Travel The Road to Key West

The Road to Key West · **1 Like**

Stopped by this national wildlife refuge near Cape Kennedy in Florida. Usually has lots of birds but we didn't see as many as we have in years past. Hope you enjoy these anyway.

Loggerhead Shrike

Anhinga

White Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

And my favorite subject - a GBH or Great Blue Heron

**Sailor** · 12-22-2013, 05:34 PM

I've never heard of an Anhinga, Susan, but that second shot is a great (for some reason, a bit comical) composition. What wildlife photography should be.

Jer

slowpez · 12-22-2013, 05:47 PM

Thanks Jer. I think he was practicing his mating call.

**jbinpg** · 12-22-2013, 05:58 PM

Nice shots, Susan. But I think your heron is a Tricolored Heron. All Great Blues have whitish faces. Here is a match for your bird:

10,000 Birds | I and the Bird: All the Ardeids

Jack

TonyTurley · 12-22-2013, 06:04 PM

Nice Susan. I'm still learning how to get birds.

Tony

mole · 12-22-2013, 06:29 PM

Some great photos - wonderful action as well as detail.

PS - Your Heron looks more like the Tricolored to me too, although I've never seen them in the wild...

**Bob Harris** · 12-22-2013, 06:34 PM

like Jer said, love that shot, it made me take a long look for sure. You caught the spoonbill just perfectly. Enjoy yourselves down there.

slowpez · 12-23-2013, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by jbinpg

Nice shots, Susan. But I think your heron is a Tricolored Heron. All Great Blues have whitish faces. Here is a match for your bird:

10,000 Birds | I and the Bird: All the Ardeids

Jack

Originally posted by mole

Some great photos - wonderful action as well as detail.

PS - Your Heron looks more like the Tricolored to me too, although I've never seen them in the wild...

Dagnabbit!!!!!!!!!! You guys are so right about it being a Tricolored. I hate waking up first thing in the morning and finding out I'm wrong. Just sets a terrible tone for the rest of the day and makes my husband gloat.

He writes it down every time he finds out I am wrong you know.

slowpez · 12-23-2013, 06:57 AM

Originally posted by TonyTurley

Nice Susan. I'm still learning how to get birds.

Tony

Originally posted by Bob Harris

like Jer said, love that shot, it made me take a long look for sure. You caught the spoonbill just perfectly. Enjoy yourselves down there.

Thanks Tony and Bob. I appreciate the kind comments. We have been in Key West for four days Bob and neither of us has taken one photo. Too darn hot to move.

OrchidJulie · 12-23-2013, 06:57 AM

Wow, the spoonbill image is stunning, Susan! (rumor has it that they are expected at the botanical garden any time now, I'm hoping to see some soon!)

@sailor, Jer, Anhingas are a type of cormorant, very common in Florida. They are often seen drying their wings after a dive or two. Their feathers are not particularly WR

so they perch, wings outspread, to dry off.

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 12-23-2013, 07:10 AM

Very nice images Susan, it's good to see images of birds that are not native to our area. thanks for posting them.

charliezap · 12-23-2013, 08:50 AM

Key West is a fun place Susan.Duvall St and Mallory Pier are fun places.Nice shots BTW.--charliezap

slowpez · 12-23-2013, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by OrchidJulie

Wow, the spoonbill image is stunning, Susan! (rumor has it that they are expected at the botanical garden any time now, I'm hoping to see some soon!)

@sailor, Jer, Anhingas are a type of cormorant, very common in Florida. They are often seen drying their wings after a dive or two. Their feathers are not particularly WR

so they perch, wings outspread, to dry off.

Thanks for the kind comment Julie. I had spent the day with a vivitar 2x tele on the camera and was real disappointed in the images it produced but at least it allowed me to get a bit closer to the Rosie.

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Very nice images Susan, it's good to see images of birds that are not native to our area. thanks for posting them.

Thanks Heinrich.

Originally posted by charliezap

Key West is a fun place Susan.Duvall St and Mallory Pier are fun places.Nice shots BTW.--charliezap

This is our second winter here Charlie and this year we have promised ourselves to actually spend New Year's Eve on Duvall street. We usually avoid it like the plague especially when the tour boats come in. You can't even turn around. This time, if we can stay awake long enough, we plan to watch the key lime drop at midnight.

Michael Piziak · 12-27-2013, 06:33 PM

Very nice shots!
What shutter speed do you use on the flying birds. I read somewhere 1/1200 but I've taken pics of hummingbirds at 1/200 or slower.

slowpez · 12-28-2013, 07:03 AM

Originally posted by Michael Piziak

Very nice shots!
What shutter speed do you use on the flying birds. I read somewhere 1/1200 but I've taken pics of hummingbirds at 1/200 or slower.

For the larger birds I can sometimes get by with slower speeds. Especially the pelicans because they rarely flap their wings. That being said, I normally keep my shutter speed at 1/1000 because I never know when something fast will fly by. I will even boost it up to 1/1500 if necessary. I can't believe you managed hummingbirds in flight at 1/200. My hat is off to you.

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12-22-2013, 05:34 PM	#2
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	I've never heard of an Anhinga, Susan, but that second shot is a great (for some reason, a bit comical) composition. What wildlife photography should be. Jer

12-22-2013, 05:47 PM	#3
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Thanks Jer. I think he was practicing his mating call.

12-22-2013, 05:58 PM	#4
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Nice shots, Susan. But I think your heron is a Tricolored Heron. All Great Blues have whitish faces. Here is a match for your bird: 10,000 Birds \| I and the Bird: All the Ardeids Jack

12-22-2013, 06:04 PM	#5
TonyTurley Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Scott Depot, WV Posts: 1,240	Nice Susan. I'm still learning how to get birds. Tony

12-22-2013, 06:29 PM	#6
mole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,432	Some great photos - wonderful action as well as detail. PS - Your Heron looks more like the Tricolored to me too, although I've never seen them in the wild...

12-22-2013, 06:34 PM	#7
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	like Jer said, love that shot, it made me take a long look for sure. You caught the spoonbill just perfectly. Enjoy yourselves down there.

12-23-2013, 06:55 AM	#8
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by jbinpg Nice shots, Susan. But I think your heron is a Tricolored Heron. All Great Blues have whitish faces. Here is a match for your bird: 10,000 Birds \| I and the Bird: All the Ardeids Jack Originally posted by mole Some great photos - wonderful action as well as detail. PS - Your Heron looks more like the Tricolored to me too, although I've never seen them in the wild... Dagnabbit!!!!!!!!!! You guys are so right about it being a Tricolored. I hate waking up first thing in the morning and finding out I'm wrong. Just sets a terrible tone for the rest of the day and makes my husband gloat. He writes it down every time he finds out I am wrong you know.

12-23-2013, 06:57 AM	#9
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by TonyTurley Nice Susan. I'm still learning how to get birds. Tony Originally posted by Bob Harris like Jer said, love that shot, it made me take a long look for sure. You caught the spoonbill just perfectly. Enjoy yourselves down there. Thanks Tony and Bob. I appreciate the kind comments. We have been in Key West for four days Bob and neither of us has taken one photo. Too darn hot to move.

12-23-2013, 06:57 AM	#10
OrchidJulie Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Magic City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,999	Wow, the spoonbill image is stunning, Susan! (rumor has it that they are expected at the botanical garden any time now, I'm hoping to see some soon!) @sailor, Jer, Anhingas are a type of cormorant, very common in Florida. They are often seen drying their wings after a dive or two. Their feathers are not particularly WR so they perch, wings outspread, to dry off.

12-23-2013, 07:10 AM	#11
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Very nice images Susan, it's good to see images of birds that are not native to our area. thanks for posting them.

12-23-2013, 08:50 AM	#12
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686	Key West is a fun place Susan.Duvall St and Mallory Pier are fun places.Nice shots BTW.--charliezap

12-23-2013, 02:46 PM	#13
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by OrchidJulie Wow, the spoonbill image is stunning, Susan! (rumor has it that they are expected at the botanical garden any time now, I'm hoping to see some soon!) @sailor, Jer, Anhingas are a type of cormorant, very common in Florida. They are often seen drying their wings after a dive or two. Their feathers are not particularly WR so they perch, wings outspread, to dry off. Thanks for the kind comment Julie. I had spent the day with a vivitar 2x tele on the camera and was real disappointed in the images it produced but at least it allowed me to get a bit closer to the Rosie. Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann Very nice images Susan, it's good to see images of birds that are not native to our area. thanks for posting them. Thanks Heinrich. Originally posted by charliezap Key West is a fun place Susan.Duvall St and Mallory Pier are fun places.Nice shots BTW.--charliezap This is our second winter here Charlie and this year we have promised ourselves to actually spend New Year's Eve on Duvall street. We usually avoid it like the plague especially when the tour boats come in. You can't even turn around. This time, if we can stay awake long enough, we plan to watch the key lime drop at midnight.

12-27-2013, 06:33 PM	#14
Michael Piziak Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,815	Very nice shots! What shutter speed do you use on the flying birds. I read somewhere 1/1200 but I've taken pics of hummingbirds at 1/200 or slower.

12-28-2013, 07:03 AM	#15
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by Michael Piziak Very nice shots! What shutter speed do you use on the flying birds. I read somewhere 1/1200 but I've taken pics of hummingbirds at 1/200 or slower. For the larger birds I can sometimes get by with slower speeds. Especially the pelicans because they rarely flap their wings. That being said, I normally keep my shutter speed at 1/1000 because I never know when something fast will fly by. I will even boost it up to 1/1500 if necessary. I can't believe you managed hummingbirds in flight at 1/200. My hat is off to you.