One-Year Ago (11-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 11: Big Cypress National Preserve.

Kingfisher at the Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. I had a hard time getting a picture of this guy. Every time I got close, he would fly off. Finally, I just waited for him to come back to a favorite perch. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1000, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec).

Kingfisher at the Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. I had a hard time getting a picture of this guy. Every time I got close, he would fly off. Finally, I just waited for him to come back to a favorite perch. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1000, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Kingfisher at the Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1000, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (07-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: St. Petersburg.

Anhinga in the Rain. Brooker Creek Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 6400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec)

Anhinga in the Rain. Brooker Creek Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 6400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Anhinga in the Rain. Brooker Creek Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 6400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (05-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 5: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Snowy Egret on a Branch. Along Biolab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec).

Snowy Egret on a Branch. Along Biolab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Snowy Egret on a Branch. Along Biolab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Ringed-Billed Gull calling out like a wolf for its friends to join in harassing a Great Egret with a fish too big to swallow. Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). I came back to the same spot several hours later, and the Great Egret was still trying to swallow the fish. It finally got it part way down its neck, but then the Great Egret didn’t look like it could fly.

Ringed-Billed Gull Calling out like a Wolf for its Friends to Join in Harassing a Great Egret with a Fish too big to Swallow. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). I came back to the same spot several hours later, and the Great Egret was still trying to swallow the fish. It finally got it part way down its neck, but then didn't look like it could fly. (David J Mathre)
Ringed-Billed Gull Calling out like a Wolf for its Friends to Join in Harassing a Great Egret with a Fish too big to Swallow.  (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (09-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island.

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Double-crested Cormorants on Posts at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The front bird is showing its displeasure of having its portrait taken. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec).

Three Double-crested Comorants on Posts at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Three Double-crested Comorants on Posts at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)