outdoor photography

Northern Parula Central Winds is starting to get interesting. A couple days ago we had a Blue-winged Warbler there, and there's been between 8-10 species seen there each day.  There are lots of Northern Parula here, sometimes more than 20, and there have been a fair number of Redstarts, Yellow Warblers, Yellow-throated Warblers, and Black and White Warblers. Ovenbirds and Prothonotary Warblers have become regulars here in small numbers. Prothonotary Warbler Yellow Warbler Black-and-White Warbler Occasionally, we also have the pleasure of seeing a Northern Waterthrush or a Worm-eating Warbler, though they haven't been as cooperative for photos.  I'm including a couple photos here as simple ID shots. Worm-eating Warbler Northern Waterthrush We've also had one early Chestnut-sided Warbler come through. Hopefully a sign of good things to come.

Ebony Jewelwing It's been forever since I posted on my blog--terribly long.  I had my camera equipment stolen in early March, which took me a bit out of commission, but I have most of it back now, so I'm back in the swing of things, though I haven't done any blog posts at all in April.  Anyway, yesterday my father and I decided to visit Lake Mills Park.  I've only been there a couple times, and I've never had any luck there. However, a friend of mine found a Summer Tanager there a couple days ago, and I need that for my year list, so we gave it one more try. Downy Woodpecker The most obvious thing to check out there is the walk from the parking area to the lake.  This is the only area I'd explored before, and perhaps that's why I haven't been too successful there. There were surprisingly few birds there, though there were lots of Northern Parula in the trees.  It was fun to see a Bald Eagle, a Great Blue Heron and a Great Egret flying over the ...

Painted Bunting One of my favorite migrants, though we get to see these all winter long as well. Lately I've been considering why it is I find birding so continuously fascinating, and even addicting. Of course there's the beauty of the birds, the thrill of finding them (especially rarities), and the challenge of learning to identify them.  I also have great interest in learning about their behavior--why they act the way they do.  It's a fascinating endeavor.  But recently I've become more aware of another reason why I'm fascinated by birding--the rhythms of nature. Bald Eagle Bald Eagles are residents here in Florida, and they breed here, but thin out in the summer time. This one stole a Rock Pigeon from a Cooper's Hawk and flew off with it. I'm growing in my appreciation and understanding of this aspect of birding--I certainly have not arrived.  But year after year, I'm starting to at least appreciate the rhythms of nature in Florida and ...

Northern Parula On Friday I visited Central Winds Park.  Migration is winding down, but Northern Parula are singing throughout the park. Breeding has begun! One singing male posed nicely for photos; I suspect these are some of my best photos of the species. Northern Parula I was also surprised to see a young fledgling flying/hopping from tree branch to tree branch.  It seems to me this is a little early to have fledglings out and and about. This little guy is still without all his flight feathers.  He was able to fly short distances. I watched him for a few minutes but despite lots of begging calls I never saw a parent come to feed him. Northern Parula Unfortunately, though, he was in a very shady area, so I had to shoot at 6400 ISO handheld without a flash--not the most ideal situation with my camera.

Northern Parula This week has been pretty fun for migrants.  A Red-eyed Vireo showed up about 2 weeks early, and there were 3 Louisiana Waterthrushes and 2 Hermit Thrushes, though none posed well for photos. Other more common birds were more cooperative, including many Carolina Wrens, Northern Parula, and Barred Owls. For some reason, this is the first Barred Owl I've seen here.  It was pretty dark, so I had to photograph the owl at 6400 ISO, which I normally avoid like the plague (really, any thing over 1600 I try to avoid).  But there was no blue in the frame, and it was pretty much the only way I could get the shot, so I tried it. I certainly won't be printing these, but I was pretty impressed with how my Canon 7D handled the noise. Carolina Wren Barred Owl Barred Owl

Ovenbird I had a good morning at Central Winds.  I visited there for a little bit in the morning and on the way home. Between my two visits I had 11 warblers: Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush (late arrival), Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler and Prairie Warbler in the morning. I added a Blackburnian and Common Yellowthroat in the evening.  I also found my first Veery of the fall, an Eastern Wood-Pewee and possibly two Acadian Flycatchers (I saw one in the morning and one in a different location in the evening). It's really nice to see thrushes coming back. Northern Parula I figure this Common Yellowthroat thinks she's in heaven.  I saw her grab several spiders in these webs. Common Yellowthroat This Veery just would not behave.  First it was behind a branch so I could only see its head.  Then it moved into clear vi...

Northern Parula I think I'm addicted to this place in the Fall. I was planning to go out to Merritt Island today, but at the lat minute I changed my mind and stayed here.  Several other birders had the same idea. It started out a little slow, but we did manage to get 10 warblers during the morning, including Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black & White, Prothonotary, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow, Yellow-throated, and Prairie Warbler.  The biggest highlight was my first of the year Chestnut-sided Warbler. None of us found the Cerulean Warbler that has been here the past few days.  Photographically the biggest highlight was a Northern Parula--I didn't notice this at the time, but it appears to be checking out a spider web. Northern Parula I began seeing Belted Kingfishers here yesterday.  Two of them were chasing each other and making a lot of racket, which I find enjoyable.  Today I only saw one, though this photo is from yesterday. ...

Northern Parula There were dozens of them this morning.  I estimated about 25 of them at Central Winds Park, and I think that was a low estimate.  I took a little time to try to photograph some of them; they were very active, which can make it a challenge, but one photo came out pretty nicely.  Other warblers this morning: Ovenbird, Worm-eating, Yellow, Yellow-throated, Black & White, American Redstart, and Prairie. Also had a Yellow-throated Vireo.

Northern Parula I drove out to Marl Bed Flats this morning hoping to find shorebirds.  I found none--not even a Killdeer.  I did have a pretty good time though.  I saw a juvenile Purple Gallinule, Coopers Hawk and a Belted Kingfisher. There were also many of the normal blackbirds, grackles and wading birds. Boat-tailed Grackle Green Heron More of these hibiscus-like flowers are blooming here, and they look to me to be Saltmarsh Mallow, though I wasn't in a salt marsh. I wish I'd brought my diffuser for this photo. Saltmarsh Mallow? Dragonflies where also there in abundance. I photographed a beautiful male Four-spotted Pennant. Four-spotted Pennant As I was leaving, I found a butterfly I've never seen before. That didn't surprise me, since I'm pretty much a novice at identifying insects. I took a few photos with my point and shoot camera and then searched my Audubon Butterfly Guide and could not find this butterfly. The best I could find...

Northern Parula This morning my son had a 9am appointment in Sanford, and I had a work obligation in Orlando at 2pm.  Not wanting to risk something going wrong, I decided to stay local and bird my way from Sanford to Orlando. I first went to Spring Hammock Preserve, hoping for a Prothonotary Warbler and Northern Waterthrush.  I succeeded with the latter but not with the former.  The place was also loaded with Northern Parula and Red-eyed Vireos; I heard both frequently all long the trail. On the way back I came across a butterfly that I later identified as a Hackberry Emperor. Hackberry Emperor From there I went to Central Winds park, hoping for a Prothonotary Warbler. No luck there, and in fact, there wasn't much at all to speak of there, but there was a Lesser Scaup by the shore of Lake Jesup.  Most of the rest of the ducks have moved on; I'm not sure why this one has stayed so long. Lesser Scaup From there I drove down to Mead Gardens, which has ...