I had to try it) Tur...