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)

Two-Years Ago (12-December-2012) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey.

Turkey Vulture waiting to warm in the morning sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). The population of Turkey Vultures has significantly increased after the state stopped removing road killed deer from the roadways.

Turkey Vulture in a Tree Waiting to Warm in the Morning Sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a Tree Waiting to Warm in the Morning Sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (09-December-2007) — New Jersey

Backyard Late Fall Nature in New Jersey.

“Little Brown Job” Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with DxO and Capture One 6.

White-throated Sparrow. New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
White-throated Sparrow. New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (25-November-2014) — Florida

Florida Road Trip 2014: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

I only had a few hours through drive Black Point Wildlife drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge before being hit by really heavy rain. There were not as many birds as I have seen before. I did see the top of the head and eyes of one alligator.

White Ibis, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
White Ibis, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)n