Pic of the Day

Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga (female); Anhinga Trail, Everglades NP; Florida

     Shot this about a month ago while shooting in Florida.  While visiting Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park I found that some Anhingas had young that had already fledged and others that were just starting to nest.  This bird was shot near its nest that was very close to the boardwalk.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4; 1/500 second @ f 6.3

Pic of the Day

Immature Purple Gallinule

     Purple Gallinule (immature) – Shark Valley Slough; Everglades National Park, Florida:

Purple Gallinules are one of the most colorful birds in the states.  One of the best places to photograph this menagerie of blues and aquas is Shark Valley Slough on the northern end of Everglades NP. 

This past January I was at Shark Valley looking for purple gallinules.  I was waiting for an adult to come out of the reeds I found this immature eagerly pulling flower bulbs off Everglades Water Lilies.  I captured this bird in mid stride as it swiftly crossed the water using its long toes to distribute its weight on the lily pads.

If you are planning a trip to Shark Valley, the best time of year to visit is from late January to early March.   Shark Valley is also an early morning shoot as the walking path lies on the east side of the slough.  The early morning south Florida light is exquisite, but the park entrance is not open until after sunrise.  I have often found the canal that runs east and west, on the south side of the Tamiami Trail at the entrance of Shark Valley Slough a great location to shoot until park gate opens. 

     By the way, the adult purple gallinule finally did come out of the reeds, and it did allowed me to take a few frames before skulking back into the shadows.    

    

     Top Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/400 second @ f8

Bottom Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/320 second @ f9 

Pic of the Day

      Double-crested Cormorant - Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park:  The Double-crested Cormorant is a bird of worldwide distribution.  In most parts of the world it and other cormorants are called shags.  Cormorants are a controversial species for there is the constant conflict between the birds and fishermen.  Cormorants eat fish, and fishermen believe that the cormorants take too large of the a percentage of fish.  Cormorants do number in the millions worldwide.  There have been incidents in other countries where massive killings have been undertaken to reduce the number of birds where populations have exploded.
      The Double-crested Cormorant is often overlooked by the ardent birder as common and unimportant, just a check mark on a list to say it was seen. But the bird is quite beautiful; its aqua green eyes are more stunning than any emerald, and its stout hooked bill more efficient than any manmade fishing hook. The bird is a superb swimmer, and when in breeding plumage its double crest are easily seen and its feathers a combination of blue, red and green iridescence.
This cormorant and his kin in Everglades National Park do not have to worry about angry fishermen. They live a life of leisure, feeding on exotic fish in the everglades waters. Its only worry is being eaten by introduced exotics such as the Burmese or African Rock Pythons that now number in the hundreds of thousands in the South Florida everglades.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4, Digital Capture ISO 200

Pic of the Day

Turkey Vulture – Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida: Vultures --- perhaps have the worst rap of all birds. Being scavengers they are certainly not the favorite bird of most birdwatchers, but they play an important roll in nature as they scavenge dead carcasses. This Turkey Vulture was photographed at sunrise on Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park, Florida, as it and other vultures waited for the air to warm before taking flight. Vultures use thermal uplifts to fly. The warm updrafts allow the birds to soar with little effort. As I approached the trail the sun had just come over the horizon and silhouetted vultures perched on rock wall at the edge of Taylor Slough. As visitors to the trail walked passed the vultures they began to walk to and fro along the wall to keep a safe distance from the passersby. This shot captured one of the vultures in mid stride as it walk away from on of those visitors.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4, Digital Capture ISO 200

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