Tag: Bird

Saturday (27-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2008 Road Trip Day 6: Birds and Reptiles at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

This was the first time that I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is right next to (and is part of the John F. Kennedy Space Center). The wildlife viewing road can be closed during launches. Black Point Wildlife Drive is a target rich environment for viewing Florida wildlife. I have included a few images of birds (White Ibis, White Egret, Anhanga) and alligators. There was also a viewing station with telescopes set up to see a pair of American Bald Eagles building a nest.

White Ibis Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
White Ibis Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).  White Egret Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).


Friday (26-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2008 Road Trip Day 5: Pair of Great Blue Heron Dancing.

Back again at Fort De Soto Park. This is a great birding location. I saw these two Great Blue Herons dancing just off a small mangrove island. Another example where the high-resolution of the D3x camera proved useful for wildlife images. The camera is not just for studio applications.

Great Blue Heron Dancing in the Morning Sun. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 lens with 1.4 II TC (ISO 200, 420 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron Dancing in the Morning Sun. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 lens with 1.4 II TC (ISO 200, 420 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Saturday (04-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Yosemite National Park.

Red Headed Woodpecker. As I drove through Yosemite Valley on the way to Curry Village to join the Nikonians group for ANPAT 8, I noticed this Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker) on a dead tree. I stopped and realized that it was loading acorns into the tree for winter. I didn’t know that these woodpeckers also lived in California.

Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker). Loading acorns in a dead tree for winter in Yosemite Valley. (David J Mathre)
Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker). Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (27-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2007 Florida Road Trip. Day 6: Birds at Fort De Soto Park.

It is always fun going to Fort De Soto Park. It is located on the southern end of Pinellas county separating Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The park is known for its beaches and is a great location to take bird pictures. The three images for this day include a Great Blue Heron, a White Egret having a cricket for breakfast, and an Osprey building a nest under a full moon.

Great Blue Heron. Image taken with an Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 120 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron. Image taken with an Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 120 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec).
White Egret having a Cricket for Breakfast. Image taken with an Nikon D300 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with TC-20 II (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/11, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
White Egret having a Cricket for Breakfast. Image taken with an Nikon D300 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with TC-20 II (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/11, 1/400 sec).
Osprey Landing on Nest under a Nearly Full Moon. Image taken with an Nikon D300 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with TC-17 II (ISO 200, 340 mm, f/11, 1/340 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey Landing on Nest under a Nearly Full Moon. Image taken with an Nikon D300 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with TC-17 II (ISO 200, 340 mm, f/11, 1/340 sec). (David J Mathre)