[quote=MadMikeOne]Hi all,

We’re heading back to Florida this Spring for some bird photography, and I’d really like to be able to get some up close and personal shots of Snail Kites. Last year I was speaking to 2 women who had just been out a few days prior and they had some fabulous shots of Snail Kites catching snails. They had hired a boat and went out just with the two of them and the boat owner. This conversation took place at the Circle B Bar Reserve, and if memory serves, the location of the Snail Kites was close to Lake Kissimmee. Unfortunately I did not make any notes for future reference, and I’m not coming up with anything helpful when I ask “Mr. Google”.

Snail Kites are on my MUST SHOOT list for this spring’s trip. Could someone please give me some guidance and possibly a contact or two that would provide such a service? I am NOT interested in going out on a regular airboat tour with several other people. I’m looking specifically for someone who can take me to where the kites are, and will work with me to get some good images. The individual does NOT need to be a serious photographer, but MUST have knowledge of where to find the Snail Kites and a means to get me to the birds.

Many thanks, and please feel free to PM me,

I and my wife have always had good luck getting excellent pictures of these birds at Harns Marsh Nature Preserve near Lehigh Acres Florida. This is a community east of Fort Myers. This area is exceptional for getting a load of birds at a fairly close range. Along with Snail’s are usually close-ups of Limpkins and Bittern. Just search with Google for Harns Marsh. I do believe it has a dedicated website.
One thing I found about birding here it is usually not crowded allowing you to bird at your own speed. Your not shoulder to shoulder as in some of the more used sites such as Corkscrew.

LittleRed ( Ron)

I and my wife have always had good luck getting excellent pictures of these birds at Harns Marsh Nature Preserve near Lehigh Acres Florida. This is a community east of Fort Myers. This area is exceptional for getting a load of birds at a fairly close range. Along with Snail’s are usually close-ups of Limpkins and Bittern. Just search with Google for Harns Marsh. I do believe it has a dedicated website.
One thing I found about birding here it is usually not crowded allowing you to bird at your own speed. Your not shoulder to shoulder as in some of the more used sites such as Corkscrew.

LittleRed (Ron)

MY APOLOGIES FOR THE DOUBLE ENTRY, DANG OLD FINGERS CAN’T BE TUSTED ANYMORE 😃😃😃

Thanks to all whom have peeked in and commented. The now picture clearly represents a lot of our younger people these days ( along with some of us older-sters too ). And saying young to me means anybody under about 55. My daughter and son-in-law both in their 40’s appear to be addicted to their “mobiles” as I have observed the two sitting at both ends of the SAME sofa texting each other. 😜 I think to them Facebook is a new religion as they basically live on it. However I guess it serves its purpose as I usually know what they eat at every meal and know wherever the go at night.
However this is not purely a younger thing as it appears that my better half (whom cannot be considered young by any means) could be considered addicted to her iPhone and would probably be quite distressed if she didn’t have it. Or at least be a bit difficult to live with.

LittleRed (Ron)

Yes Jerry, that’s photography. Different eras, different cameras, but photography still. But at least the “now” picture due to better equipment is much better. But alas when I started many moons ago my pics were much like the “then” picture (could be the same camera in fact). I think I have improved somewhat but sometimes it appears not (to my eyes)

LittleRed ( Ron)

A sign of our times, pity !

LittleRed (Ron)

Happy to see there are other Hoggers that have the same "addiction" as I. Almost all my sorties seem to end up doing something related to Genealogy. I now have close to 100,000 in my database and have the sources to each that shows their connection to me. Let me ask you, how many hours have you spent walking the cemeteries with camera in hand. If like me probably too many (that is according to my better half some of the time). Collecting data and pictures of the past are OK but the stories and history is what I really enjoy. So fair lady, you are not alone in chasing this crazy addictive "hobby". There are others like you working this site.😀😀

LittleRed (Ron)

I thank all for looking in and commenting on my pics. Been off line for a copla days (wi-fi problems) but hope that this week the company that supplies it will get it straightened out.

LittleRed (Ron)

thanks for stopping by kpmac and the comment.

LttleRed (Ron)

He/she was the dark silent kind, like most of these birds are. Seen but not heard, tis better for the hunt.
Thanks for stopping by.

LittleRed (Ron)

Thanks for looking in. But yes, doesn't he/she look like a mean old SOB. Probably eats nails for breakfast.

LittleRed (Ron)

Took a quick shot of this fella while traveling through the Seney NWR in upper Michigan this fall. Am happy with the result due to the distance he was from me at the time. This pic is severely cropped but still kept most of the details. It was perched on a dead tree on an island in E-Pool and just as I focused on him took to the air. The distance to him was about 300 metres (1000 feet) at the time. I used my favourite lens a 300mm Canon with my T6i. I do not use any high-tone PP program, just an old Olympus one I got with one of my first camera's many moons ago. Probably spent a whole 30 seconds cropping and "fixing it to the state its in now. But even though its not the best, considering the distance I think its at least pretty fair.

LittleRed (Ron)

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The Bald Eagle, a beautiful bird, noble at rest and just plain beautiful in flight. But still, a killer of the young and vulnerable in the sloughs and swamps of of the north.

LittleRed (Ron)

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Thanks Mark 😂

No Bill, I did not work for Nikon. In fact I don't even own one. Probably wouldn't considering their policies which I don't believe in. I'm a Canon user, always was and will be. I know that a camera purchased anywhere outside the good Old US of A would NOT HAVE A USA WARRANTY (see I can shout too). Nowhere in my message did I say that. All I said that in the case of my friend Jimmy he was advised by an employee of NikonUSA that in his situation if in the future he would be able to have repair work done on his camera AT HIS COST that included even the time within the warranty period. But he would have to prove that the equipment had been purchased from an AUTHORIZED NIKON DEALER. Frankly sir personally I don't give a crap about Nikon and their policies. All I was doing was forwarding some information I had regarding Nikon and their Gray Market policies as relayed to me by a close friend. As for calling Nikon and the posting of their phone number by yourself this is just what the OP can use, as I suggested. This is the best and only thing to do to get the true answer, rather than listening to us "experts", right??

LittleRed (Ro)

Best check with Nikon USA on this as in some cases what Billnikon says may not be totally correct. On NikonUSA website they give the definition of Gray Market as (quote) "Nikon products that are IMPORTED AND SOLD by anyone other than Nikon Inc. USA are considered Gray Market." In your sons case he is not importing the camera to sell rather than for his personal use. I have a friend who ran into a similar problem with purchasing a camera outside of the US. While travelling in Europe he had his Nikon camera stolen in England near the start of his vacation. Since he had a multitude of Nikon lenses he opted to purchase another camera there in England. The seller there was an authorized Nikon dealer for that country and advised him to make sure he kept all documents to prove that point when he returned home. He did so and when he returned home contacted someone at NikonUSA regarding the purchase outside of this country. He was advised that possibly any warranty may not be covered ?? but that in the future as long as he could prove he himself had purchased the equipment from an authorized dealer he would be able to get it repaired (at his expense). So it appears that as long as he keeps the camera and documentation himself it would be acceptable to NikonUSA. However should he sell it he then becomes the importer and it would be Gray Market. This was for a camera purchased in Europe (England) but it may be different for one from China especially with what is going on now between the two of them. Also I wonder if there are many "authorized" Nikon dealers in China that will issue the proper documentation. So it would be best to contact NikonUSA and get the real answer to your question rather than depend on the ramblings of us Hoggers. They do have a chat line on their website (I think)

LittleRed (Ron)