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

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 6: Merritt Island.

Flock of White Pelicans Feeding along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec).

Flock of White Pelicans Feeding along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Flock of White Pelicans Feeding along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec). (David J Mathre)

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

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

Osprey with a fish for breakfast — scanning the sky for competition between bites. Images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens.

Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey Finishing a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)
Osprey Finishing a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)

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

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 6: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Images taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens or Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens.

Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey Finishing a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)
Osprey Finishing a Fish for Breakfast. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (08-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 5: St. Petersburg and Merritt Island.

I started the day at Fort De Soto park for sunrise. There is a small beach at the end of the road where you can watch the sun rise under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. I then drove across the state to Merritt Island to spend a couple of days at the National Wildlife Refuge.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunrise from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunrise from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dawn from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 160, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dawn from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 160, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hawk on a Palm Tree in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). FOV = 486 mm. (David J Mathre)
Hawk on a Palm Tree in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). FOV = 486 mm. (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/2.8. 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/2.8. 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (07-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 4: Indoor Nature.

I am glad that Crane flies don’t bite like mosquitoes. I found this one in my room at the historic Vinoy hotel.

Crane Fly in my room. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO400, 105 mm, f22, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Crane Fly in my room. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO400, 105 mm, f22, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)