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)

Wednesday (27-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip Day 7: Birds.

After sunrise at Fort De Soto, we checked out the rich bird life in the park. The White Ibis and Green Heron were right in front of us when shooting the sunrise. On the way out of the park we saw an American White Pelican, and several Osprey. After returning to my parents home in St. Petersburg, I found a Red-bellied Woodpecker in a Carambola tree.

White Ibis at the edge of the water. Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
White Ibis at the edge of the water. Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)


American White Pelican in the water at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
American White Pelican in the water at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)


Red-bellied Woodpecker in a Carambola tree. Backyard Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 1000, 400 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red-bellied Woodpecker in a Carambola tree. Backyard Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 1000, 400 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)

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

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Fort De Soto Park

Osprey and Great Blue Herons kept me busy on Christmas Day at Fort De Soto Park.

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)
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)



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

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Fort De Soto Park

Sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County Florida. Later in the morning a male Osprey protecting its mate and nest.

Sunrise Rising Under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort Desoto County Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-200 mm f/2 VRII lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16. 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise Rising Under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort De Soto County Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-200 mm f/2 VRII lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16. 1/60 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 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 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (23-December-2011) — Florida

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Fort De Soto Park

Sunshine Skyway Bridge at sunrise from Fort De Soto Park. Later in the morning I watched a nesting pair of Osprey.

Low Tide Panorama of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn. Taken from Fort Desoto County Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 1 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Low Tide Panorama of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn. Taken from Fort De Soto County Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 1 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge Panorama at Dawn from Fort Desoto Park. St. Petersburg, Florida. Composite of 3 vertical images taken with an Nikon D3s and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 200, f/11, 0.5 sec). Images processed with DxO, AutoPano Giga, Photoshop CS5, and Topaz Define. (David J Mathre)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge Panorama at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. St. Petersburg, Florida. Composite of 3 vertical images taken with an Nikon D3s and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 200, f/11, 0.5 sec). Images processed with DxO, AutoPano Giga, Photoshop CS5, and Topaz Define. (David J Mathre)