Since the last hunting Reddish Egret I had a chance to photograph gave such a show, I am sharing a few more images from the dancing action. As a reminder, whoever signs up for both a Spoonbill (Feb 22-23 or May 2-3) and an Osprey tour (Mar 28-29) gets a $300 discount on the Osprey one!
ISO 1000 | f/8 | 1/2500 sec. | Manual mode | AI servo rear focus
Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II coupled with the 1.4x extender and the Canon EOS 1DX mark II.
And here is the signature wing position of the hunting Reddish Egret. I can never get tired of admiring this dance. It can be tricky to capture the movement while not having the head under the wings shadow. It is a nice touch to have the head fully lit in the image above. You drastically increase your chances of properly lighting up the bird if shooting with your shadow pointing straight at the bird!
ISO 500 | f/5.6 | 1/3200 sec. | Manual mode | AI servo rear focus
Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II coupled with the 1.4x extender and the Canon EOS 1DX mark II.
Another stunning pose from this very obliging subject. This stance is reminiscent of a flamenco dancer in my mind. Do you agree? I love the flair and the bird’s attitude. The water splashes around the left leg is a very neat addition to the overall energy of the image.
ISO 500 | f/5.6 | 1/3200 sec. | Manual mode | AI servo rear focus
Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II coupled with the 1.4x extender and the Canon EOS 1DX mark II.
It is not often that two Reddish Egrets meet. The result is usually a territorial dispute, followed by one the birds leaving the scene. While the encounter might not last very long, the resulting photography can be stunning. Great Blue Herons will typically display the same type of behavior. In short, if you see another of those birds coming in while there is already one on site, be sure to be ready for action shots!!
Florida Ospreys Photography Tour – $1,490
March 28th-29th 2020 / limit 5 people – 2 openings
3 boat rides on a pristine cypress trees lake. Many nests are at eye level, allowing shooting from up close in a natural habitat. No big lens needed! An ideal setup for beginners… 2 working lunch sessions with lunch included. $300 deposit. If you also sign up for a Spoonbill tour you are entitled to a $300 discount on this tour. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com
Florida Spoonbills Photography Tour – $1,390
February 22nd-23rd 2020 / limit 6 people – 1 opening
May 2nd-3rd 2020 / limit 6 people – 1 opening
2 working lunches and 3 boat rides to the absolute best rookery to photograph spoonbills with breeding colors. $250 deposit. Breeding colors are a bit more intense in February, while May is likely to have new fledglings in the open. Also sign up for the Osprey tour and get a $300 discount on the Osprey one. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com