TAS Board Election / American Oystercatchers Banded
I am pleased to share that last month I was elected to a two year term on the Board of Directors for the Tampa Audubon Society (TAS)
A Brutal Day at the Black Skimmer Colony
The overcast, gloomy, and windy conditions foretold a brutal day at the Black Skimmer colony at St. Pete Beach.
Black Skimmer Chicks
Black Skimmer chicks are hatching! Prepare yourself for cuteness overload.
Chicks and Gators at St. Augustine
On May 20th, I took a trip to St. Augustine to visit the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and other birding hot spots in the area. I previously posted pictures of the Least Terns and Wilson’s Plover from a beach excursion at Anastasia State Park but have been remiss in posting the Alligator Farm photos. At the Alligator Farm I was pleased to find Tricolored Heron, Great Egret, and Roseate Spoonbill chicks.
Beautiful Birds at Fort De Soto
The same day I photographed the cute little American Oystercatcher chicks at Fort De Soto, I also photographed a few other beautiful birds in the park. It started with an immature Little Blue Heron.
An American Oystercatcher Chick
For the past couple of weeks I have been seeing photos on Facebook of American Oystercatcher chicks at Fort De Soto Park. This weekend I finally had time to run down to De Soto to see these chicks for myself. I wasn’t the only one.
A Successful OPUS 2023
OPUS Tampa 2023 is a wrap!
Not Today Ghost Crab!
While photographing Least Terns in St. Augustine I observed a ghost crab (also called sand crabs) raiding Least Tern nests. The crab would go from nest to nest, I suppose in search of eggs or chicks, but fortunately for the birds it was too early in the season for the crab to have any luck.
She Almost Ran Over This Baby Bird
Shore birds like the Wilson’s Plover nest in scrapes in the sand near sand dunes. That’s where I recently found some 2-3 day old Wilson Plover chicks out exploring the beach - and saved them from getting run over!
The “Butcher Bird”
Expect the unexpected! This should be the official slogan of bird photography as the unexpected is often what turns a bad day of bird photography to an awesome day. This was the case on a recent trip to Myakka River State Park…
Do Owls Play?
Play is an opportunity for family units to socially bond and practice hunting behavior. Whether playing with a blade of grass, a snail, a bee, or a sibling, this behavior is important part in the Burrowing Owl’s growth and development.
Birds in Flight Photography
It’s not too hard to find advice on how to improve your birds in flight (BIF) photography. Most of that advice tends to be technical in nature, and while I’ll likely repeat some of those points, my primary aim in this article is to go beyond the technical and describe how you can improve the art of bird photography. Let’s jump in.
OPUS Tampa 2023
I am pleased to announce that I have been selected to participate in OPUS Tampa 2023, a fine art show to be held Friday, May 26th from 7pm to 10pm!
Bill-up and Ruff-out Displays of the Boat-tailed Grackle
Birds often display unique and interesting behaviors during breeding season, and the Boat-tailed Grackle is no exception. On a recent trip to a rookery near my home (where I went with the goal of photographing juvenile Wood Storks), a pair of male Boat-tailed Grackles stole the show as they demonstrated Bill-up and…
Fallout at Fort DeSoto!
I found EIGHT lifers at Fort DeSoto over the weekend! A “lifer” is a first-time sighting of a bird. My eight:
What is a Conservation Photo Story?
During last month’s meeting of the Tampa Audubon Society I gave a short presentation on conservation photography. Following the meeting, I had several requests for additional information, especially related to the construction of a conservation photo story. Conservation photography has been defined as the active use of the photographic process and its products, within the parameters of photojournalism, to advocate for conservation outcomes. Conservation storytelling uses powerful imagery to highlight environmental and cultural issues. Noted wildlife photographer Joel Sartore is frequently quoted…
Six Things You Can Do to Improve Your Rookery Photos
Photographing birds at a rookery is both exciting and challenging. When first approaching a rookery, the excitement of seeing so many birds concentrated in one location can be exhilarating. The challenge, however, becomes all too clear as soon as…
Shake it Off
Perhaps the birds knew Taylor Swift was in town as they showed off their “Shake it Off” moves at Fort DeSoto. Soaking wet after a bath, the birds would take to the skies, twisting and turning to…
Photographing Burrowing Owls - From 33 Feet Away?
Photographing Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral, Florida is something you have to experience! It’s easy to see why people fall in love with these adorable little ground-dwelling owls.
Yellowlegs and BIF at Fort DeSoto Park
Yellowlegs, Willet, Art Morris, and birds in flight photography at Fort DeSoto Park.