I was at the Viera Wetlands

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited October 23, 2006 in Wildlife
Hi y'all,

I went down to the wetland son Sunday morning and I ran into Dgrinner Trish so we shoot together for awhile. We finished up at the clock ponds and I was getting ready to head on home when Trish asked "did you see that sign"? I hadn't but fortunately Trish had and the sign indicated that 3 miles down the road they had opened up a new conservation area.

So we drove on down the road through the Duda cattle ranch. The area was very pretty and I'm going to love getting down there in the AM when the ground mist comes up because there should be some good photo ops. We saw lots of birds going down the road also. When we got to the conservation area the two trails were padlocked but so there wan't too much to do so I headed off. As I was driving down the road I saw a juvenile crested caracara sitting atop some ranch equipment so I took some pics. This guy wasn't bothered by me at all and let me get real close. I got so close my 80-400 wouldn't focus so I had to step back a bit.

102934748-O.jpg

102934749-O.jpg

102934751-O.jpg

102934752-O.jpg

102934746-O.jpg
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • Trish323Trish323 Registered Users Posts: 908 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    Way too funny! Excellent shots you got. No wonder he was hidiing out on the wood pile...you wore him out before I got there!

    My cell was deadeek7.gif I stopped by the itsy bitsy waterfall and took some crappy shots, otherwise I would have been right behind ya!

    #3 is beautiful!
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    Beautiful series Harry thumb.gif

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • tleetlee Registered Users Posts: 1,090 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    Wow! What a beautiful subject. I've never seen one of these before.
    T :D

    www.studioTphotos.com

    "Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons."
    ----Ruth Ann Schubacker
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    I had to step back a bit.

    Don't ya just hate it when that happens!?!rolleyes1.gif

    Nice catch, Harry.thumb.gif
  • BlueHoseJacketBlueHoseJacket Registered Users Posts: 509 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    great shots
    Harry,

    if you got that close to the bird, you shoud have offered to brush his teeth. It looks like you were 10 feet away.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    Dick on Aruba wrote:
    Beautiful series Harry thumb.gif

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.

    Thanks Dick.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    tlee wrote:
    Wow! What a beautiful subject. I've never seen one of these before.

    Thanks T. They are only found in Mexico (its the official bird of Mexico) parts of Central America, and the Gulf Coast States.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2006
    Fantastic shots Harry....& hey.. no chains!:D
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Don't ya just hate it when that happens!?!rolleyes1.gif

    Nice catch, Harry.thumb.gif

    Its just terrible Ric. :cry

    Thanks
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    Harry these are sweet, but that 4th shot is incredible. Make sure you don't scare them off, I'd love to get a better shot of one in February then I got this year.
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    REALLY NICE SERIESwings.gif ...nuff said.................jealousy abounds in me bones now....
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    BlueHoseJacket wrote:
    Harry,

    if you got that close to the bird, you shoud have offered to brush his teeth. It looks like you were 10 feet away.

    Actually the minimum focusing distance on the 80-400 is 7.5 feet and I got in too close to focus so I must have been around 7 feet from the sucker.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    Do you keep this guy in your car? rolleyes1.gif Nice series! thumb.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    Fantastic shots Harry....& hey.. no chains!:D

    Thhank you. This was a different caracara and we haven't had a chance to discipline him yet. rolleyes1.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2006
    gluwater wrote:
    Harry these are sweet, but that 4th shot is incredible. Make sure you don't scare them off, I'd love to get a better shot of one in February then I got this year.

    Thanks Nick. The caracara have been regular visitors and I think they will be providing photo ops in February.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited October 17, 2006
    Some guys just have all the luck!!:D

    Cool series, Harry.clap.gif
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • douglasdouglas Registered Users Posts: 696 Major grins
    edited October 18, 2006
    Nice photos Harry, I have never seen or heard of this breed, thank you for sharing.
    Best regards,
    douglas
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 18, 2006
    Art Scott wrote:
    REALLY NICE SERIESwings.gif ...nuff said.................jealousy abounds in me bones now....

    lol3.gif

    Thanks Art
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 18, 2006
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Do you keep this guy in your car? rolleyes1.gif Nice series! thumb.gif

    Nah, I just know where they like to hang. This is a different caracara too as he hasn't been banded by the wildlife folks yet.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 18, 2006
    pathfinder wrote:
    Some guys just have all the luck!!:D

    Cool series, Harry.clap.gif

    Thanks PF. I am kind of lucky I guess. :ivar
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited October 18, 2006
    He looks sad on something :cry
    Beautiful photos
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2006
    Interesting about the banding going on down there. Is it the DNR doing the tagging or another group? Do they ask you to notify them of sightings?

    Have you heard anything else about that new area? I hope they make more of that land into a wildlife sanctuary. Last time I was there they were sure moving in fast with the developements. I bet I won't even recognize the place now.
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2006
    Awais Yaqub wrote:
    He looks sad on something :cry
    Beautiful photos

    Thanks Awais
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2006
    gluwater wrote:
    Interesting about the banding going on down there. Is it the DNR doing the tagging or another group? Do they ask you to notify them of sightings?

    Have you heard anything else about that new area? I hope they make more of that land into a wildlife sanctuary. Last time I was there they were sure moving in fast with the developments. I bet I won't even recognize the place now.

    Hey Nick,

    The state wildlife folks are studying the caracara's habit because of their endangered status. We have been requested to report our sightings of the birds to them and I have done so so far.

    The development down here is completely out of hand. Since I've moved here they have built the accursed Heritage Isle development for active 55+ folks on the road leading to the wetlands. They now can be seen riding their bikes through the wetlands and walking their dogs there as they scare the birds off. Some of the idiots don't have their dogs on a leash and I'm eagerly waiting the day one of the pups becomes gator bait. naughty.gif They have also built a golf course on the road for those Heritage Isle folks.

    Now they have started construction on a extremely large church and they will soon start construction of a medical center. The land they have been building on was the wildlife's roosting area and they used to come into the wetlands to feed. As good as the activity is it was much more active 3 years ago.

    They won't be happy until they fill every piece of vacant land with a McDonald's, Burger King, KFC or Starbucks. The place is becoming more like Queens, NYC every day. Eventually the only way you will be able to tell the difference is by the occasional palm tree. Before they are done all of the USA will be homogenized. Any signs of an area's uniqueness will be erased.

    Rant over
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,957 moderator
    edited October 20, 2006
    That does it. I'm moving to FL...nice shots!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • jsedlakjsedlak Registered Users Posts: 487 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2006
    Your shots are wonderful as usual, definately inspiring. Love the detail, the colors... everything! clap.gif
    jsedlak.smugmug.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2006
    ian408 wrote:
    That does it. I'm moving to FL...nice shots!

    Thanks Ian but if you read my rant above we are all filled up. You will just have to wait for the next vacancy to open up. :D

    Oops that vacancy has opened, come on down. biggrinbounce2.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2006
    jsedlak wrote:
    Your shots are wonderful as usual, definately inspiring. Love the detail, the colors... everything! clap.gif

    Thanks. I was very fortunate to have a cooperative model. :D
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • KhaosKhaos Registered Users Posts: 2,435 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2006
    What a beautiful close up in #4. Very nicethumb.gif
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    Khaos wrote:
    What a beautiful close up in #4. Very nicethumb.gif

    Thanks Keith. I never had a caracara before that let me get that close to him. I was a bit sorry that it was at the end of the shoot and I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to shoot him.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Sign In or Register to comment.