Just do it – A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens

a second look, adventure, birds, bucket list, friends, fun, Just do it, making memories, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, on closer examination, perseverance, photography, road trip

Myakka River State Park…

February 23, 2023February 22, 2023 naturecoastimagesblog

When we left home our destination wasn’t the Myakka River State Park, but it was only a half hour away from our destination, and after driving an hour and a half to get there it was a shame not to stop by. There are spoonies there after all, and I see the most beautiful photos of them online. In those photos they are landing, or taking off, or just flying overhead. But none of that was going on when we got there. You can see them from the parking lot, and the path to walk to get a closer vantage point is not too long. But what was going on, or not going on, is evident in the feature photo. Maybe it was the fact that we were there in the afternoon, possibly siesta time.

The spoonies hang out where the river meets the lake, which just so happens to be where the gators hang out also. Lots of them, just to the left of the scene in the feature photo. And also in the water, swimming over to get a closer look at us as were take our pictures from the opposite shore.

Was the great blue paying attention to the gators in this picture? The little blue certainly wasn’t. And the spoonies aren’t paying attention at all.

They weren’t all totally inactive though, I just had to look a little more closely.

And when I saw one shaking it’s booty I made sure to get a picture.

Of course spoonies weren’t the only birds there. I shot bursts of photos trying for pictures of this osprey flying right overhead. When you shoot bursts the camera needs a break to catch up with itself now and then. And during one of those buffering moments this osprey dove into the water and came up with a fish! Right in front of us! But I can’t prove it because I missed the shot, darn it.

We both took lots of pictures of this black-necked stilt because we hadn’t seen one before. He was wading and hunting for his lunch with lots of other wading birds.

Among the waders were a few limpkins. They were hunting for their favorite treat, apple snails. But any snail will do. Their beak has a bit of a twist to the end, specialized for getting the snails out of their shells. They must be successful because the riverbank was covered in empty shells.

Finding a little blue heron there shouldn’t be a surprise, they seem to be everywhere.

As always it was a fun way to spend the day. And we have to take advantage of the weather while it’s still a relatively cool 80 degrees or so. Hot in the sun if you just stand there, but in the shade it just can’t be beat!

'scene' along the way, Amazing artwork, attention to detail, attitude adjustments, Circle B Bar Reserve, Florida landmarks, friends, fun, Just do it, learning, live and learn, making memories, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, old dogs new tricks, perseverance, photography, road trip, Tricolored heron

Technology…

January 9, 2023January 8, 2023 naturecoastimagesblog

Yesterday I had a comment or two about the ability of the new camera, a Canon r7 mirrorless camera, to take a huge number of shots in a burst. I usually have it set to do just that if I’m photographing birds, or wildlife at all really. Just in case something exciting happens. So let me explain that I feel hardly any responsibility for these photos I’m posting today. The feature photo is the first in a sequence of 10 photos that the camera took in less than a second. My contribution was to see the lighting and reflections, and I anticipated the Tri-color Heron would take off. I wanted the tracking in the camera to follow the bird, and it did. these are the 10 consecutive frames that it took. Makes me happy to think that my investment in this camera has turned out to be exactly what I hoped it would be. I used the r 100-400 lens, made for the mirrorless Canon cameras, and not expensive at all. Or as these things go.

The feature photo is the take off, this is frame #2.

Putting the brakes on with his wings in #6,

I thought/hoped he caught his prey, but apparently not. #8

And then he flew away, out of the nice light.

We spent the beginning of the walk looking into the morning sun. I didn’t bring my visor so it was tough. It was lucky that this sequence happened in such nice light. I will give lots of credit to luck, and that’s okay.

a second look, brainstorms, Just do it, learning, live and learn, perseverance, photography, sky, storms, technology, weather

Getting ahead of myself…

October 21, 2022October 20, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

The other day I decided that it was about time I went out to do something, anything. But right about then my phone app informed me that it was raining, only it wasn’t. I looked out to see dark clouds overtaking the sky, but leaving sunlit white clouds in a still beautiful blue sky. So I grabbed the new phone, the one that has an amazing new camera that does work, even if I can’t use it as an actual phone at the moment. One of the abilities of the new iPhone 14 pro max is the ability to take a 48 MP photo, so I set it to do just that and rushed to the park and shot a few photos of that gorgeous sky.

I hoped the depth of that sky would come through.

I disturbed the ducks who were all sitting on the bank minding their own business.

I wondered how that sky would look in black and white. I hope I can take the black and white class the next time my club offers it.

There was a problem though. At 48 MP WordPress couldn’t process the images as they were, and my post never uploaded, or even saved in WordPress. I guess it gave up and sent it into trash. So these are the reduced size photos that made WordPress happy, and makes me wonder what the heck you do with a 48 MP photo. Print it probably, another example of a technology that I haven’t mastered as of yet. It wasn’t my intention to have to deal with a new phone, camera, and even lens, all at the same time, but that’s where I am at the moment.

And, by the way, I made it back into the house just as the skies opened.

'scene' along the way, attention to detail, attitude adjustments, bunnies, exploring new places, finding my way, friends, fun, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, Rise and shine, simple things

Afternoon delight…

October 17, 2022October 16, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

Lettuce Lake Park made for an enjoyable afternoon stroll, even if there was no lettuce, and no lake, to be found. In the moment I missed the prop value of the ‘I survived Lettuce Lake Park’ sign. But there was a paved trail to ride, and the woods were beyond gorgeous. Shady and cool, but that’s not as big of an issue now that October is here. And there is a boardwalk to explore next time.

Taking a picture is usually my first thought, but I saw these people coming up behind us with four dogs that could only be Bernie-doodles, and I got excited. I asked the breed and they were ‘mini ‘Bernie-doodles. Mom, dad, and two puppies. So darn cute!

Usually I want some wildlife or action in my photos, but I honestly loved the woods here, and scenes like this kept catching my eye..

If I remember correctly this is a scrub oak.

Beauty berries were the only ‘color’ we saw, and no butterflies or birds paying any attention to them.

With those long legs she could have chosen to hop away pretty fast.

But she didn’t. I told a Dad and his boys to look for her up ahead, and they seemed happy to tell me that they’d seen her as they zoomed past us on their second lap around the path on their bikes.

We continued on the path, nearly back to where we started.

There is lots more to this park, and when we come here again I’d like to do it earlier in the day.My friend isn’t as ‘up and at ’em’ as I am in the morning. But the sunset is getting earlier, and soon these afternoon adventures can include the sunset. That also works for me. Along with this cooler weather.

a second look, dragonflies, ducks, Florida wildlife, Just do it, live and learn, nature, perseverance, photography

The thing about dragonflies…

October 16, 2022October 16, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

Dragonflies don’t take direction well. They land on a piece of frond and then they stay still. Which you probably think is a good thing, and yes it lets you take a photo. Actually, if you are like me, you take 10 photos, and the only difference between them might be the light if the sun goes behind a cloud. They land with their back to you, and you beg them to turn around. There are more attractive fronds that you wish they would land on, but mostly they just chose a plain stick. Years ago I took a photo class and we were told we’d take pictures of dragonflies that day. I was skeptical. They always seem to be just flitting past you, how would we take a picture? But in that class we were told the secret to taking dragonfly pictures. Watch where they are landing, then set up your camera, preferably on a tripod, and focus on that spot, because they will come back. So I should probably just be thankful for that tidbit of information, and not get frustrated when the dragonfly doesn’t smile for the camera.

So this one landed on an interesting stick, and smiled, but his face is in shadow.

In the meantime the ducks were splashing and quacking. But not much else was going on.

I recently declared that Hurricane Ian had ushered in some fall-like weather. But today was hot and sunny, and I was out at probably the worst time of day for light in my photos. I guess I don’t take direction well either.

a second look, food, friends, fun, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, say goodnight, sunset, Uncategorized

Craving wings…

October 15, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

I think I was the first one to mention that I’d been craving chicken wings, which led to a discussion of which local restaurants served the best wings. But my criteria for wings is where can I go and get photos also, and with that in mind Hooters was the obvious choice. Naked wings with a Parmesan rub, and one order of sunset please.

The clouds had been rolling in but I was still hopeful that we’d get a nice sunset.

The sky hadn’t blazed with color, but we saw color nonetheless.

In addition to offering up the chance for a pretty sunset to go with your wings, this Hooter’s location is only minutes from home. So it will stay at the top of my list for a place to grab a beer and some wings.