Brandon Holden
03-11-2009, 01:00 PM
Another Internet connection, and time to kill before the afternoon light, has inspired me to post some more about my Florida travels and birds I've seen! (Hopefully could be a reference for others in the future!) I have spent very little time with songbirds, mostly the larger stuff...
Since the last update, I spent a few days around Little Estero/Cape Coral... I think I hit some back luck at Little Estero, with strong winds/blowing sand/ and a lack of "new" subjects (just the very very regular species, missed some common ones some days) Spent a few evenings with the Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral and had an amazing time. Just driving around I found at least 10 active burrows, and settled in a spot with 3 active burrows in the same parking lot. Wonderfull time and lots of photos! Spent a few mornings at Bunche Beach as well, hoping for a White Reddish Egret in high breeding colours (had a white bird at Little Estero, but lacked the colours!) But I didn't get it here. Overall a very good time in this area!
I then moved to Tigertail Beach at Marco Island and had a great time. I'd seen Snowy, Wilson's and Piping plovers at other locations, but I found the photography here was great for these birds. The day I arrived I saw my target bird - White Reddish in high breeding colours, but it was high noon, and the bird left soon thereafter. It took another 1.5 days for the bird to come back, but I got some shots in the end, so I was very happy! I saw some Burrowing Owls around the Island, but didn't stop to take shots. Osprey in this area were very tame as well.
Next I went to the everglades! Where I was very excited to be. Anhingia Trail was "slow" according to the people I talked to, but I had an amazing time. Missed a Purple Gallinule flight shot that seemed to be a sure-thing, which made me sad, but I didn't complain! Saw my first Short-tailed Hawk overhead as well! Went down to Flamingo and saw a number of Swallow-tailed Kites on the way. I stopped at the roadside to photograph them for the rest of the day, and missed the opportunity of a lifetime with a kite, which caught a frog right in front of me (long story, will tell it here when I get home!)... So there was some very high points, and some low ones as well! (That's the way it goes I guess). The Naturalist in me had a really great time, seeing all sorts of life. 2 Crocodiles at Flamingo were a big highlight as well.
Started heading North and went to Green Cay Nature Centre (and the near by wetlands) and had some more great photography. It was refreshing to get some species I'd yet to get - Glossy Ibis, more Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Sandhill Crane. The crane was an amazing experience, letting me sit beside it (3 ft away) for half an hour while it caught grubs! Something I will remember for a long time.
A few more stops left! Snail kites on an air boat tomorrow hopefully, then maybe another stop at Gatorland, and then maybe Merritt Island NWR!
Thanks a lot for all the help I had here from BPN'ers! It really has made this trip exciting. Yesterday I went over the 15000 photo mark for the trip, and there's still time for lots more! Lots of image posting to do when I get home!
All the best!
Brandon
Since the last update, I spent a few days around Little Estero/Cape Coral... I think I hit some back luck at Little Estero, with strong winds/blowing sand/ and a lack of "new" subjects (just the very very regular species, missed some common ones some days) Spent a few evenings with the Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral and had an amazing time. Just driving around I found at least 10 active burrows, and settled in a spot with 3 active burrows in the same parking lot. Wonderfull time and lots of photos! Spent a few mornings at Bunche Beach as well, hoping for a White Reddish Egret in high breeding colours (had a white bird at Little Estero, but lacked the colours!) But I didn't get it here. Overall a very good time in this area!
I then moved to Tigertail Beach at Marco Island and had a great time. I'd seen Snowy, Wilson's and Piping plovers at other locations, but I found the photography here was great for these birds. The day I arrived I saw my target bird - White Reddish in high breeding colours, but it was high noon, and the bird left soon thereafter. It took another 1.5 days for the bird to come back, but I got some shots in the end, so I was very happy! I saw some Burrowing Owls around the Island, but didn't stop to take shots. Osprey in this area were very tame as well.
Next I went to the everglades! Where I was very excited to be. Anhingia Trail was "slow" according to the people I talked to, but I had an amazing time. Missed a Purple Gallinule flight shot that seemed to be a sure-thing, which made me sad, but I didn't complain! Saw my first Short-tailed Hawk overhead as well! Went down to Flamingo and saw a number of Swallow-tailed Kites on the way. I stopped at the roadside to photograph them for the rest of the day, and missed the opportunity of a lifetime with a kite, which caught a frog right in front of me (long story, will tell it here when I get home!)... So there was some very high points, and some low ones as well! (That's the way it goes I guess). The Naturalist in me had a really great time, seeing all sorts of life. 2 Crocodiles at Flamingo were a big highlight as well.
Started heading North and went to Green Cay Nature Centre (and the near by wetlands) and had some more great photography. It was refreshing to get some species I'd yet to get - Glossy Ibis, more Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Sandhill Crane. The crane was an amazing experience, letting me sit beside it (3 ft away) for half an hour while it caught grubs! Something I will remember for a long time.
A few more stops left! Snail kites on an air boat tomorrow hopefully, then maybe another stop at Gatorland, and then maybe Merritt Island NWR!
Thanks a lot for all the help I had here from BPN'ers! It really has made this trip exciting. Yesterday I went over the 15000 photo mark for the trip, and there's still time for lots more! Lots of image posting to do when I get home!
All the best!
Brandon