Brandon Holden
03-01-2009, 04:38 PM
I've made my way down to Florida! Having a great time.
Spent a day at St. Augustine Alligator Farm (apparently just getting started) but had a good time getting Mating Wood Storks, Great Egrets, Green Heron and Yellow-crowned Night Heron etc. A decent number of birds (and more species) arrived in the afternoon, but I had to leave at 5:45! (closing).
Next day was at Gatorland, and had a great time. Mike was very helpfull. I found both the morning and afternoon to be excellent for photography. Snowy/Great Egrets nesting (some GREG with chicks), Wood Storks and Anhingia's on the far shore. Thousands of birds came in at dusk to roost.
Fort DeSoto for 3 days was next. "Red" Reddish Egrets (3 birds, but typically 1 at a time) were very exciting for me! A single White Morph was seen one evening (photos - crazy story, will tell it later) and morning (no photos). Snowy Egrets, Little Blue, Tricoloured Heron, White Ibis all very cooperative and usually present in the Lagoon North of the North Beach. Lots of shorebirds around. A pair of Oystercatchers are around and occasionally mating, Wilson's/Piping Plovers were exciting for me, and usually around (esp. at/near high tide). A single Royal Tern was in breeding plumage (99% aren't), 1 Laughing Gull in high breeding condition (about 50% have the dark hoods). 2 Swallow-tailed Kites allowed for some underside flight photos mid-day on the 27th. This morning I was very happy to photograph an adult Spoonbill in a small pond North of the park, at a golf course.
Will be at Little Estro Lagoon tomorrow morning (and possibly/probably afternoon), and maybe a day or two after! Still thinking about going down to the everglades, then stopping at these locations on my way back up! I will probably also make it to get the Cape Coral Burrowing Owls, but im not sure when!
I was wondering if anyone knew if the Great White Heron still hangs out around Blind Pass? Another question I had is if Ding Darling NWR is worth a visit or not? I've heard a lot of reports saying it just isn't very good anymore!
Also wanted to say thanks for all the help I got earlier in planning this trip! If anyone has any other tips on where to visit, let me know!
Happy Shooting!
Brandon
Spent a day at St. Augustine Alligator Farm (apparently just getting started) but had a good time getting Mating Wood Storks, Great Egrets, Green Heron and Yellow-crowned Night Heron etc. A decent number of birds (and more species) arrived in the afternoon, but I had to leave at 5:45! (closing).
Next day was at Gatorland, and had a great time. Mike was very helpfull. I found both the morning and afternoon to be excellent for photography. Snowy/Great Egrets nesting (some GREG with chicks), Wood Storks and Anhingia's on the far shore. Thousands of birds came in at dusk to roost.
Fort DeSoto for 3 days was next. "Red" Reddish Egrets (3 birds, but typically 1 at a time) were very exciting for me! A single White Morph was seen one evening (photos - crazy story, will tell it later) and morning (no photos). Snowy Egrets, Little Blue, Tricoloured Heron, White Ibis all very cooperative and usually present in the Lagoon North of the North Beach. Lots of shorebirds around. A pair of Oystercatchers are around and occasionally mating, Wilson's/Piping Plovers were exciting for me, and usually around (esp. at/near high tide). A single Royal Tern was in breeding plumage (99% aren't), 1 Laughing Gull in high breeding condition (about 50% have the dark hoods). 2 Swallow-tailed Kites allowed for some underside flight photos mid-day on the 27th. This morning I was very happy to photograph an adult Spoonbill in a small pond North of the park, at a golf course.
Will be at Little Estro Lagoon tomorrow morning (and possibly/probably afternoon), and maybe a day or two after! Still thinking about going down to the everglades, then stopping at these locations on my way back up! I will probably also make it to get the Cape Coral Burrowing Owls, but im not sure when!
I was wondering if anyone knew if the Great White Heron still hangs out around Blind Pass? Another question I had is if Ding Darling NWR is worth a visit or not? I've heard a lot of reports saying it just isn't very good anymore!
Also wanted to say thanks for all the help I got earlier in planning this trip! If anyone has any other tips on where to visit, let me know!
Happy Shooting!
Brandon