022612 Florida ~ Everglades Photo Tour Day 3

Photos will come later - if I remember!

Back to Anhinga Trail again! For a variety of reasons they changed the destinations on the agenda. It was too bad because I would have enjoyed going down to Flamingo Bay but I didn’t realize it wasn’t going to be an option every time. Cloudy morning so no sunrise pix. More of the same birds, including a cooperative wood stork. Variety of lens, I am trying not to be too lazy to change the lens when the situation calls for it. So macro lens for water drops on a leaf and scope of up close shot of alligator teeth!

On the way back to the motel, I drove myself today, I stopped at Richard is Here to photograph the produce with my macro lens. Haven’t looked at the pix yet but am hoping I got what I was after. Richard, yes he does exist, saw what I was doing and gave me a brochure to help identify some of the unusual varieties. I should have taken a picture of each sign along with a picture of the produce! See pix here.

Back to the motel and quickly packed all of my things back into their travel bags. Checked out, then went to a nearby restaurant to have a wrap up lunch with the NANPA group before we all headed off to our next destinations. Took some floral pix in the parking lot.

I stopped at a Seminole casino on my way to the airport in Ft Lauderdale because I had lots of time. Lost money as usual.

Got to the airport around 3:30, flight isn’t until 6:25. So I found a bench with outlets next to it to charge my phone and power my laptop as I catch up on my blog entries.

022512 Florida ~ Everglades Photo Tour Day 2

Even earlier meeting in the parking lot – 5:15 because we were going farther into the park. I chose to go to Mahogany Hammock. There was only one other person, Tom, who wanted to go so we rode with Jeff the group leader. Another from our group, Sean?, joined us in his own car. We pulled over along the access road and waited for sunrise at a spot Jeff had scouted earlier in the week. There was lots of fog so we were able to get some interesting shots. Once the color changed we went on towards the hammocks. Then we saw a stand of cypress trees in the fog with the early morning light so we pulled over again. I am starting to enjoy taking landscape shots again. The hammock is another boardwalk loop – an easy walk. Lots of potential for macro shots, not much else. Sean spotted a pair of barred owls far off in a tree. After he got his shots I put on my scope and tried to get some shots too. It was a challenge because the birds were so high up, not sure I should break a sweat trying to take a picture. We also saw 2 owl chicks, but they were even harder to photograph. We headed back as soon as the sun got high and bright and we lost our good light. It was 87º when we got back to the car.

Same schedule as yesterday – group meeting and critique session from 12:30 until 2:30. Then some much needed rest before the afternoon session.

Deborah and I reconnected in the afternoon to go back to Anhinga Trail. It started to sprinkle when we got there so it was harder to get the shots we would have liked. Highlight was a Great White Heron who had caught a really big fish and was trying to swallow it without dropping it. There were probably 20 tripods all across the trail as we tried to get the shot and keep our gear dry at the same time. I walked the trail much quicker because of the rain. I stopped under 2 of the shelters when it really started coming down. Here are the pix in the rain.

Deborah and I stopped and had supper at the Cracker Barrel near the motel. She is a nice lady and I think we will keep in touch. I was happy to get in early and be able to put my feet up, download the days pix, and check all my things on my computer.

022412 Florida ~ Everglades Photo Tour Day 1

My group met in the parking lot at 5:30, others group who were driving further had departed even earlier. I got a ride with a lady named Deborah who is from Mississippi. We arrived at Everglades National Park by 6:15. Had to cover the cars with tarps because the vultures attack anything rubber – wiper blades, weather stripping around doors and windows. It was still dark as we headed out to set up for our sunrise shots so it was hard to know where to go. As the light came up we made little adjustments and got some nice shots. Then we all started down Anhinga Trail to see what we could see. It is an amazing place! It was so neat to walk quietly down the path and hear the everglades come alive with sounds of birds, jumping/splashing fish, and best of all the deep rumbling a alligators. As the sky brightened with started seeing the creatures we had been hearing. The birds are used to people and don’t spook off. It was hard to know which way to look and shoot. The Anhinga Trail is paved at the start and then there is a wonderful boardwalk loop. Easy walking and wildlife up close all around. The name of the post above will take you to the album of scenic pix.

I concentrated on birds – herons, egrets, vultures, anhinga, ibis, some I didn’t recognize. I was able to get close ups and distance shots. I also did the loop through the Gumbo Limbo trail. It’s very cluttered because of all the vegetation so harder to get good shots. I put on the macro lens and practiced with it. Here's the link to the album of birds and alligators.

By 10:30 the sun was bright, it was quickly getting hot (mid 80’s), and we were hungry. We stopped at an interesting fruit and vegetable stand on the way back to the motel called Richard is Here. Others got fruit flavored milk shakes that the place is famous for, I just looked around.

Downloaded my pix as soon as we got back, I was happy with what I had gotten. Checked FB and email before heading down for our group session.

The 5 leaders Bill, Tom, Les, Jeff, and Donna all spoke a little bit about photography and answered questions. Then they did a critique of images that some of the participants had submitted ahead of time. I never got around to sending anything in, but it was fun to see what others had shared and listen to the ‘experts’ opinions.

We had a break for a few hours after that. I went and got something to eat then rested in my room.

At 4 we met in the parking lot again. Deborah and I decided to go back to Anhinga Trail because it had been so full of potential in the morning. We weren’t disappointed. More of the same species, but this time I put on my spotting scope to capture different impressions. I’m getting more comfortable using it. Also getting used to my new travel size tripod, which is small for the weight of the scope so I have to be careful. Looking at our group there is thousands of dollars worth of photography equipment – lots of different size lens, flash attachments, filters, bells & whistles. Here's the link to the evening pix.

Once the sun went down it got dark quickly so we headed out. Nice to be back at the motel before 8.

022312 Florida ~ Sanibel & Ding Darling II

Woke up early, but didn't get up that early. I started my day with a morning walk on the Sanibel beach near the Holiday Inn to see what the morning light was like. I thought I would keep it short, then ended up being out there for about an hour and a half. starting to feel comfortable with my macro lens. Osprey were flying overhead - that was cool.

Headed back to Ding Darling after checking out of the motel. I was hoping to see more birds than yesterday, but it was similar. I did get a few shots of a yellow crowned night heron - he was close to the road, really too close for the lens I was using! Didn't linger long in any one spot along the drive through. I became more adept at getting my gear in and out of the car, setting up the tripod, taking the shot I wanted, and then moving on. Bird Pix here.

Long drive down to Florida City was uneventful. Got to the Holiday Inn around 4 o'clock. GPS was fine until I was near the motel, then it had me doing u-turns and telling me I was there when I wasn't. Finally figured it all out. Registered with the photo tour, then rested for a while. At 7 there was an intro session with our group leaders. They've been here since last weekend making sure the locations they had selected were still good choices. Based on their scouting trips this week they made a few changes and said we can all be flexible about where we decide to go each time we head out. One of the leaders showed us pix he has taken in Everglades National Park - has me really looking forward to the next 3 days! There are about 40 participants in the group. The 3 main areas of focus will be birds, macro, and landscapes.

Sleeping and eating will be crazy for the next 3 days because we will be out on shoots at breakfast and supper times. Not sure when I will be posting updates, but I'll get them up here as soon as I can.

022212 Florida ~ Sanibel & Ding Darling

Up bright and early to take pictures with Blair at Ding Darling. It was another sunny day with blue skies. We were surprised that there weren't too many birds around. There were hundreds of annoying little bugs harassing us fr the first hour or so - finally got a breeze and they disappeared. Hoping not to wake up covered with itching bug bites tomorrow morning! We managed to take lots and lots of photos. Ding Darling is designed for driving & biking through the refuge. You can just pull over and park when you see something of interest, get out, take a few pix, then get back underway. When you see other cars you slow down and check out what they are viewing. Saw a pair of osprey building their nest. Just past a roadside sign that said gopher tortoise crossing - we actually saw one! We spent about 4 hours on the driving loop - many stops along the way and we walked the dike trail.

Went to a deli and grabbed some sandwiches for lunch, then went back to my motel and ate by the beach. We were both tired from getting up early and hungry from our morning adventures. The food gave us back our energy and we were ready for more photography. We went to a local beach and put on our macro lens. The beaches here are sandy with lots of shells, no rocks. After that we decided to call it a day - I came back to motel to rest and Blair headed home. Lots of getting up and down on the beach to get the shots with my macro.


After resting I went to the beach in front of the motel with my book and my camera. I read for a while then did another photo walk with my macro lens. Back to my room to change lens and returned to the beach for sunset pix. I thought I was facing west and the sun would set into the water. Beach actually i looking south, so the sun set over the buildings on the beach which worked well for the photos. A lovely day - warm and sunny, a bit of a sunburn to show for it.


More Pix

022112 Florida ~ Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove is a complete 180 from the hustle and bustle of Sea World. Reservations are required for admission to the park and they limit the number of daily visitors so it isn't crowded. The staff is friendly and available to answer any question and fill any need ~ from the time you pull up and get directed to a parking space (which is free), through registration, complimentary photo as you walk into the park, greeter welcoming you and making sure you know where everything is located, and on and on. Everything is included with your admission - wet suit or vest, locker, mask & snorkel, towels (that are warm), special sunscreen, shampoo & conditioners in the showers, all meals, snacks, and beverages.

Started with a stroll through the aviary. Then floated around the lazy river, which takes you through the aviary again. There are 2 waterfalls that prevent the birds from flying out. The water carries you along slowly - it's warm and relaxing. Snorkeled in the reef pool - lots of fish and some huge rays that you can touch as they swim by. There are plenty of lounge chairs everywhere. I sat and read my book for a while. Back to lazy river where the water was ridiculously warm. Was almost late for my dolphin experience - oops. Wasn't a problem. Got to interact with 3 different dolphins - you get to touch them, feed them a fish, have them do a few tricks, and then you swim out and they give you a ride back to the shallow water. That water was cooler because of the dolphins so I went back and did the lazy river one more time before heading south.

Long drive to get to Sanibel, but it went smoothly. Didn't arrive at motel until after 8:30. So this post is being written on Wednesday evening - too tired to get it done last night.

More Pix

022012 Florida ~ Sea World

Click the title of this post to see today's photos!

Spent today at Sea World, Orlando. I got there shortly after they opened at 9 - there were lines of cars pouring into the parking lot, but it's all very organized and efficient. Spent hours wandering from exhibit to exhibit. It was busy, but never felt crowded. There were plenty of photo opportunities ~ aquatic life: fish, seals, beluga whales, walrus, dolphins; birds: flamingos, storks, egrets; plants and flowers. I was surprised when I got back to the motel and discovered I had over 200 photos. After walking for almost 7 hours, happy to have a quiet evening in the motel with my laptop and my book.

Interesting stops: Wild Arctic - the line was short to walk through and then there was no line for the helicopter simulation ride so I did that and went theough the exhibit again; Shark Encounter - there is a moving walkway thru a tunnel thru the shark tank so it keeps people moving and it doesn't get crowded, Pacific Point Preserve - they sell fish ($5!) that you can feed the sea lions and harbor seals. wild native birds have discovered this so there are egrets and wood storks that will swoop in and grab the fish.Whale and Dolphin Theater ~ almost skipped this, but my feet were tired so it was a good place to sit; enthusiastic performers and half of the show had aerialists!

Some observations from today~ lots of European tourists at Sea World, lots of kids recognize fish from seeing Finding Nemo, parents seemed to be pretty knowledgeable when talking to/explaining things to their kids, the park is clean, well designed, and expensive.

A few thoughts from travel day yesterday ~ there were no lines at Logan (bag drop off or security), went to Downtown Disney around 7:30 and the place was packed - adults, young people, little kids who should have been sleeping. Found 2 things that I liked at the Cirque du Soleil store that were on sale! Chocolate covered strawberries are overpriced in Downtown Disney. Stopped at a Walgreens on my way back to the motel and there were long lines there too.