Opportunistic Bird Photography
Last week’s focus was on work and catching up with friends in Tampa, so I didn’t have a whole lot of time for bird photography. Rather, the few times I took pictures were opportunistic sessions - the kind where you see a bird while driving and you have to turn around and pull out your camera. That was the case with this first photo.
Belted Kingfisher (female). Females of this species have a chestnut colored band across the breast, easily distinguishing them from their male counterparts. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/8, 1/1600 sec, ISO 800.
I’ve been on the lookout for Hooded Mergansers lately, and I recently spotted one in a small water retention pond on my way to a friend’s house. I couldn’t stop at the time I saw it, so the following day I swung back by hoping the Hoodie would still be there. He was not. But I noticed a ripple on the water, then the tell-tell rattling call of a kingfisher rang out. Knowing how skittish these birds are, I crept low and slow, until I finally was able to stick the end of my lens over some brush and knock off a few shots. Although the background is messy in this photo, I was happy to get it. Getting a clean kingfisher image is still on my bucket list though.
This weekend I left Tampa heading south for the Everglades Birding Festival which starts Thursday and ends Monday, MLK day. I stayed overnight at the Sugar Sand Distillery and checked eBird for any hotspots in the area. One spot, the Archbold Biological Station, looked particularly interesting so I asked the distillery owner about it. He knew all about this area and gave me the full history and even a brochure! The Archbold Biological Station is a 1,058 acre private ecological research facility started in 1941. The facility works with scientists to understand, interpret, and preserve the Earth’s natural diversity. The unique Florida scrub ecosystem is prime habitat for the Florida Scrub-Jay, which are present at the station and is why I headed there the following morning.
The morning I arrived at Archbold the sky was gray and it was windy with rain threatening. I walked nearly 2 miles on the trails through the scrub looking hard for Florida Scrub-Jays but, alas, didn’t find any. An American Kestrel was perched high atop a bare tree, but couldn’t be photographed with any real success from my vantage point. The same was true for a Northern Flicker perched on the side of another dead tree. A Common Yellowthroat was making lots of noise as it rooted around in the underbrush of a thick mesh of palm and sagebrush, but he never came out in the clear.
At last I spotted a bird out in the open. It was a Northern Mockingbird. Mockingbirds are so common that I almost never bother pointing my camera at them, but on slow days, sure, a mockingbird photo will do.
Northern Mockingbird. Fluffed up to keep warm on a cool windy day. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 4500.
Further down the trail I spotted an Eastern Phoebe. It seems I am seeing lots of these lately. This bird hung around for a bit, even following me on the trail, so I grabbed a few shots. These two work the best, I think.
Eastern Phoebe. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 3200.
Eastern Phoebe. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 5600. I was hoping to get a flight photo so my shutter speed is too high.
I left Archbold Biological Station disappointed that I didn’t even see a scrub jay, but that gives me reason to return again. I was really hoping to get some new scrub jay photos as the February meeting of the Tampa Audubon Society will include a guest speaker who will talk about Florida-Scrub Jays. I may have to get some shots later this month when I head up to Cape Canaveral for the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival. The Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary is not too far away and it’s easy to find Florida Scrub-Jays there.
Further down the road I passed a cow pasture with a small pond absolutely loaded with White Ibis and Boat-tailed Grackles. I pulled over and leaned into the barbed wire fence for support. Here is one of those pictures, a juvenile White Ibis drying off after a bath in the pond.
White Ibis (juvenile). Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1800
The upcoming week looks promising. At the end of the week we have the aforementioned Everglades Birding Festival. AND…not far from my camp site is Vista View Park in Davie, FL. This park has probably the highest concentration of Florida Burrowing Owls outside of Cape Coral and I can’t wait to get over there and take some pics! Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Check back soon to see how I do!
