Upcoming Months

Well I booked a short trip out to Ocean Shores Washington for the "echo" irruption of Snowy Owls that is happening out there this year.  It will be my first experience with a Snowy Owl, and have been told they are a real sight to see.  I have a particular fascination with owls.  Something about the eyes, they portray a certain amount of mystery and curiosity within me I suppose.  Meeting up with a couple friends of mine out there that will share in the experience as well.  Hoping to have a great time with the owls and them. 


Then, I will be going off to the Everglades....first time there as well.  Really looking forward to that trip.  I plan to do some landscape and wildlife photography.  Never thought I'd hear myself say, "I'm going to do landscape photography."  The Everglades is a beautiful place for that and I have a good friend of mine guiding me down there.  We will be camping in the 'glades, the best way to experience them.   Should be a different and exciting experience.  I will be flying in with some shooting time to burn up before we depart for the glades so I am hoping to work on some more Burrowing Owls before we head out extremely early the next morning.  So stay tuned tuned for some upcoming posts....

Be back soon....Stay tuned.

Sorry to have been absent from my blog lately, well since my April Florida trip.  I shall start my blog up here soon with some of my newest adventures.  Rest assured, I have not been absent from photography at all.  With some remarkable experiences least of which the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird nest that I had the oppurtunity to photograph just outside of Columbus Ohio a few months ago. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest, Gahanna Ohio

 The beginning of August I was back down in Florida again.  I got some great shots of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in Ocala Florida.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Ocala Florida

 I also paid a first time visit to Fort de Soto.  Not the best time to visit there becuase as I laid on the sand for my shorebird photography it was like laying on a hot skillet.  None the less, I was able to check the place out and get my barings.  A very cool place indeed! 
As for places I hope/am visiting in the future...well I guess you will just have to stay tuned! 

My Photography Filled Florida Birthday

For my birthday this year my wife decided to send me down to Florida for 3 1/2 days of photography filled fun.  I went down to Florida at the end of April (sorry for the late blogging) and met up with a photography friend of mine that lives down there.  During my stay we photographed many things and racked up some major mileage on his car.  One goal of mine was to photograph the Burrowing Owls.  Something that I tried to do in December of 2011 but had miserable luck at.  I kept three of the photos (never processed them) as motivation to do better the next time around.  Below are some of the Burrowing Owl photos that I photographed during my stay in the sunshine state. 



Burrowing Owl - The big yawn.  So tired from me taking all those photso of him



Burrowing Owl - Taken just after a rain storm passed.  So colors were nice and saturated.

Another place that we visited was Blue Cypress Lake, a first for me.  There we took my buddies kayaks out onto the lake and made our way around.  I took my 300mm with me as I could easily hand hold this lens and stash it easily in the kayak.  I really like the 300mm as a lightweight alternative to BIF lens.  It served me well on this trip and really put it to use for the Osprey and some other static images of other species. Here are a few images of the Ospreys I captured during my visit to Blue Cypress Lake.  

Osprey

Also ran into some cooperative Barred Owls and baby Limpkin that struck a pose for me while in the the kayak.  What a great birthday present from my wife!



Baby Limpkin - Photographed from a kayak



Barred Owl

San Carlos Bay Bunche Beach Preserve

A new location that we visited and a new favorite of mine is San Carlos Bay Bunche Beach Preserve, doing a little research ahead of time and finding the low tide time pays off greatly at this location much like Ding Darling.  When the tide is out the area is loaded with all kinds of shorebirds, which is a personal favorite of mine to photograph.   I had a lot of help regarding this location from two Florida friends of mine, Bob Pelkey and Marina Scarr.  Never would have come to know of this place if it weren't for those two.  Thanks to both of you!  The banded Piping Plover below was reported to the Great Lakes Waterbird Research Program at the University of Minnesota.  During my visit I also photographed another Piping Plover, but the other one had not been banded. 

Endangered Piping Plover

 On our particular visit I was able to see 200+ Black Skimmers which was quite a sight, even more so when they all simultaneously exploded into flight on occasion.  My first visit there was a windy one, and one that found me leaving my waders which I brought with me in my vehicle.  With Gulf temps in the mid 60’s and the wind left me quite chilled but with all the action going on at this location that helped take my mind off the somewhat uncomfortable conditions.  My second visit, I remembered those waders though.  



White Ibis

  I was able to photograph Snowy and Piping Plovers at this location, two shorebirds that I badly wanted to see.  Some of the Snowy Plovers I noticed were banded.  Other notable sightings were Reddish Egrets,  Little Blue Herons, a Bald Eagle, Snowy Egrets. 



Snowy Plover



If you are ever in the Fort Meyers area in Florida, this location is one that is definately worth checking out. 

J.N. "Ding Darling" Wildlife Refuge, Florida

My wife and I just got back from a trip from Southwest Florida for the holidays.  We spend several nights on Sanibel Island visiting some familiar photographic grounds and others not so familiar.  We made several trips to J.N. “Ding Darling” Wildlife Refuge located on Sanibel Island.  I have had good luck there in previous visits to this location and would highly recommend visiting this location if given the opportunity.  You never know what you are going to see around every bend on the road. 

White Pelican coming in for a landing.

 

 

 

You pay a fee and drive your vehicle throughout the 4 mile stretch of roadway through the Refuge.  It is always a good sign when you drive along and you see multiple cars pulled off the roadway and several photogs lining the roadside.  I had good luck with the several visits we made to this location this time around.  I was able to photograph Tricolored Herons, Anhingas, White and Brown Pelicans, Snowy Egrets, Great White Egrets.   Also seeing an occasional Spoonbill which seemed to be less numerous then in our past visit in the summer last year.  

White Pelicans, gulls, and shorebirds preening

Species at this location at times can be far off but more often than not are well within photographic range and are quite tame as they are used to the vehicles and human traffic.  Excellent opportunities for flight shots exist as I had a great experience photographing the various White Pelicans at "Ding Darling"  Other times during the year you can yield great result of Spoonbills in flight. The refuge is closed on Fridays to give the wildlife a break from us humans and vehicle traffic. 

Great Egrets

W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary

Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is a Michigan State University research field station located in Augusta Michigan.  Wintergreen Lake, which is the primary focus for the majority of waterfowl hosts a wide variety of species.  Any given day you are likely to see Trumpeter Swans in fairly large numbers.  The Trumpeter Swan present a unique opportunity for in flight shots. Morning are best for in flight shots as the Trumpeters are often landing into the early morning soft sunlight. 

Trumpeter Swan in flight

If you have never seen a Trumpeter Swan up close this is the place to see them.  I was amazed at the size of them as they are the largest North American bird, a very majestic looking bird.  Feeding of local waterfowl is allowed which also can present unique opportunities for portrait shots of the Trumpeter Swans and some of the Mute Swans as the come right up to the fence on the boardwalk. 

Trumpeter Swan

A smaller pond hosts a rather consist visitor, a male Hooded Merganser.  This pond is very tricky to shoot, as it is mainly and evening light location and the large trees surrounding the pond only provide pockets of light that you have to patiently wait for the resident Merganser to swim into. 

Hooded Merganser

North Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Every fall dozens and dozens of photographers flock from all over the country to North Chagrin Reservation for a chance to photograph Wood Ducks.  Every fall, Wood Ducks fill Sunset Pond and allow photographers to get within arms reach of them, seemingly unafraid of human presence.  The surrounding trees make for beautiful reflections in the water during fall which only enhance the photos taken in this area. 

Wood Duck Hen at North Chagrin Reservation 2011

The beautiful orange, red, and yellow foliage make for the most vibrant reflections in the ponds.  Living in Ohio, I feel very lucky to have such a unique opportunity as I have to photograph Wood Ducks in such a manner that does not require a blind due to their shyness at other locations.

Wood Duck Drake at North Chagrin Reservation 2011

Hen and Drake Wood Duck Pair at North Chagrin Reservation 2011

 

 At times they come in so close that you can not focus your camera on them and you simply take in the moment.  Fall brings the most unique opportunity to photograph Wood Ducks at North Chagrin Reservation. If you love Wood Ducks and fall, North Chagrin Reservation is a must see to any photographer and/or nature lover.