outdoor photography

Northern Harrier This morning I got up early and went to Marl Bed Flats, hoping to see some new shorebirds. I had a great time.  I was hoping for a Pectoral Sandpiper, but instead I found my first of the year Solitary Sandpiper.  But my best photos were of a Northern Harrier that flew by pretty close to me and a Lesser Yellowlegs. Lesser Yellowlegs The biggest surprise was finding over 40 Black-necked Stilts, including some that were paired off. I'm very hopeful that some will stick around to breed here. Black-necked Stilts There were also many Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows here, and one Northern Rough-winged Swallow. As I'm sure you know (or can imagine), it's very hard to get nice sharp photos of swallows in flight.  The bottom photo, though, shows the swallow about to capture a bug of some sort. I would have liked to have it a little sharper with a clear view of its eye, and I'd love to have whatever but that is in focus, but I'm still happy with t...

Ash-throated Flycatcher Yesterday I made it out to Viera Wetlands for a little bit during the afternoon. I much prefer to go in the morning, but even though family commitments kept me home in the morning, afternoon birding proved to be all that I'd hoped.  My biggest goal was to see an Ash-throated Flycatcher that's been seen nearby in the Moccasin Island tract of the River Lakes Conservation Area (just down the street from the wetlands). I went there first, and about 15 minutes after arriving it showed itself.  I wasn't able to get presentable photos, so after it disappeared, I went to the "click" ponds, but I returned a little later, and this time it showed itself a little better, and I had some very good looks at this wonderful flycatcher. The short drive from the click ponds to the flycatcher was also productive.  Here are some photos from along the drive. Belted Kingfisher Northern Harrier Loggerhead Shrike American Kestrel The click pon...

Marl Bed Flats I took my point and shoot with me to Marl Bed Flats this morning, but the lighting was pretty poor until I began to head back to my car.  The above photo was from the trail back to the parking lot.  It was a little contrasty, but since Canon's S100 lets you shoot RAW images, I was able to get something out of the scene.  The S100 also has an HDR mode, but it only produces JPEG images.  I plan on testing that out more in the future.  I've tried it a few times but haven't reached any conclusions; so far I think I'll be better served taking three RAW images and doing my HDR work on the computer. Cooper's Hawk The wildlife at Marl Bed Flats was pretty fun.  I found a Northern Harrier far off in the distance while out on the flats and heard a Sora, but things were most interesting right at the parking lot when I returned to my car.  There was a lot of activity--Tufted Titmice, Carolina Wrens and Northern Cardinals were all callin...

Northern Harrier Well, yesterday went a little better than predicted--the world didn't end, and I had a great time at the Zellwood/Mt. Dora Christmas Bird Count.  I was in the area around Lake Apopka--particularly to the north and east of it.  It was a cold (by Florida standards) and blustery day, but it was a great day for raptors.  We began the morning with a couple Barn Owls, and as morning broke, we also had Osprey, Bald Eagles, dozens of Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawks, many Red-shouldered Hawks, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, several American Kestrels, and one Merlin.  As the sun was setting, we found a couple more Barn Owls and at least one Short-eared Owl.  But the biggest highlight, though, was a Krider's sub-species of a Red-tailed Hawk. Red-tailed Hawk "Krider's" Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Sharp-shinned Hawk Barn Owl Ducks and water birds were also there.  We had 18 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and several Gadwall, Malla...

Northern Harrier St. Marks NWR These wonderful raptors can be somewhat easily identified by their long tail, white rump and their tendency to fly relatively low in the air as they hunt for food. The first three photos were found at St. Marks NWR on the gulf coast, while the latter two were found at Viera Wetlands. Northern Harrier St. Marks NWR Northern Harrier St. Marks NWR Northern Harrier Viera Wetlands Northern Harrier Viera Wetlands

Willet This morning I went to Merritt Island and had a wonderful morning.  I started off at the Max Brewer Causeway, where it was fun to see a Willet capture a little crab.  There were a couple Red-breasted Mergansers there too, as well as Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls. Red-breasted Merganser From there I went to East Gator Creek, where there was a lot of activity.  I found a Reddish Egret with an injured leg; when he flew one leg dangled down, and he didn't put weight on it when he was feeding.  A couple Killdeer were um, well, the pictures say it all.  Several Black-Necked Stilts were out as well.  A Northern Harrier was out but stayed pretty far away from me. Reddish Egret with Injured Leg Black-necked Stilt Northern Harrier Killdeer Not the most graceful From there I went to Blackpoint Dr.  As I was getting near the entrance, I saw seven Black-necked Stilt in the water to my left, so I stopped to photogra...