Shark Valley

Limpkin, I knew one was around, because of the number of empty snails shells on the ground

When I visit the Everglades during the winter season, I love going to Shark Valley.  The reasons are the number of birds that are present, and the variety of species that you can see.  Shark Valley is west of the main entrance to the Everglades and is located on the Tamiami Trail.  We left in a convoy at oh dark hundred so we could arrive at sunrise to Shark Valley.  We would need to park elsewhere, rather than in the parking lot at the visitor center because the gate does not open until 8:30 AM.  After parking and gathering our gear, we hiked into the park.  Looking around, I was very surprised at the lack of birds that I could see.  Not that there were any birds, but the number of birds present were very sparse and there was not the normal variety of waders present. The reason is the same as in the main park, the high water levels.  the water level give many more location for the animals to find food.  There were enough birds present to give us a chance to get a variety of different pictures and poses and the number of shots that I took were a lot less than what I have taken in the past.

Tricolored Heron

Anhinga

Tricolored Heron

Common Gallinule formerly known as Common Moorhen

Little Blue Heron

Common Gallinule

Purple Gallinule

White Ibis

What also was surprising was the lack of alligators.  Normally, there are alligators lying on the grass next to the path sunning themselves.  But, today I only saw one alligator in the water.

American Alligator

Still a day out photographing is a day better than at work.

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Gatorland, Revisited

Woodstock in flight

About the only thing I can say about being sick with bronchitis for a week is that it is allowing me to re-keyword many of my earlier photographs, which lost their keywords when I switched from my original desktop to a new desktop.  However, what I have discovered was a number of photographs that I did not process.  Here are a few photographs from a Gatorland workshop that I did with Robert Amoruso of Wildscape Images.  It was an intense two days of photography, starting at 7 AM and going through to 7 PM, with a break for lunch and a lecture in the midday.

All the pictures were taken with a Nikon D300s, Nikon 200-400 mm F4 lens on a tripod.  I post processed the pictures first in Lightroom, then edited in Photoshop 1st utilizing the clone stamp and contents aware to remove blemishes and distractions, then I created a second layer and converting it into a smart object, and utilized my two favorite Topaz plug-ins; Clarity and Detail.  When I was finished I re-transferred the picture back into Lightroom.

Snowy Egret in breeding plumage

Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage

Great Egret fishing. In this picture the wings are blurred and I like it that way because it gives the sense of action

American alligator love

Great Egret in breeding plumage, back lit

Male Great Egret presenting a step to a female Great Egret

Limpkin on a branch calling

Flight Photography and More in Florida

I have been reviewing my older photographs that I had taken and editing them.  The last batch I worked on were taken in Kissimmee, Florida.  I spent the afternoon with Jim Nieger on his pontoon boat.  Learning how to do hand-held bird photography with a long lens at that time I was utilizing a Nikon 200-400 mm f/4 lens.  Jim has perfected this technique and teaches it in his flight school.http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/FSP%20Current%20Workshops.htm
Here is a series of photographs that I took of birds that were in flight and or were perched.

Osprey with Fish

Osprey with Fish

Great Egret in Breeding Plumage

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing



Great Egret in flight



Common Moorhen "admiring itself"



Sandhill Crane Mother d chick with Father standing guard



Barred Owl

Limpkin taking off

Osprey landing

Pileated Woodpecker

Snail Kite

White Pelican

So if you get down to the Orlando Area and want to learn flight photography contact Jim through his web site and up an excellent learning experience