Pic of the Day

     Least Bittern – Wakodahatchee, Florida: Another reclusive species that can be seen and photographed at Wakodahatchee is the Least Bittern. Least Bitterns are commonly seen in April and May along the elevated boardwalk. This bittern was photographed in April during the breeding season when bitterns are most active. At wakodahatchee, bitterns build nest in reed beds and clumps of Alligator weeds. This bittern was climbing through reeds when I first noticed it. When I stopped to set-up the camera and tripod the bittern froze in place, a common defensive practice of bitterns. Perching on a reed stalk, the stripped breast and tawny colors of the bittern helps it blend into the background, which makes it more difficult for a predator (the photographer in this case) to see.
Notice how the eyes of the bittern are facing forward. Forward facing eyes gives the Least Bittern binocular vision and exceptional depth perception which is essential for catching fish and frogs.

Nikon F5, 500mm f4, Gitzo Tripod, Monoball head

Pic of the Day

       Sora – Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida: The Sora is a member of the rail family and lives in marshes from Florida to Canada across North America. My first encounter with Soras was at Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor, Michigan. I was just starting my career in photography and became fascinated with this species when I first saw one weaving its way through the thick cattails. The opportunity did not present itself for a photograph back then, but 27 years later this encounter in the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, near Del-Ray Beach, Florida was the perfect opportunity. A secretive species, the sora is often heard but seldom seen, especially in open areas where it can be seen in full view. Fortunately for me, this Sora slowly emerged from the reeds into an opening at the edge of open water, giving me the opportunity to shoot a roll of film while it fed on duckweed.Nikon F5, 500mm f4, Provia 100

To read more about Wakodahatchee go to http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=977 and read my Great Birding Escape in the Autum 2008 issue of Living Bird Magazine

Pic of the Day

     Northern Cardinal – Gurley, Alabama: The Northern Cardinal is perhaps the most well known bird in North America. It was one of the first birds I learned to identify, and most likely the first bird you learned by name as well. While the cardinal is a common bird, it was a common bird, of which a good photo had eluded me. This Cardinal changed that.
This redbird was photographed from my bedroom window on a cloudy autumn day. The fall leaves provided the perfect modulated background, while the soft light saturated the colors. This opportunity occurred when I was photographing birds at a birdbath. In less than a few seconds the cardinal flew to a branch above the birdbath and briefly perched, giving me the opportunity to shoot two frames before flying off. The scenario was over almost as soon as it happened. After years of chasing cardinals I finally had an image that I was pleased with. Sometimes it is the common, everyday birds that present the greatest challenge.

Nikon F4, Nikkor 500mm f4, Kodachrome 64

Pic of the Day

Burrowing Owl -- Cape Coral, Florida: While looking for owls to photograph on a recent trip to Florida, I found this Burrowing Owl in Cape Coral. While driving through the subdivision I found the owl perched above its burrow on a wooden stake. As I shot photos the owl seems to have found me just as interesting, as I found her.

Nikon D3, Nikkor 500mm f4, Digital Capture ISO 200

Recently Published Work

     In the winter issue of Living Bird magazine is a one page article with photos titled, Great Birding Escapes. The GBE is about Pawnee National Grasslands, and is the fourth GBE I have written. Look for a GBE about Sarett Nature Center located in Benton Harbor, Michigan in the spring issue. To read this and other GBEs, join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, or see Living Bird online, go to (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1085)

Pic of the Day

     Double Crested Cormorant Eating Mayan Cichlid -- Everglades National Park, Florida: While photographing bird on Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park my son came running to me, calling to come and photograph a cormorant that had just caught a fish. I picked up camera and tripod and rushed to the site and began to shot as a Double-Crested Cormorant was beating a Mayan Cichlid against a rock. The purpose of beating the fish against the rock was to break the bones so it would be easier to swallow. After a number of attempts to swallow the fish the cormorant finally got the cichlid down. This image was captured just as the fish was headed down the gullet. What I find most intriguing is the connection between the eyes of both predator and prey, and the drama of life and death in the wild.
On another note, the Mayan Cichlid is an exotic fish in the Everglades. Cichlids, Oscars and other exotics are not native to southern Florida and compete with native fish threatening their survival. Cold weather and predation by native birds help hold these exotic fish in check.

Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f4, Provia 100

Pic of the Day

     Tufted Puffin – Saint Paul Island, Pribilof, Alaska: Discovered in 1788 by Russian navigator, Gavrill Pribilof. The “Pribilof Islands”, Saint Paul and Saint George lay 770 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska. 
Roger Tory Peterson once called them the Galapagos of the North, for they harbor almost half a million fur seals and millions of sea birds. I have traveled to the Pribilofs five times and spent a total of 50 days on Saint Paul Island. It is an incredible place with wonderful photo opportunities. Weather on the islands is unpredictable. I have witnessed heavy overcast, dense fog, 40 mile per-hour wind, rain falling horizontally, and sunshine, all in the same day. Rain gear is essential for both the photographer and camera equipment.
This Tufted Puffin was photographed perched on a rocky projection at Reef Point on the south side of the island. The Tufted Puffins is one of two species of puffins found in the Bering Sea and the only puffin with blonde tuffs of feathers above the eye. Like the Atlantic Puffin the colorful beak is ornamental and looses it bright color after the breeding season.
Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f4, Provia 100

Today's Update

I am on Bayou Deview today continuing my search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. You can follow the search on my ivorybill blog at ibwfound.blogspot.com. I will post more photos on this blog when I get home. Bobby

Pic of the Day

     Black-throated Green Warbler – Point Pelee, Ontario: In spring, neo-tropical migrants flood across North American in waves as they migrate to northern breeding grounds. There are numerous hotspots where birders and bird photographers gather to see and photograph these amazing birds. Once such place is Point Pelee, Ontario, a triangular strip of land that juts south into Lake Erie.
Migrants crossing Lake Erie find Point Pelee a haven of rest. Some arrive exhausted making them easy to approach and photograph. The second and third week of May is perhaps the best time to see warblers, tanagers and grosbeaks in their breeding plumage.
This Black-throated Green Warbler was photographed near the tip, foraging in the brambles along the lakes edge. Using a long lens and extension tubes, I was able to shoot a frame-filling image.

Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f4, 25mm extension tube, Provia 100

Pic of the Day

Common Egret – Venice Bird Rookery, Florida: At the turn of the 20th century the Common Egret, along with other aigrette plumed waders were almost hunted to extinction by plume hunters for the millinery trade. Efforts of the newly formed Audubon Society and its wardens of the day final halted the slaughter. Now scenes like this displaying egret are common during the breeding season across the birds range. The heron rookery in Venice, Florida ; where this image was shot, is one of the best locations in the state to photograph nesting herons, egrets and other wading birds. This egret was photographed during a breeding display to its mate. The display involves a sweeping motion of the body of the bird downward, then forward and upward, -- while at the same time tilting the beak toward the sky and lifting the aigrette plumes on its back perpendicular to the body. These displays can last only a minute or for a quarter of an hour or more. They are never boring and always provide great shooting opportunities. For this image I positioned my point of view to include trees at some distance behind the island as the background. The trees were far enough away to render out-of-focus, and dark enough to expose almost black, thus isolating the egret against an undisturbed background.
Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f4, Provia 100

Pic of the Day

Atlantic Puffin – Machias Seal Island, Maine: Often referred to as avian clowns, Atlantic Puffins have the most colorful beak of any bird in North America. During the breeding season the drab color of the winter beak turns bright. Both male and female sport this multi-colored beak that plays an important roll in breeding rituals.
A colonial nester, puffins congregate on off shore islands and high cliffs along the mainland to breed. They lay a single egg in rock crevices and earthen burrows protecting the egg and young from predators.
Machias Seal Island, where this image was taken is a fifteen acre, treeless island about ten-miles off the coast of Cutler, Maine. The island is claimed by both the United States and Canada. The Canadians have established a wildlife sanctuary on the island and its lighthouse is the only manned lighthouse left in Canada.
Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f-4, Provia 100

Pic of the Day

Barred Owl – Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida: The sentinel of the south, the Barred Owl is perhaps the most common owl found in southern swamps and forest. Its “who – who – who cooks for you” call, heard in the evening twilight is synonymous with southern nights.
I had long sought the opportunity to photograph this iconic bird and got the opportunity in Corkscrew Swamp, an Audubon Society sanctuary east of Naples, Florida. Barred owls are common in the sanctuary and I had seen owls in the swamp for many years, but they were always far from the boardwalk and inaccessible as photo subjects.
On one trip I was fortunate to find a Barred Owl perched on a limb no more than 20 to 25 feet from the boardwalk. It was at the perfect distance from my lens. The owl was patient with me as I hastily set-up my tripod and began to shoot. The owl must have enjoyed the attention, for it perched on the limb for half an hour while I put roll-after-roll of film through the camera.
Nikon F4, 500mm f4 Nikkor, Kodachorme 64

Pic of the Day

     Sandhill Crane – Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico: These sandhill cranes silhouetted against the rising sun are bathed in golden light which can only be seen about five minutes after sunrise and five-minutes before sunset. I call these few minutes, “The Golden Five”, the light I most prefer for shooting. While snow geese on the refuge fly to feeding grounds before sunrise, cranes are late risers and linger until the sun crosses the horizon before taking flight to feed in the surrounding grain fields. As the sun peeked over the eastern mountains, the Phragmites grasses on the far shore glowed as the landscape turned gold with reflected light.

Nikon F5; 300mm f2.8 Nikkor lens, Provia 100 film