Sunday, February 12, 2017

Birds of a Feather Fest

We had an awesome time at Birds of a Feather Fest again this year. Unfortunately, my pictures don't reflect how awesome it was - not sure if my camera needs a tune up or if I've just completely forgotten how to work my camera. I'm open to any tips! I took over 500 shots over the course of the 3 days festival, and tragically, these are the "best" and I use that term loosely. At any rate, thanks to everyone who came out and joined us on our trips and classes, and super thanks to Jason for inviting us out again this year!

 Day 1, Matanzas Inlet: There were about 500 Black Skimmers on the beach.
Day 1, Matanzas Inlet:  More Black Skimmers flying.
 Day 1, Matanzas Inlet:  Yet more Black Skimmers
 Day 1, Matanzas Inlet: Black Skimmers being photo bombed by a Herring Gull on the left.
 Day 1, Tomoka State Park: David at Tomoka.

 Day 2, GTM NERR: Osprey
 Day 2, GTM NERR: Cardinal

We actually had a ton of birds here, but my pictures came out awful. I used a picture of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker for my 8 a.m. photo, but it wasn't a great photo.
Day 2, Intro to Birding post lecture walk at Linear Park:  I call this photo of a Mourning Dove, "Please Don't Poop Right Now"
Day 2, Intro to Birding post lecture walk at Linear Park:  Palm Warbler
Day 3, Palm Coast Sewage Treatment settling ponds: We had a ton of Hooded Mergansers, but the lighting was awful. Although I like this shot, it's sort of artsy and dramatic. Kind of a "Hoodies in the Mist" type of thing.
Day 3, Palm Coast Sewage Treatment settling ponds:  This would have been a great picture if the lighting hadn't been so bad. I really need to learn how to shoot something other than automatic.
Day 3, Palm Coast Sewage Treatment settling ponds:  This is another one that would have been better if I knew how to adjust for lighting.
Day 3, Palm Coast Sewage Treatment settling ponds:  Savannah Sparrow.
 Day 3, Palm Coast Sewage Treatment settling ponds: We had Bonaparte's Gulls, Yellow Legs, Snipe, Killdeer, and Dowitchers.
Day 3, Palm Coast Sewage Treatment settling ponds:  Bonaparte's Gulls in flight. I wound up using a different Bonaparte's Gull shot for my 8 a.m. blog.
Day 3, Palm Coast Sewage Treatment settling ponds:  Of course best shot was another Mockingbird, which I've taken a million great shots of in my neighborhood.
Day 3, Palm Coast City Hall: After our last field trip, we came across these wild Turkeys right across from the City Hall where the festival was headquartered.
Day 3, post- festival, Indian River Lagoon Park, New Smyrna Beach:  After lunch, we headed home and stopped at this neat little park. This was a mom dolphin with a baby.
 Day 3, post- festival, Indian River Lagoon Park, New Smyrna Beach: The dolphin with a Double-crested Cormorant.
 Day 3, post- festival, Indian River Lagoon Park, New Smyrna Beach: This poor dolphin had apparently been hit by a boat - you can see that her dorsal fin was split.
Day 3, post- festival, Indian River Lagoon Park, New Smyrna Beach: You can also see that she has (healed) scars on her back. She seemed like she was doing ok, and a guy we met at the park said he sees her frequently and she seems healthy.


Thanks again to everyone who joined us this weekend, we hope to see you at more birding events in the future!

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