The Villages Polo Spring 2017

First trip of the season to the Polo Matches at the Villages. It seems to be more and more popular each season. I tried to isolate the action instead of shooting when the players were bunched up. Also, this was my first time shooting all in manual so I could control the shutter speed.

Consolation Match April 23, 2017

Spacecoast Birding Festival

This was my second year attending the Spacecoast Birding Festival in Titusville, Florida. Brevard County is a hot spot for birding with the highlight being Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. People come from all over the US and some foreign countries to attend the festival. They have expert guides for both birding and photography classes, workshops and field trips. I participated in several birding fieldtrips to some new places including Salt Lake. The highlight of the festival was the Gull Fly-In at Daytona Beach Shores where hundreds if not thousands of gulls hang out on the beach at sunset before spending the night on the ocean. There were several expert guides who could identify different species of gulls, including first and second year juveniles. This years festival included a variety of weather conditions  from warm and dry to wet and cold on the last day.

Birds are nesting in the spring in Florida. Some people think the nest locations should be secret but that's difficult when the nest is in a very visible public park. So I am posting the photos a good time after the babies have branched. No one that I know will disturb the wildlife on purpose. Most experienced wildlife photographers know that the farther from the nest the better angle you have. Shooting underneath will make everything distorted.

Practicing Flight Photography

Having a location that you can return to is great for learning. I had the chance to come back and try to get better flight shots with a few adjustments I learned from shooting side by side with other experienced photographers.

I have been fortunate to also photograph an eagles nest, another barred owl nest, a flickr nest and many nests at the Gatorland rookery.

Great Egret chicks at Gatorland

Mead Garden Owlet starting to branch

Great Horned Owlets nesting in an abadoned osprey nest.