Chasing the Fog

The plan was to leave early enough to stop on the way to Viera Wetlands for a sunrise shoot along the river. One of my new favorite spots is the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp. There are two sides, one has a wooden boardwalk out into the water whilte the other is where the actual fish camp and restaurant is along with some airboats and boat launch. So, back to the sunrise. The sun would not be visible due to the fog in this location. Just dense fog shrouded the area so much that I didn't think I would be able to see anything. So, change of plans. I continued towards Cocoa near the bridge where there are numerous sailboats moored. Not one mile past the fish camp the fog was gone. I continued anyways and took a few sunrise shots of the river with the sailboats. It would have been better had I been prepared with a few ND filters. The results were nothing spectacular but the experience of seeing another beautiful Florida sunrise was priceless.

I went back to the fish camp to see if the fog was still there and I lucked out. Not only was there still some moody fog, there were fishermen going out in there boats. I waited for each fishing boat to be launched and snapped off a few shots as it went by. With the sun starting to burn off the fog, I packed up and continued on my way to Viera for some birding and photography. The activity was moderate but it was a beautiful day and nothing could be better.

Crested Caracara at Viera Wetlands

Eastern Meadowlark at Viera Wetlands

Sunrise over the St. John's River

Sometimes if you can't get to where you are going in time for the sunrise, the next best thing is to find a spot closer. On the way over to Merritt Island that was the case. I knew I wouldn't make it over to the Max Brewer bridge in time so I stopped along route 50 where the airboat launch is. There was not alot of foreground subjects but a couple of boaters were just taking off for some early morning fishing. I managed to get one of them only slightly blurry. The other photo I used the dock with its leading lines to add some interest. Without any of that the sunrise was still beautiful.

Early morning fishing

The dock 

Wonderful Day at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Reddish Egret dancing in the surf

 

 

 

Kildeer

American avocet

Common tern

White pelican

Northern shoveler

An early winter morning trip over to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge proved to be a successful trip. I rarely get over there during the winter months when wildlife is more plentiful. I stopped at the St. Johns bridge to catch the beautiful morning sunrise before continuing to Black Point Wildlife drive. The northern shoveler ducks was a first time sighting. The reddish egrets dancing in the water was fascinating. Many of the smaller shore birds were too far away to get great shots but with lots of cropping they are not too bad. I was hoping to see more spoonbills but they were fairly scarce. After the Black point drive I headed over to Bio Lab Road. It is less crowded and many more opportunities to see shore birds await. This time alligators were plentiful and plenty of white pelicans were flying overhead.

Learning Video using my DSLR

The Scottish Highland Games at Central Winds Park in Winter Springs, Florida, 2015. I made a video of the games but haven't figured out the correct size and format to upload to the Blogger. Stay tuned.

Late afternoon at Viera

 

 

Waterfalls and waterfowl, oh my

Hillsborough River State Park is known for an unusual sight in Florida. That would be river rapids. Now, they may be small but rapids they are none the less.

Hillsborough River State Park

After a lunch stop the photography turned to waterfowl at Lake Morton in Lakeland. A common site in the winter months are the white pelicans. There were several of them hanging out on the lake along with the usual swans, ibis, wood storks and some wintering black neck ducks.

 

 

Lack luster day at Lake Woodruff.

The birds were scarce at Lake Woodruff but the beauty is still there. Fog and drizzle made for good bird photography if only there were more birds there.

Winter brings some golden color at Lake Woodruff.

Mocking bird staring me down