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)

Five-Years Ago (06-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 3: Foggy Morning in St. Petersburg.

The view from the Vinoy hotel was foggy. At first  could only see a lonely chair on my balcony.


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)

Monday (25-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 5: Urban Garden in St. Petersburg.

This was the first time I have seen a Black & White Warbler. It never stayed in one place very long, so was hard to get an image. Many House Sparrows and an orange butterfly (Gulf Fritillary?). Then some fruit — Bananas still on the tree, a Carambola, Figs, and a green lemon.

Black & White Warbler. 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)
Black & White Warbler. 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)