Category: Nature

Views of nature and the natural world. Plants, animals, and wildlife from around the world.

Three-Years Ago (25-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 6: St. Petersburg.

Osprey in Flight at Fort De Soto Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec).

Osprey in Flight at Fort De Soto Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey in Flight at Fort Desoto Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (24-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 5: St. Petersburg.

Top Gun Protecting His Mate and Nest. Osprey Aerial Battle. Fort De Soto County Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec).

Top Gun Protecting His Mate and Nest. Osprey Aerial Battle. Fort Desoto County Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Top Gun Protecting His Mate and Nest. Osprey Aerial Battle. Fort Desoto County Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (24-December-2012) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey.

Dark-eyed “Slate-colored” Junco. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).

Dark-eyed "Slate-colored" Junco. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dark-eyed “Slate-colored” Junco. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (24-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2007 Florida Road Trip. Day 3: St. Petersburg.

Turkey Vulture sunning on a post at Fort De Soto County Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens and TCE II  2.0 teleconverter (ISO 280, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec).

Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Year Ago (23-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2008 Florida Road Trip. Day 2: St. Petersburg.

Osprey with Fish for Breakfast at Fort De Soto County Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens with TC-E 20 II teleconverter (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec).

Last year I learned that a male Osprey will catch as large a fish that it can and then fly around like this to impress the females.

Osprey with Fish for Breakfast at Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens with TC-E 20 II teleconverter (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with Fish for Breakfast at Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens with TC-E 20 II teleconverter (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)