Peak season at the Everglades.
Feb 12, 2023 14:12:50 #
February is considered as the peak season at the Everglades National Park for birds photography. Once again I decided to try my luck at Shark Valley which incidentally, has been a disappointment for the past 4 years.
The place was packed with tourists but not with birds like it used to be in the past. I had few opportunities, slightly better than my previous visit but still lacking action. I did not see a Snowy egret anywhere and in the past it was a very popular bird here. I found a Great Blue heron but a juvenile one without the colors those birds are known for. Louisiana heron and night heron, also popular in the past were absent also. I did not see birds flying.
Here are some of the shots I made, all of them handheld.
Camera: Nikon D7000 set to center weighted and ISO 400.
Lens: 80-400 f4.5-5.6 set to f5.6
The place was packed with tourists but not with birds like it used to be in the past. I had few opportunities, slightly better than my previous visit but still lacking action. I did not see a Snowy egret anywhere and in the past it was a very popular bird here. I found a Great Blue heron but a juvenile one without the colors those birds are known for. Louisiana heron and night heron, also popular in the past were absent also. I did not see birds flying.
Here are some of the shots I made, all of them handheld.
Camera: Nikon D7000 set to center weighted and ISO 400.
Lens: 80-400 f4.5-5.6 set to f5.6
Feb 12, 2023 14:31:15 #
Feb 12, 2023 14:35:30 #
camerapapi wrote:
Here are some of the shots I made, all of them handheld.
Camera: Nikon D7000 set to center weighted and ISO 400.
Lens: 80-400 f4.5-5.6 set to f5.6
Camera: Nikon D7000 set to center weighted and ISO 400.
Lens: 80-400 f4.5-5.6 set to f5.6
ALL beautiful!
Feb 12, 2023 14:49:13 #
Feb 12, 2023 14:50:32 #
Feb 12, 2023 14:51:59 #
Feb 12, 2023 16:10:42 #
Feb 12, 2023 16:40:22 #
Feb 12, 2023 19:27:07 #
Thank you all. My version of the Nikon 80-400 f4.5-5.6 is Version I, without VR. I have had it most probably for over 20 years and I never upgraded because I do not shoot birds that often.
I hope I will be able to visit the southeastern part of the Everglades before February is over. Hopefully it will be a more successful trip than this one.
I hope I will be able to visit the southeastern part of the Everglades before February is over. Hopefully it will be a more successful trip than this one.
Feb 12, 2023 20:03:59 #
camerapapi wrote:
February is considered as the peak season at the E... (show quote)
That first is amazing, and the rest are certainly awesome 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
Feb 12, 2023 20:19:03 #
camerapapi wrote:
February is considered as the peak season at the E... (show quote)
You sound disappointed, but the ones you did get are really good. Sort of a consolation prize.
Feb 12, 2023 22:08:38 #
Feb 13, 2023 05:29:39 #
Thank you all for your kind comments. Yes Retired CPO, I was kind of disappointed. This part of the Everglades has always been busy with birds in February and as I said, for the past 4 years birds have been practically absent. Alligators are common in the Everglades and during the winter season they get out of the water and come to the banks to take the sun. The only alligator I saw was outside the perimeter of the park and it was in the water.
There was a gentleman photographing, or trying to, walking toward me with a Canon body and what appeared to be a 500 or 600mm lens. After saying hello he was kind of disappointed too. He believes we are not seen as many birds as in past year because of the many visitors. Well, in the past there were many visitors and the birds were there. Same story with high water levels but I have seen plenty of birds with high water levels before.
I will try the southeastern part of the park closer to Florida City before this month is over.
There was a gentleman photographing, or trying to, walking toward me with a Canon body and what appeared to be a 500 or 600mm lens. After saying hello he was kind of disappointed too. He believes we are not seen as many birds as in past year because of the many visitors. Well, in the past there were many visitors and the birds were there. Same story with high water levels but I have seen plenty of birds with high water levels before.
I will try the southeastern part of the park closer to Florida City before this month is over.
Feb 13, 2023 05:39:44 #
camerapapi wrote:
February is considered as the peak season at the E... (show quote)
Excellent set William.
Feb 13, 2023 06:40:42 #
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