Osprey
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has a huge population of Osprey. Sometimes they are every other power post along the causeway and the road coming in, and they are certainly the most common raptor along Black Point Wildlife Drive. My Advanced Point and Shoot Nature Photography class was practicing flight shots so we stopped when I saw two Osprey circling over a pond, and waited, and were rewarded with one of the birds passing right over head. I was perfect light, with enough light reflected from the water to illuminate the underside of the wings. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds in flight and action modifications to Program mode. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.
All about those wings
Roseate Spoonbills are striking birds at any time, but in flight, with the light behind the wings, they are spectacular. I happened to be in the right place at the right time on Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to catch a group of Spoonbills moving from one feeding site to another, passing close overhead. My birds in flight modifications of Program mode enabled the Sony RX10iv to catch the birds against the clear Florida sky, and there was enough light reflected from the pools of water to nicely light the underside of the wings. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.
Great Egret
A classic shot a classy bird. Great Egret off Black Point Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Great Egrets are almost always elegant. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds and wildlife modifications to Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Tri-colored Heron
There are always a great many Tri-colored Herons along Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Government shutdown, thankfully, has not changed that. 🙂 They vie with the White Ibis for the title of most numerous wader in January. And they are a beautiful bird. It was still overcast when I got this shot a few mornings ago, but that only emphasizes the range of subtle shades of color in plumage. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds and wildlife modifications of Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Reddish Egret fishing dance
One of my favorite actions to watch is the Reddish Egret fishing. It is definitely a dance, though a sometimes erratic one. This bird was along Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville Florida. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds in flight and action modifications to Program mode. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.
Roseate Spoonbill
Back in Florida for the Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival in Titusville. I got out to Merritt Island and Black Point Drive this morning and saw all the usual subjects except for Wood Stork. The Roseate Spoonbills, in full breeding plumage, were particularly cooperative. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds and wildlife modifications of Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Bananaquit
The Bananaquit is certainly one of the most common birds at mid-elevations in Costa Rica. This one was at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens just over the continental divide on the way from San Jose to the Sarapiqui region. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds and wildlife modifications to Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Black-cheeked Warbler
The Black-cheeked Warbler is listed as “common” and endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and Western Panama: the Central Volcanic Range in Costa Rica and the Talamanca range in Costa Rica and Panama. We saw it at elevations between 8,000 and 11,000 feet. This bird was at 11,000 on top of Bueno Vista Mountain, where it was much easier to see than in the old-growth Cloud Forest above Savegre Mountain Resort in the valley below. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds and wildlife modification of Program mode. Processed in Polarr. (for more on my Program mode modifications you might want to take a look at my eBook, Point and Shoot Nature Photography with the Sony RX10iv at https://psnp.info/psnp_/?p=1525 )
Female Common Merganser (and Mallard)
I went to Roger’s Pond Park on the Mousam River in Kennebunk, Maine, to see if there were any Eagles yesterday morning. There were no Eagles, but there were Common Mergansers in the river. I like this shot taken over the back of the Mallard in the foreground. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My birds and wildlife modifications of Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Female Green-crowned Brilliant
Yesterday I posted several shots of male Green-crowned Brilliants, but during this last trip to Costa Rica, females were more prevalent, by about four to one, especially at lower altitudes. This shot is again at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. I think both the male and female are among the most striking of the Central American hummers. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. My birds and wildlife modifications to Program mode. Processed in Polarr.