SkyWatch: Florida Dawn

My last morning in Florida I had little time for photography before beginning the long drive north.  Determined to capture a few more images I headed out looking for a worthwhile sunrise shot.  As I drove south watching the sky brighten I was beginning to think that my efforts were all for naught.  That is until I noticed the lone palm tree filtering the rays of the rising sun.

Scenics are seldom shot using long telephoto lenses but in this case I used the 400mm.  The longer focal length allowed me the cut out unwanted items and increase the visual impact of the morning sun.

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Blue Jay & Woodpecker

Larger birds will utilize a feed mixture that contains corn as this Blue Jay demonstrates.  The Jays will collect as many kernels as possible before retreating to a tree where they can peck them into smaller pieces.  This Jay perched just a few feet from the end of my lens as it displayed its beak full of food.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers like the female pictured here also utilize corn.  Unlike the Jays they are contented to gather the kernels and break them up one at a time.

Immature Wood Stork

This evening I sit here in Pennsylvania working on photographs taken recently in Florida.  The cold air outside is filled with gently falling snow.  A hush has fallen across the landscape, a quiet that only exists during a snow fall as the ambient sound is absorbed by the fluffy crystals of falling water.

Such was not the case when these photos were taken for the air was filled with the calls of birds as they began their morning routine of wakening up to a new day.  This immature Wood Stork lit in a nearby tree and was immediately concerned about my presence as it watched every move that I made.

After watching me for a short time the Wood Stork decided to relocate to a place with less human intrusion.  The encounter was short lived with the best image coming as it's great wings lifted it from its perch.

Great Egret

With a curtain like backdrop of Spanish Moss draped branches the contrasting white of a Great Egret's plumage becomes a contrasting focal point.

Wildlife close-up are usually my goal but in this situation I feel that including a significant portion of the environment contributed to the overall appeal of the photograph.

Carolina Wren

After posting "travel" photographs for the past couple of weeks its time to post a local bird. 

The Carolina Wren seldom lingers in a one spot for long and is usually found flitting about on the ground under a canopy of low growing bushes.  When they do appear in the open it is usually at a bird feeder and even there they do not sit still for long.

I always strive to make wildlife photographs which contain only natural elements but even with our naturalized bird feeders these little birds normally elude me by flitting away as I am attempting to aquire focus.  After many missed tries this wren finally stayed put just long enough for one photograph. 

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egrets are frequently see wading along the edges of most any Florida wetlands.  A strong breeze caught the crest of this egret giving it a momentary "bad hair day".

  

Standing stoically a Snowy Egret watches over its watery domain

   

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Conowingo Bald Eagles

During my recent Florida visit I enjoyed viewing the numerous eagles but did not have a good opportunity to photograph them.  With my work observing New Year's day on Monday January third Willard and I headed for Conowingo Dam to check out the Bald Eagle action.

Arriving before daylight we observed that the hydro plant was in operation. As daylight slowly arrived hundreds of gulls could be seen flying in the dimly lit skies.  A few Eagles began arriving as the sun began peeking over the horizon.  A fellow photographer shared that he had been there a few days before when there was about thirty Eagles present.  During our visit we there was never more than five or six eagles in sight at any one time.

Only once did I observe a Eagle pick up a fish and I was just a little late swinging the camera into action to photograph the instant of catch.  A little after 10:00 am the generators shut down and soon the eagles could be seen flying up river away from the area. 

These images were shot with my Canon 30D attached to Willard's 500mm F4 Canon lens which he so graciously loaned me while he busied himself with shoot video.

Crested Caracara

The Crested Caracara is listed as a threatened species in Florida and according to one website I visited only about 400 adults make up the state's population.  This was the best Caracara image I was able to get during my recent trip as two birds swooped overhead and landed in a nearby tree top.

I missed focus on a much closer shot of the bird in flight and once the pair had landed they were mostly obscured by foliage.  Not quite the image I had hoped for but considering the small size of Florida's population I am very pleased just to have sighted these beautiful birds and very pleased to have gotten a decent shot to remember the moment by.

Wood Storks

Wood Storks, while being a United States endangered species is easily located in the area of Florida I recently visited.   Chad and me were able to photograph this flock as they fed in a small roadside wetland.  Here a Great Egret seems to stand guard as the Wood Storks feed.

A closer view of the Storks as they demonstrate their unique feeding style.

The dramatic lighting effect was created by a shaft of early morning sunlight shining through an opening in the surrounding foliage

While hidden under white feathers while on the ground the Stork's black wing tips are very prominent in flight.

Camera Critters: Otter Surprise

During my recent Florida visit Chad and me were busily photographing the incredible bird life at a small roadside wetland when I began noticing occasional ripples of water emanating from under the low bridge.  As time passed and the ripples continued I walked nearer trying unsuccessfully to peer under the bridge and locate the source of the disturbance.  Drawing Chad's attention to the ripples I stated "there is something alive under there"! 

After a few minutes we moved across the road and had just gotten our tripods set up when three Otters swam from beneath the bridge.  The Otter's reaction to us was more one of curiously as the rapidly swam about alternating between diving for food and popping up, looking us over as they chirped and huffed. 

The Otters were in constant rapid movement and I was very much concerned that it would be impossible to get sharp photos with the light levels present.  Although the sun had just came up in the eastern sky only the reflected light from the surrounding trees was lighting the area.

Occasionally an Otter would shake the water off.  In each case I was just a little behind and did not capture the full effect of the spray flying through the air.  In this shot you can see the water appearing to boil as the spray hits the surface.

 A few flying water drops are still visible in this photograph.

After seven minutes of action the Otter experience ended as abruptly as it had began when all three left the pond; scurrying away through the thick undergrowth.  This was my third encounter with Otters in the wild, the second of which I was able to photograph and truly and unforgettable experience.  I am very thankful that I was able to share this rare moment with Chad.

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