This Osprey Has Something To Say

I caught up with this beautiful Osprey at Hammock Park, in Dunedin, Florida yesterday morning. I have never gotten such a good shot of an Osprey before. As I understand it, they are sometimes referred to as Fish Hawk, also.

Please click on the photograph to see the larger version, which shows the detail so much better. This picture was taken with my Nikon D80, with a 70-300 lens, at 300mm, f10, 1/250 sec. This is, by the way, a camera I would highly recommend.

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Dunedin Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. Thanks for coming today!

Hawk After Bath - Clearwater Florida

Of all places, I found this beauty in the midst of an office complex in Clearwater, Florida. The place is called Arbor Shoreline Office Complex (or Arbor Shoreline Office Park). And they have done a wonderful job of making it seem more like a botanical garden. Meanwhile, this hawk had just jumped out of his bath in a small pond when I noticed him on a boardwalk railing. By the time I got my 300mm, he had moved to the trees. Well, that was not going to stop me! I have never seen a hawk behave like this before in my life.

Green... Yellow... FLOWER POWER

I don't know what it is about flowers... I think I could be happy taking pictures of flowers for weeks on end. They are so beautiful from a normal distance, and then so incredible when you get closer, when you get to know them.

Taken with my Nikon D80. This camera is wonderful. I have never regretted for a moment the money I spent on it. Worth every penny.

Storm Crows Sunset Flight

I was clicking away, discovering the powers of my Nikon D80, and catching some really strange weather as I looked East. Behind me, the sun was setting over Clearwater Beach (not the same sunset as in the photo below). Then I heard these birds calling, and I could see a flock of crows heading my way. As I looked I realized there were hundreds, if not thousands! Seemingly fleeing the mainland for some rookery or such on the spoil islands in the bay around me.

I cannot be sure why they were all heading my way, perhaps the weather had them 'running for higher ground'. But it was indeed impressive, and way EERIE to experience it. It was like something out of a scene in the Lord Of The Rings movie, when the crows came after the good guys.

So, in order to make it so you could get the full effect, I am posting a pretty big version of the file, although not the original. So please be patient if it takes just a little longer to bring it up. And forgive me... but I really want you to be able to see this! By the way, this picture was taken from the top of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge.

Thanks for checking it out!

Fallen Leaves

I just wanted to sit down there and stay for a long, long time. You don't see this in Florida much. And I have missed it ever since I left Washington two years ago.

This shot was taken in the Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee, with my Nikon D80. I love the camera, and I love that it lets me take home stuff like this. Memory candy that I will savor for years to come.

Thanks for enjoying it with me!

Stalking On The Rail

I can never get enough of these beautiful birds. This is the Great Egret, in non-breeding plumage. Not to be confused with the Great White Heron, which is larger and has greenish-yellow legs.

This shot was taken with my Nikon D80, in John Chesnut Sr. Park, in Clearwater, FL. It involved several more shots being taken, as I stalked the poor bird down the railing. But in the end I was able to get the shot and move away without scaring him into flight. And that makes me feel all the better for having gotten the shot without unduly alarming this wonderful creature.

Welcome to Safety Harbor, as seen from the Marina Park. To the right and behind me is the Safety Harbor Pier. Safety Harbor is an enchanting small town in Pinellas County, FL. Their Main Street is a great place for walking in the evening.

This picture was taken with my Nikon D80, a fabulous camera that I love more and more every time I use it. If you are in the market for a digital SLR, you MUST consider the Nikon D80!

Photography After Dark - Crackalaka!

WOW! I'd like to say this photo shows I am a great photographer... but a lot of credit goes to the camera, my Nikon D80. I mean, that is one awesome camera.

I took a lot of pics, trying to capture the lightning. And I was delighted to get just a few that worked. Have you ever tried to take a picture of lightning?

This was taken in Clearwater, Florida, from Gulf to Bay Drive, looking North. I am looking forward to the next thunderstorm, so I can try some of the tricks I learned this time. I am finding I really enjoy 'photography after dark'. What about you?