The first 2016 Florida Spoonbill Tour was a success with a great group of participants. Great weather, cooperative birds and an enthusiastic group made for a great recipe. 🙂 I am announcing two dates for 2017. The likely dates are March 25-26 and May 5-6 2017. Reach out to me soon as there is high anticipation!
Spoonbill with breeding colors banking in flight – Tampa Bay Spoonbill rookery, Florida
ISO 500 | f/5.6 | 1/5000 sec. | Manual mode | AI servo rear focusing
This photograph was created with the Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II USM lens (Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II USM review) with a 1.4x extender, the Canon EOS 1DX on tripod with gimbal head.
And another perfect banking flight position to add to the collection! I always feel very excited when I get to create a very good banking stance as above. As I instructed my group of participants, look for the birds coming from behind you as some of them will turn to join the group of birds on the ground. That turn is your chance to create a similar image as above. Plus, since we are at the rookery, you get beautiful breeding colors on most of the Spoonbills on site.
Great Blue Heron with breeding colors banking in flight – Tampa Bay Spoonbill rookery, Florida
ISO 1000 | f/5.6 | 1/4000 sec. | Manual mode | AI servo rear focusing
This photograph was created with the Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II USM lens (Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II USM review) with 1.4x extender, the Canon EOS 1DX on tripod with gimbal head.
It is also good to mention that the Tampa Bay Spoonbill rookery is one of the biggest rookery in the state of Florida and hosts many other breeding species. You will easily see Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons, among many other species. I like the image above as it is not so easy to create a banking flight image of a Great Blue Heron with a good inclination degree and the wings fully extended. Since, it is a big bird, it does not turn as abruptly.
Least Sandpiper – Fort Desoto Park, Florida
ISO 500 | f/5.6 | 1/6400 sec. | Manual mode | AI servo rear focusing
This photograph was created with the Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II USM lens (Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II USM review) with 1.4x extender, the Canon EOS 1DX on tripod with gimbal head.
The Least Sandpiper is among the smallest shorebirds at Fort Desoto, even smaller than Semipalmated Plovers and Sanderlings. Most people would not give them a second glance when walking along the beach. Yet, some of the smaller shorebirds can bring out quite a display if you take the time to lower your camera to their World. Many photographers underestimate the movement and the impressive action shots one can take with small shorebirds. My tip, wait for them to bath and be ready to capture the flapping action! 🙂
See below the last Spoonbill tour group picture.
Nice group! Note that we wade mid-thigh in the water at the Tampa Bay Spoonbill rookery and we stay at least 50 feet away from the point of highest tide to follow the Audubon guidelines.
Used Gear for Sale
CANON EOS 5D MARK III => $1,650 in very good condition with battery grip (BG-E11 worth $260 new) included. As you would have noticed, I created some of my very best images with this body!!
CANON EF 300MM F/4 IS USM => $900 in excellent condition. I did a lot of my early bird photography with this undisputed best value for your money in the Canon pro lens lineup.
Florida Spoonbills and Shorebirds photography workshop – $1050
Mar 19th-20th 2016 / limit 6 people – FULL
Apr 16th-17th 2016 / limit 6 people – FULL
Mar 25th-26th 2017 / limit 6 people – 6 open
May 5th-6th 2017 / limit 6 people – 5 open
Contact me at steven.blandin@gmail.com
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Steven
Sheila
Steven Blandin
Terry C Long