Great Egret, Ardea alba

Venice Bird Rookery; Vience, Florida

     It has been many years since I was at the Venice rookery, so on my latest trip through Florida I stopped to check out the activity.  The vegetation on the island is much diminished since the state removed the Brazilian Pepper shrubbery, but the rookery was a happening place.  I shot this image of a Great Egret as it flew to its nest.  I was there in the evening, but I suggest early morning as the light is much better for photography and bird watching in general.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/6400 second @ f6.3, ISO640

Pic of the Day

Before

After

     Least Bittern – Wakodahatchee Wetlands; Palm Beach, Florida:  If I had to make a list of  birds that are the most challenging to photograph, the least bittern would be near the top.  Bitterns are secretive birds and are most often seen in the breeding season when they are busy chasing each other through their weedy habitat.   I have spent hours looking for bitterns; slowly driving along drainage canals and pond edges looking for the slightest movement that might give up this master of disguise.  Their delicately streaked feathers provide the perfect camouflage among their golden marsh reed habitat.  On occasion I do find them; and when I do, I savor the opportunity to shoot.

     Finding bitterns is one thing; finding them in a good location for shooting is another.  I found this least bittern while walking the boardwalks of the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Palm Beach. Florida.  The day was late and the sun was inching toward the horizon.  As the sun dropped this bittern came out of hiding to hunt among the lily pads that sheltered small fry.   I immediately took advantage of the situation and began shooting.  As the bittern slowly tread across the lily pads it would pluck a small fry from the water.  With each stab I shot a burst of frames.  These two images captures the essence of the hunt.  As the bird stalked it would stretch its head forward, slowly turning it left and then right to gauge the distance of the prey.  Then, with lighting speed the bitters thrust forward. Before the eye can realize what has happened, the head springs back to the body with a fish in its beak.  In less than a second the small fry is gone and the routine begins again as I continue to shoot beyond what the light will allow.  I savor each moment with each frame shot and  look forward to the next hunt for the least bittern.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4,  1/320 second @ f7.1, Arca Swiss Ball Head on Gitzo Tripod

Pic of the Day

   Sanderling – Blind Pass; Captiva, Florida:  This is another shot taken with the Frisbee/ball head combination at Blind Pass.  I shot this image a few minutes after shooting the turnstone in the previous post.  I do love the low shooting angle that the Frisbee/ball head combination provides.  The image was shot at a wide aperture of f4, The wide aperture provides a shallow depth of field isolating the Sanderling against other birds in the flock.  Shallow depth of field, or selected focus is an essential composition technique when using long lenses.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500 f4, Digital Capture ISO 200, 1/4000 second @ f4