Florida Gulf Coast Creations

Tag: Canon

  • Okeechobee

    Okeechobee

    A few weeks ago, we took a long ride down by Lake Okeechobee to look for a couple of rare birds for our region. They had been sighted at a campground on the south end of Lake Okeechobee. On the ride over we spotted a bald eagle with opossum roadkill for breakfast, and we were able to get some good shots. Further along, there was a species of game bird that has adapted to the south Florida habitat and is now beginning to build a population. The bird is a red-legged partridge, and it is very colorful. Like grouse and quail, it likes the ground and would rather run than fly. We were fortunate to see several that popped out of the grass and ran along a dirt road.

    Red Legged Partridge Walking Along Edge Of Road
    Red-legged Partridge Walks Along the Edge of a Road

    Our destination ended up being a bust. The two species we were hoping to find didn’t show. So, the 2-plus hour drive through citrus groves and sugar cane fields was salvaged by the eagle, the partridge and a tom turkey that was fanning for a harem of hens in a field. Sometimes the journey is better than the destination.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • More Scrub Jays

    More Scrub Jays

    We recently ventured out to nearby nature preserve which has a large stand of scrub oaks. In Florida, when you find sizable areas of scrub oaks, you may find Florida scrub jays. They are very sociable and curious and tend to travel in family groups. Scrub jays can be very approachable which makes them a fun species to photograph. Their bright blue and gray markings are beautiful. It’s always a treat to find them because there are so few around. They are only found in Florida. The Federal Endangered Species Act lists them as threatened.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Polo in Lakewood Ranch

    Polo in Lakewood Ranch

    Every Sunday from the middle of December to the end of April there are polo matches at the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch. The club was founded in 1991 and is affiliated with the U.S. Polo Association. It was originally a huge 28,000-acre timber ranch. The playing field is well-groomed Bermuda grass which seemed more appropriate for hitting golf balls than being torn up by horses. Amazingly, the field holds up well and part of the fun of the match is halftime when fans are encouraged to walk on the field and stomp down divots.

    Group Of Polo Players Chasing Ball
    Group of Players Chasing the Ball

    If you’re interested in the match results, here is a link to a complete report on the U.S. Polo Association website.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • IndyCar in St. Petersburg

    IndyCar in St. Petersburg

    The NTT IndyCar series kicked off their 2022 season this weekend in St. Petersburg. My friend Art Nadelman joined me for a day at the track on Friday. The weather was amazing, and the cars were FAST! Scott McLaughlin was the winner on Sunday. It was the first IndyCar victory of his career.

    Scott Mclaughlin On Front Straight St Pete Grand Prix 2022
    Scott McLaughlin on the Front Straight at the St. Pete Grand Prix – 2022

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • The Notorious Deep Hole

    The Notorious Deep Hole

    Florida is known for alligators. Many people think of the Everglades as the foremost destination for seeing alligators. But if you live in or are visiting the southwest part of the state, there is no need to travel any further than Sarasota County to see lots of large gators.

    Large Group Of Alligators Resting Along Bank Of Pond
    Large Group of Alligators Resting Along the Bank of a Pond

    One amazing place is in a remote section of Myakka River State Park called the Deep Hole. The pond was supposedly created by a sink hole and is estimated to be over 100 feet deep. A special pass is required to visit the Deep Hole and only 30 passes are distributed every day.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Polk County Florida Gem

    Polk County Florida Gem

    Circle B Bar Reserve is a Polk County park located just a few miles southeast of Lakeland, FL on Lake Hancock. There are numerous trails that traverse the park through a variety of habitats from hardwood forests to swamp. Be prepared for tired feet because many of the journeys are long. The park is also home to Polk Nature Discovery Center which is a very nice museum with lots of helpful local information.

    House Wren Pops Out Of Cover
    House Wren Pops Out of Cover

    Depending on the time of year, you can see many very large alligators along a trail aptly named Alligator Alley. While alligators are the main attraction, the number of species of wildlife in the park is amazing. It is a destination for many photography tours.

    Purple Gallinule Stepping Across Log In Water
    Purple Gallinule Stepping Across a Log in the Water
  • Rare Bird Sighting

    Rare Bird Sighting

    Every year we see or hear about a variety of rare birds in Florida. It almost always happens during migrations. This year has brought us a Calliope Hummingbird which is native to the far western United States. According to Audubon, it is the smallest bird in North America. The bird we saw was either female or an immature male as the adult males have beautiful purple stripes on their throats.

    Calliope Hummingbird Female In Live Oak Tree
    Calliope Hummingbird Female in a Live Oak Tree

    This bird was visiting feeders with several ruby-throated hummingbirds at a residence east of Tampa. Fortunately, the homeowner is a bird watcher who was happy to let us try to photograph the rare sighting.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Lake Morton Waterfowl

    Lake Morton Waterfowl

    Lakeland, FL is aptly named with over 30 lakes within the city limits. The best lake for photography always seems to be Lake Morton. It’s famous for its population of swans. But the main reason we like Lake Morton is for the wood ducks and several migrating ducks that visit every year. It’s a nice easy walk of about 1 mile to go completely around the lake. But it can take over an hour because of all the photo opportunities.

    Mallard Drake Peacefully Resting
    Mallard Drake Resting Peacefully with His Head Tucked Under His Wing

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Photography Heaven in Venice Florida

    Photography Heaven in Venice Florida

    In the middle of the city of Venice, FL is a very small pond with a little island on one end. Each year the island becomes home to dozens of herons, egrets and cormorants that build their nests and raise their young. It is a photographer and birder magnet because the island and its birds are so close to shore. The park is managed by the local Audubon chapter.

    It’s a great time to witness the breeding plumage of the Great Egrets. They develop lacy back feathers and the coloring around their beaks turns bright green.

    Great Egret With Breeding Plumes Blowing In Breeze
    Great Egret with Breeding Plumes Blowing in the Wind

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Myakka River Wildlife Destination

    Myakka River Wildlife Destination

    Myakka River State Park is a wildlife and nature gem. Located in eastern Sarasota County, it is one of the largest parks in Florida with over 37,000 acres. The Myakka River flows through the park and creates a variety of lakes, ponds, and flooded marshlands. Because of the diverse terrain, the park is home to a huge variety of wildlife.

    There are many types of migrating birds that spend the winter and spring months in the park including several species of waterfowl. It’s also a good place to find roseate spoonbills which are one of the most desired birds for photos in the state.

    Roseate Spoonbill Flying By
    Roseate Spoonbill Flying By

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Go Green

    Go Green

    One of the most striking birds that we see around here is the nanday parakeet. Their colors are absolutely amazing. On the neon green bodies is an entire palette of blue and purple accents. They also look like they’re wearing orange and yellow socks.

    Unfortunately, despite their beauty, nandays are annoying because of their constant squawking which can get extremely loud. They can also quickly wipe out feeders.

    Nanday Parakeet Perched On Cedar Tree
    Nanday Parakeet Perched on a Cedar Tree

    For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Wintering Waterfowl

    Wintering Waterfowl

    It started off being a rather quiet year for waterfowl. No matter where we went in December and early January, the numbers seemed down from years past. But the last couple of weeks have changed everything. Not only have the number of ducks improved, but we found a couple of species that we hadn’t seen in our travels. Most notably is the northern pintail. We located a small nature preserve near Tampa Bay that the ducks liked. In addition to the pintails, we found northern shovelers, widgeons, and plenty of teal, including my favorite, a green-winged teal. Hopefully they’ll stick around for a few more weeks.

    Northern Pintail Male Flying By
    Male Northern Pintail Flying By

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

Don`t copy text!