Cloudy Day in Birder's Paradise

[RbnDave]

Lucky me, I had a free day in Sarasota, Florida Last week. It was a really cloudy day, but I tryed to get some bird photos anyhow. These shots aren't the best, however I figure I'd post anyhow just to raise the spirits of all the snowbound board members :D .

This first one is a tribute to my stalking abilities. How many have ever crept up on a sleeping GBH?
http://www.pbase.com/rbndave/image/39568110.jpg
Actually I didn't really sneak up on this bird. It just decided to take a nap after it got bored of me taking photo after photo of it :confused: . I think I have over 100 photos of this bird. I bracketed the exposure, tryed different WB, and still the clouds prevented me from getting a great shot.

My bird book is lost somewhere since I moved. Can anyone tell me what kind of bird this is?
http://www.pbase.com/rbndave/image/39568069.jpg

Here's another "what kind of bird is that?" photo. Any ideas?
http://www.pbase.com/rbndave/image/39568085.jpg

If only the sun had come out for a few seconds. This guy zoomed right past me; so close I was almost knocked over by his wake turbulance. Too bad the clouds gave me such a slow shutter speed. Lots of USM used here.
http://www.pbase.com/rbndave/image/39568073.jpg

Hope you enjoy.

Also, does anyone on this forum live in Florida? There are so many cool birds down there, it's really amazing. I took this whole series of photos within an hour walk of my hotel. If a person had a car and some time, they could get some super bird shots in Florida.

Dave

[robertwgross]

In the white egrets, the big one with the black feet and yellow bill is the Great Egret. The smaller one with the yellow feet and black bill is the Snowy Egret.

---Bob Gross---

[Scottes]

These shots aren't the best, however I figure I'd post anyhow just to raise the spirits of all the snowbound board members

"Raise the spirits" or "Rub it in" ?
:-)

We're getting 12-18" tomorrow.... And even after 5 days of 40F weather I *still* have 10 inches of snow in my yard....


Very nice shots Dave, but they don't make me happy. :-(

[RbnDave]

Bob,

Thanks for the bird IDs. I come from a family with two biologists. I hope I got my gallery updated before my siblings saw these photos labeled "white_bird.jpg" and "white_bird2.jpg":D :D . I'd never here the end of that.


Scottes,

You caught me. I might have been trying to rub it in a bit. With all the photos of GGOs lately, I had to post some sort of southern retaliation :p .

I feel your pain about the snow. Tomorrow I start another on call period for my flying job. Most likely one of the old timers I work with will see the forcast for the NE, call in sick, and leave me with a fun filled week of delays and de-icing. It's rare for an on call pilot to get a florida overnight in the winter. Most trips I get assigned to have me overnighting in glamorous upstate New York or somewhere in the the Ohio Valley.

[Scottes]

It's rare for an on call pilot to get a florida overnight in the winter.

Yeah, that's not fun.

So... Why aren't you out taking more pictures? :lol:

[IanD]

We're getting 12-18" tomorrow....
Now that ain't good. We're supposed to get a dusting, just enough to make it real hard to tramp through the snow and sneak up on owls. Crap. :( :(

[Reigh Higgins]

Ah!!! To be in Florida. I saw some mallards sitting on the ice floes today.

[sparker1]

Well, guys, I do live in Florida, and have most of my life. (Twelve years in NJ exposed me to the other extreme, so I truly can feel your pain.) Funny thing, egrets, herons, cranes, spoonbills, etc are so common around here, I've rarely been inclined to photograph them. I'll admit that recent postings are so pretty that I am inspired and have taken a few shots. Not sure I have anything worth posting yet.

[PacAce]

Nicely done, especially the egret pictures. :D

Hmmmm. I have more than 35 days of vacation this year. I'm thinking maybe I should head down south to Florida with my cameras and lenses and spend a week or two down there. :)

[Scottes]

Now that ain't good. We're supposed to get a dusting, just enough to make it real hard to tramp through the snow and sneak up on owls. Crap. :( :(

Take one of Can's clean sheets and do snow-camo....

But don't tell her it was my idea...

[RbnDave]

Stan,

You've got to take a long lens out to the coast and bring us back some photos! I suppose herons and and egrets are about as common in Florida as ducks and geese are in the rest of the country, but egrets and herons are so much more intersting because they are preditors. They actually do stuff. I imagine that with a little patience you could get a photo of one catching a fish. Also, Heron's inflight look amazing. I wish I had more sun for my photos. Maybe next time.


PacAce,

Thanks for the compliments. With a few days in Florida you could get some great shots, and a tan.

[Scottes]

Hmmmm.... Florida.... I could drop the wife at Disney and have an awesome time chasing herons...

[sparker1]

I'll do a check of what I have on hand and maybe post a few. However, for anyone seriously interested in a "birding paradise", I'd suggest you consider Ding Darling Refuge on Sanibel Island. You can probably get lots of info about it on the internet.

[CyberDyneSystems]

That second shot is a prize winner!

[RbnDave]

That second shot is a prize winner!

Thanks CDS. I think the back of its head is over exposed, but I am glad you like it. I was working on bracketing this photo when my battery ran out, no good IS :rolleyes: . While changing the battery, the egret launched and did a slow speed fly by. Another missed shot. Next time....