Pic of the Day

Willet, Tringa semipalmata: Indian Shores, Florida

     While visiting Indian Shores, Florida I found a dozen Willets busily feeding along the tide line.  They were just beautiful in the warm light of the rising sun and I could not seem to take my eyes off of them.  The Indian Shores beachfront is festooned with hotels, but the light found its way between the towering buildings at certain spots, and when the light struck the birds they became even more alive and active in their foraging.

     Though I have a thousands photos of Willets running across, standing on, flying over, and probing sandy beaches, I could not resist taking more.  Besides, the light was just beautiful, and that’s what photography is really about, light.  The low angle light was warm and direct.  As the Willet moved across the sand the light would catch the bird at just the right angle to bring out incredible detail.  And the Willet itself seemed to love the camera as it provided perfect poses, one after another.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1,000 second @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger (Juvenile):  Indian Shores Beach, Florida

Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger:

Juvenile Black Skimmer runs through the receding tide practicing its skimming techniques.

Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger:
Juvenile Black Skimmer running along the beach practicing its skimming techniques.    

   By the time I arrived at the Indian Shores Beach skimmer colony, many of the skimmer chicks had already fledged and were spending their time on the waters edge.  Although most of the young skimmers were still being fed by their parents, they were using their time practicing skimming techniques.
     I noticed that the immature birds would run along the sandy beach, and along the edge of the water with their heads held low with their lower mandible just above the sand or in the water.  After some practice, I saw a juvenile take flight and try skimming for short distances above the water.  I don't know how long it takes a young bird to learn to skim, but it looks like they are quick studies.

Pic of the Day

Willet, Tringa semipalmata: Indian Shores Beach, Florida

     As mentioned in the last post, while photographing Black Skimmers I found a few Willets feeding along the waters edge.  The early morning light on the birds was perfect and I could not resist shooting as they probed the sand along the tideline.

     During one of the burst of frames I captured a confrontation between two birds.  I shot more than a dozen frames during the conflict.  This was one of my favorite images out of the series.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1600 seconds @ f8

Pic of the Day

Willet, Tringa semipalmata:  Gulf Beach; Indian Shores, Florida

     While I was at the beach in Indian Shores, Florida last week shooting Black Skimmers, Willets were busily feeding along the tide line.  They were just beautiful in the warm light of the rising sun and I could not seem to take my eyes off of them.  The beachfront at Indian Shores is festooned with hotels, but the light found its way between the towering hotels at certain spots, and when the light struck the birds they became even more alive and active in their foraging.

     Though I have a thousands photos of Willets running across, standing on, flying over, and probing sandy beaches, I could not resist taking more.  Besides, the light was just beautiful, and that’s what photography is really about, light.  The low angle light was warm and direct.  As the Willet moved across the sand the light would catch the bird at just the right angle to bring out incredible detail.  And the Willet itself seemed to love the camera as it provided perfect poses, one after another.   I had an incredibly difficult time deciding which image to post as I am so please with so many of the shots.  I will post a few more, but I hope you enjoy this shot for now. 

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1600 second @ f8 

Pic of the Day

Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger:  Indian Shores Beach, Florida

     Black Skimmer doing what it does, skimming along the waters edge looking for breakfast.  The skimmer flies above the water with its lower mandible in the water.  Once the bill comes in contact with an object, hopefully a fish, the bill snaps shut.  This is one of the many birds with nestlings at the Indian Shores Beach skimmer colony.  The shot was made last week during my visit.  

Nikon D800, Nikkor 80-400mm f/4-f5.6 at 400mm, 1/5000 second @ f8