This is the second set of images finishing out calendaer year 2002. Each image is annotated describing the setting where it was taken, but were mostly taken during our recent trip to Sanibel Island, Florida.

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Harris
    Hawk in Flight

    
Image # 00850

    
Renaissance Festival

    
Huntersville, NC
 

    
Canon 70-200L/f2.8 IS and
    1.4x II Teleconverter at 280 mm

    
ISO 200, f/4, 1/1250 second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    +2/3

    
Handheld
 

We have enjoyed going to the Renaissance Festival near our home town the past couple of years including the Raptor show. They exhibit some beautiful birds, allowing many of them to fly freely. I had to clone out part of the structure from which it had just launched itself. So while it's not a true wild bird in flight, it's the only shot I have of this particular species.

     
 

    
Peregrine
    Falcon in Flight

    
Image # 00854

    
Renaissance Festival

    
Huntersville, NC
 

    
Canon 70-200L/f2.8 IS and
    1.4x II Teleconverter at 280 mm

    
ISO 200, f/4, 1/4000 second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    0, 550EX at -1 1/3

    
Handheld
 

Another bird from the Raptor Show, I was extremely impressed with how fast this falcon could fly; I was happy to get any shot of it at all!

Reddish Egret Wading Image # 00955 Ding Darling NWR Sanibel Beach, FL

Canon 600L/f4 IS ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/2000 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

I didn't see too many of these this trip, and there was very little feeding or dancing going on when I did, unfortunately, as their dance is quite fun to watch and photograph.

     
 

    
Wood Stork
    in the Bushes

    
Image # 01075

    
Ding Darling NWR

    
Sanibel Island, FL
 

    
Canon 600L/f4 IS

    
ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/1600
    second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    -1 1/3

    
Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley
    Sidekick
 

The sun was starting to get low, but was still quite strong, so I had to be careful to avoid blowing out the detail in the brilliant white feathers of this stork. I saw him posing as I drove by, and he cooperated by not moving while I tried to quickly and quietly get my equipment out of the trunk.

Great Egret with a Fish Image # 00954 Ding Darling NWR Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 200, f/6.3, 1/3200 second Manual - spot metering Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

Turkey Vulture in Flight Image # 00965 Mantanzas Pass Preserve Ft. Myers Beach, FL

Canon 100-400L at 400 mm ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000 second Evaluative Metering at +1 Handheld

As I researched this trip, I found reference to Mantanzas Pass Preserve, on Ft. Myers Beach, the island just south of Sanibel. I went there one morning, and enjoyed the hike. I saw a few woodpeckers when I first got there (but couldn't get them to cooperate to be photographed), but was amazed at the number of vultures I encountered. At one point, there must have been 2 or 3 dozen in the air. As I would hike through the paths, I would hear the loud whooshing sound as one or more would take flight. These are surprisingly large birds, and while not "pretty" are still interesting to observe, and fun to shoot.

Brown Pelican Yawning Image # 01098 Sanibel Beach Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 100-400L at 400 mm ISO 200, f/8, 1/2500 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3, 550EX at -1 2/3 Handheld

I have a shot from this same area in "Part One", where the pelicans appeared to be growing on the trees along the beach; a fascinating sight. I didn't have a monopod or tripod, and my arms got pretty tired pointing the camera up toward this individual, but he obliged me with a nice full yawn.

Red Shouldered Hawk in a Tree Image # 00972 Ding Darling NWR Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 100-400L at 400 mm ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/200 second Evaluative Metering at 0, 550EX at -1 2/3 Handheld

I spent many hours driving slowly around Ding Darling, and a couple of other photographers had already spotted this hawk when I pulled up. I didn't know how much longer he would stick around, was only a short distance from the road, so I just grabbed the 100-400 and slowly walked up to take a few shots. Fortunately he stuck around just long enough before hopping to a much less accessible perch.

Roseate Spoonbill on Dry Land Image # 00958 Ding Darling NWR Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/2000 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

If I recall correctly, this is the same individual as the one in Part One (Image # 00959). I was quite happy to have several opportunities to shoot these beautiful birds within reasonable shooting distances. So many times in the past, when I'd see them at all, they'd be way too far to shoot.

Brown Pelicans Diving Image # 01003 Sanibel Beach Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 100-400L at 400 mm ISO 200, f/6.3, 1/1600 second Evaluative Metering at +1/3 Handheld

As I was walking back toward our condo after shooting the pelican in the tree above, I spotted a pair of pelicans who would fly off together, dive in looking for food, wait a short while, then take off and travel a little ways down the beach before repeating the same maneuver. I followed along with them, trying to keep up, and managed to get a decent shot of the pair in action.

Ring-billed Gull in Flight Image # 01017 Pine Island Sound Captiva, FL

Canon 70-200L/f2.8 IS at 135 mm ISO 400, f/3.5, 1/5000 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3 Handheld

This was taken during my second dolphin boat cruise (see images in Winter, 2002 Part One). There were often several gulls following the boat, and so I took a break from shooting the dolphins to try and capture them as the light started to get nice.

Great Egret at Sunset Image # 01084 Ding Darling NWR Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 600L/f4 IS ISO 800, f/4, 1/16000 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3, 550EX/BB at -1 1/3 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

I stationed myself in one of my favorite spots for sunset - a little ways past the tower at the Cross Dike area. It was a beautiful sunset. I cloned out a second bird that really didn't add anything to the effect I was going for.

Gull with Reflection at Dawn Image # 00963 Ding Darling NWR Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 600L/f4 IS ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

I arrived at Ding Darling pretty early, before it opened, and hiked in carrying my gear, to be in position when the sun rose. It was a very nice scene to experience, but there were very few birds around. I did manage to capture this gull in flight, with the dawn colors giving a somewhat "arty" feel which I like in this image.

White Pelicans at Dawn Image # 00964 Ding Darling NWR Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

This was taken a short time after the gull shot above. The dawn light was somewhat muted by some low clouds on the horizon, but still gave a somewhat 'pastel' feel to this image.

Ruddy Turnstone on Seashells Image # 01002 Sanibel Beach Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 100-400L at 400 mm ISO 200, f/8.0, 1/2000 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3 Handheld

I couldn't resist including at least one shot of the numerous shorebirds I found along the beach. Although it was tough on my knees, it was fun trying to get down to their level, and keep up with them as they scurried along the surf.

Snowy Egret Wading Image # 01092 Sanibel Beach Sanibel Island, FL

Canon 100-400L at 100 mm ISO 200, f/8.0, 1/2500 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3, 550EX at -1 2/3 Handheld

This is the same individual as Image # 1096 in "Part One". It was a beautiful snowy meandering around the surf, giving me some nice photo-ops.