Last Year's Florida Trip Revisited

Last March, I flew into Orlando in order to test a Canon 400 5.6L that I had pick-up used at a very reasonable price.  There was plenty of sun on Day One at Merritt Island, but Day Two saw mostly clouds and little sun. I recently went through my photos from this trip again and decided to post some here.  I had been shooting for 26 months at this time.. Some of my choices as far as aperture were questionable and my failure to use exposure compensation ruined what could have been quality images of Great Egrets feeding at the Blue Heron Water Reclamation Facility and Wetland Area. 

DAY ONE
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Titusville, FL



Green Heron Hunting, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/7.1 @ 1/1000, ISO 500.  March 15, 2010 at 2:16 p.m.



Blue-winged Teal, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/8.0 @ 1/1600, ISO 400.  March 15, 2010 at 3:05 p.m.



Roseate Spoonbills Preening, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/11 @ 1/1250, ISO 400.  March 15, 2010 at 3:59 p.m.



Washing the Feathers, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/9.0 @ 1/2000, ISO 400.  March 15, 2010 at 4:00 
p.m.

Drying the Feathers, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/9.0 @ 1/1600, ISO 400.  March 15, 2010 at 4:04 

p.m.

Strutting Around, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/9.0 @ 1/1600, ISO 400.  March 15, 2010 at 4:04 

p.m.

Male Anhinga Sunning Himself, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/7.1 @ 1/800, ISO 320.  March 15, 2010 at 6:21 p.m.

Female Anhinga Drying Her Wings, Canon 50D, 400mm 5.6L, f/5.6 @ 1/1250, ISO 400.  March 15, 2010 at 6:46 p.m.

Black Vulture about to Lift-Off, Canon 50D, 70-200mm 2.8L @ 200mm, f/7.1 @ 1/500, ISO 400.  March 15, 2010 at 7:06 p.m.

DAY TWO

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Titusville, FL

As I said, the sun was largely uncooperative on Day Two.

Tricolored Heron on the Hunt, Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, f/7.1 @ 1/1600, ISO 400.  March 16, 2010 at 11:34  a.m.

Tricolored Heron, Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, f/7.1 @ 1/640, ISO 400.  March 16, 2010 at 11:35 a.m.

Blue Heron Water Reclamation Facility and Wetland Area

Titusville, FL

This facility is right down I-95 from Merritt Island.  It is a small area, but the road is directly next to the wetlands and practically on the same grade. The road is short enough to be hiked.  The variety of species at such close range makes this a great spot for birding.  Just make sure to sign-in at the office upon your arrival.  Appointments are necessary for weekend visits.

Great Blue Heron, Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, f/8.0 @ 1/1000, ISO 320.  March 16, 2010 at 1:32 p.m.

Juvenile Little Blue Heron, Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, f/7.1 @ 1/1600, ISO 320.  March 16, 2010 at 1:26 p.m.

Cattle Egret, Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, f/6.3 @ 1/2500, ISO 320.  March 16, 2010 at 1:38 p.m.

Gatorland Rookery

Orlando, FL

When this tourist attraction decided to expand to accommodate more alligators, the unintended consequence was the creation of a rookery. With alligators present, the natural predators of eggs and chicks avoid the area.  During my short visit, I witnessed Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills and Anhingas in various stages of nesting and breeding.  A long lens is helpful but not necessary; the birds are accustomed to people and build nests right along the boardwalk that runs through the area.  On some occasions, my 70-200 was actually too long.  

The most striking thing to me was the sound of the Snowy Egrets as they attempted to establish their ground and gain the attention of the females. They are quite noisy and sound more like alien creatures than birds of this world. They gobble like large, angry turkeys.  I also found myself less than two feet from an adult Black-crowned Night Heron.  I never appreciated how large and beautiful this species really is.  Had it not been in the shade on an already overcast day, it would have been a great photographic opportunity.     

Mother and Child, Canon 50D, 70-200 2.8L @ 147mm, f/4.5 @ 1/2000, ISO 200.  March 16, 2010 at 3:04 p.m.

Mother Grooming Her Chick, Canon 50D, 70-200 2.8L + 1.4TC @ 280mm, f/4.0 @ 1/2000, ISO 200.  March 16, 2010 at 3:01 p.m.

Grooming the Breeding Plumes, Canon 50D, 70-200 2.8L @ 105mm, f/6.3 @ 1/1250, ISO 320.  March 16, 2010 at 3:40 p.m.

Mother in Full Breeding Plumage with Green Lores Adjusting Nest, Canon 50D, 70-200 2.8L @ 95mm, f/7.1 @ 1/1000, ISO 320.  March 16, 2010 at 4:01 p.m.

Snowy Egret on Alligator Back, Canon 50D, 70-200 2.8L @ 150mm, f/6.3 @ 1/1000, ISO 200.  March 16, 2010 at 3:11 p.m.