Visiting Florida Keys, tripod question.

We're visiting the Keys in October and while the others are fishing I'll be off birding.
I'd dearly love to take my 500mm but that's out of the question sadly so I'll be taking my 300mm F4L and 400mm F5.6L with a 1.4x Kenko TC thrown in.

I've no idea what the light is going to be like then never having visited Florida before but I expect it will be better than in the UK right now, in fact I think Mordor would be brighter!

I'm wrestling with whether to take a tripod, it would be a Benro Travel Angel so very light but it would also mean packing a gimbal.
Would this be necessary or would hand-held be good enough for the smaller birds?

If anything you could take a monopod or your tripod for wading birds but you shouldn't need it from my experience as the birds get close enough and theres tons of light. A CPL may be handy though. I used mine twice in the two weeks I was there

You'll be able to find lots of light on the shorelines, but once in the trees you'll need some support, at least a heavy duty monopod and a monopod tilting head if possible.
http://www.kirkphoto.c​om/Monopod-Heads.html
http://reallyrightstuf​f.com …spx?code=MH-01-Pro&type=0

Or, if you have one available, something like either of these:

Thanks for the advice. I've got one of those RRS heads and I use it on a Manfrotto Neotec monopod with my 500mm so maybe I'll take those two along for some extra support.

I'd use the 400 and no pod. I shoot my 100-400 all day long handheld with great results. we have big birds here, which means shorter focal lengths are ok.

Birding only??? Key west is known for their spectacular sunsets...

robertwsimpson wrote in post #14703317
I'd use the 400 and no pod. I shoot my 100-400 all day long handheld with great results. we have big birds here, which means shorter focal lengths are ok.

I no longer have a 100-400, didn't like my last one sadly. Maybe I'd be just as well taking just the 300mm and TC which will leave room for a wider lens to capture these wonderful sunsets I've been willfully ignoring

You might find a superwide or a fisheye useful. Marathon key area with fisheye:

My other most used lens in the keys was a 150-500 Sigma OS with monopod and RRS MH:

Doesn't the Benro Travel Angel series also double as a monopod if you detatch the head and one of the legs? I think taking a tripod would be nice. It was useful being able to take family pictures as well without having to hand someone the camera :]

Some excellent shots there, funnily enough we're going to Marathon!
I don't think my Travel Angel does anything like that but I'll check it out.

For those lenses I don't see why you would NEED the tripod down here in the sunny Florida Keys. I use one with my 500mm due to weight, but never put my 400 5.6 on one. I don't know what your expectations are, the birding in the Keys isn't as abundant as other parts of Florida, but if you know where to go you can get some great stuff; just have to work harder to find it. You might want to reconsider not going fishing, since fishing might bring some of your best birding opportunities here in the Keys. Also, jumping fish such as Tarpon and Sailfish can be a blast (and challege) to try and capture in the air. Flats fishing in the backcountry you are bound to see Egrets/Herons/other waders on the shallows, far enough out back you might see an American White Pelican or Roseatte Spoonbill flying about. Offshore the seabirds are just about trained to follow the fishing boats, and while most captains hate them, they are easy opportunity for some great BiF action. Seeing the huge wingspan frigate birds effortlessly flying through the air offshore and is something to see.

On land that time of year you should be able to head out anywhere with some clean skys, sit around long enough and some hawks/osprey's/eagles/​ect should fly by; birds of prey are very active here in the fall/winter. Also along the shallow shorelines at low tide the wading birds and Herons/Egrets should be out working the exposed bottom for a meal. If you can time low tide around sunset/rise you can get some great light too. If you don't like holding onto the camera for long periods of time those land situations I guess the tripod would be nice for rest, but shouldn't be needed for light. I am not a big small bird shooter but we do get some smaller songbirds and cardinals/jays/ect.

Certainly don't forget the wide angle, we have some great landscapes and sunsets here!

Whereabouts in the Keys are you staying, if you don't mind my asking? Upper/Middle/Lower, Key West? For birding I would certainly recommend taking an early morning trip into the Everglades National Park if you are far enough up the Keys to make it there (especially at or near sunrise, but hey, no need to get up early, you are on a vacation), you will see a lot of birds in the park that time of year from freshwater dwellers and gators up north at the Anhinga trail (just a couple miles past the main entrance), to saltwater dwellers down by Flamingo (45min down the road from the entrance), and who knows what you might happen past in between. Also, one or two cold fronts should have come through by then to blow the worst of the bugs away.

Anyway, hope you have a fabulous trip!

*edit*
It would help if I read all of the posts, I see you are staying in Marathon! Should be able to make it up to the Everglades for the day if you leave early. I am a bit north of there, so I don't shoot in Marathon that much, but have gotten a few good birds shots at low tide at Curry Hammock State Park (http://www.floridastat​eparks.org/curryhammoc​k/default.cfm). Bahia Honda State Park is about 30 minutes south of Marathon, and is a great stop with the old railroad bridge (http://www.floridastat​eparks.org/bahiahonda/), you might see birds there, but it is mainly known for its great beach.

Thank you for a very detailed reply.
We are staying in Marathon. I have absolutely no knowledge of Florida as it's our first visit. I now think that I'll just take the 300 F4 with a 1.4x TC, it seems to work very well on my 1DIV.
That will mean I can also take my 24-105, not very wide I hear you say, especially on a 1.3x crop but it's all I've got.
So now I'm thinking maybe I could also take my 5DII to get those wonderful sunsets which would mean a tripod and ball head........life was so much easier with just a film SLR and 50mm lens....only joking of course.

I plan to aquaint myself with as much info as can be gleaned online about suitable locations near Marathon but I'd be grateful if you know of any.

Once again, thanks to all of you very helpful Americans

Have a look at this site for some suggestions on locations, he also has a second visit report on his site.

http://www.billmajoros​.com …lorida/windows/​index.html

I reccomend the Tavernier Wild bird rescue centre for close ups of the Pelicans.

We did the keys & the West coast up to Cape Coral during May & had a great time. I recommend the Everglades & also the "Loop Road" Both of which are an fairly easy drive.

I took my 500mm as I flew with BA. They do not have a weight limit on hand luggage.

footman wrote in post #14714657
I plan to aquaint myself with as much info as can be gleaned online about suitable locations near Marathon but I'd be grateful if you know of any.

Once again, thanks to all of you very helpful Americans

There is a little tidal swamp just North on US-1 outside of Marathon on Grassy Key, it has been very hit and miss for me, but at the right times I have seen dozens of egrets and herons, ibis, and kingfishers there. Other times it has been totally empty. It should be a very short drive for you, so worth checking on:
http://maps.google.com …rc=6&ie=UTF8&z=​17&iwloc=A
(let me know if the link doesn't work right).

Too bad you aren't coming the last week of September, that is the dates of the Florida Keys Wild Bird Festival: http://keysbirdingfest​.org/

As mentioned above, if you want a close up view of some captive (or wild but highly human friendly/fed daily) native birds of the Keys, the wild bird center in Tavernier/S. Key Largo is a good stop. They do not charge for entry, but are a charitably operated organization, so please leave a donation.

Also, if you want a close up of some pelicans or egrets, the fish cleaning tables at most marinas with charter boats tend to have a very well tempered bunch of birds who come every day for a free meal.