Honeymoon Island State Park | on the wing photography

Whimbrels – Friday Photos

By Mia McPherson, on October 7th, 2011%

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) on the sand

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) on the sand
Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1500, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

Even in February Florida can be fairly warm, it was on the day I photographed these Whimbrels, in fact I was very glad I brought an extra bottle of frozen water. I had decided earlier on the drive to Honeymoon Island that I would walk north on the beach until I reached the nothernmost tip of Honeymoon Island State Park first instead of walking the Osprey Trail that goes through the woods. I had heard there was a flock of 20+ Whimbrels that were being seen near the north tip and I hoped to see and photograph them.

I think it is about a 3 mile walk though going through that soft sand with your feet sinking in, it does feel a bit father than that.

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) with a tiny crab

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) with a tiny crab
Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

As I walked towards the north tip of the beach I watched Bottle-nosed Dolphins swimming in the low waves that were only perhaps only 30 feet from the shore, there is just something I find very soothing about seeing the dolphins break the surface of the water, they are so graceful. Birds in the sky included Ospreys, Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls and some of the tern species found along the coast of Florida in the winter. There were Ruddy Turnstones, Wilson’s Plovers, Sanderlings and a few Least Sandpipers scurrying long the shoreline looking for prey. I was also able to see a few Yellow-crowned Night Herons prowling along the sandy beach, looking for Ghost Crabs I am certain.

Even though I knew there was a possibility that the Whimbrels had moved on or wouldn’t be seen I was determined to enjoy the long walk and absorb all that I was viewing every moment of the hike up the beach. Other people were wandering along the beach too but they also seemed absorbed in the beautiful views, the sound of the water gently lapping the shoreline and the nice sea breeze.

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) in flight over the Gulf of Mexico

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) in flight over the Gulf of Mexico
Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

Just before I reached the north tip of the beach, I saw them. The Whimbrels were still there. It didn’t take long for me to check my ISO, my aperture and other techs as I dropped onto my knees before laying flat on my belly to photograph the flock of 20 or so Whimbrels as they searched for prey in a long, floating mat of seaweed that was just at the edge of the shore. A few of the Whimbrels were up higher on the wrack line poking into the vegetation there. I crawled slowly through the sand to get closer to the birds, stopping each time they showed any alarm.

I was delighted to have them all to myself.

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), face on

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), face on
Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm at 330mm, natural light

I stayed with the Whimbrels for about an hour, taking hundreds of images of the birds. I was really in my element and felt priviledged to be in the birds element too. About that time a group of people walked through the flock and soon as that happened the birds scattered and took flight. By then the sun was high and the light was getting contrasty so I headed back towards the parking lot to my Jeep with the heating of the sun beating down on me. I’m almost certain that I had a goofy but highly satisfied grin on my face.

Those Whimbrels and the other birds, the views, the white sand plus the inviting water that I cooled my feet and legs with all combined to create great moments that I will never forget.

Yes, I am addicted to bird photography but all the other bits of nature that go with it are quite awesome too.

Mia

More Whimbrel images

Sanderlings – Tiny Dynamos

By Mia McPherson, on October 5th, 2011%

Winter plumage Sanderling feeding on a Penn Shell

Winter plumage Sanderling (Calidris alba) on a Penn Shell
Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 320, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

Sanderlings are little shorebirds that are found high in the Arctic tundra during breeding season and during the winter they can be found on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts from Canada to Argentina, during migration they can also be found inland on the banks of rivers and the shorelines of lakes.

Sanderlings feed by following waves to capture any small creatures that may have been left by the receding water then as soon as a wave starts to come into the shoreline the sanderlings scramble to keep ahead of the incoming water. It is amusing to watch these frenetic shorebirds as they dash back and forth. They must burn up a lot of calories!

In the image above the Sanderling came across a Penn shell (I always called them Turkey Wings) that had been washed up on the shore by a storm the day before and was pecking away at something I couldn’t see on the tissue that had extruded from the shell.

Sanderling feeding

Sanderling feeding
Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 70-300mm at 300mm, natural light

When photographing shorebirds I like to get down to their level which usually means flopping down on my stomach and holding the lens close to the ground while being very careful to protect the camera and lens from the damage that sand or water could cause. I feel the by being at this low of an angle that I am in the bird’s “world”. In my opinion it is a rather neat feeling to be at eye level with such a small bird.

When I plan on getting “down & dirty” while photographing I usually always carry along a change of clothes because I just never knew how I would smell after laying in the damp sand or ground.

Breeding plumage adult Sanderling
Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

Sanderlings in breeding plumage are colorful with rich browns and warm rufous colors that contrast very nicely against the clean white of their chest and stomach. The head and neck also become more vibrant. Personally I find all the plumage phases of Sanderlings appealing.

Sanderlings can be a challenge to photograph because they move erratically at a very fast pace but creating images of them at their level is well worth the trouble of getting dirty and being exhausted by trying to follow the movements of these tiny dynamos. Just keep the shutter speed up!

Mia

More Sanderling images

Ghost Crab

By Mia McPherson, on November 28th, 2010%

Ghost Crab

Ghost Crab – Feeling Crabby?
D200, handheld, f9, 1/800, ISO 200, 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

This Ghost Crab (Ocypode quadrata) image was taken on the Gulf coast of Florida while I still lived there. Quite often people miss seeing them because they blend with the color of the sand so well and they can scurry down their holes very quickly. Crabs can move in all directions but they usually move sideways. Crabs are from the order Decapoda and they all have ten legs. Ghost Crabs breathe through gills, so they do have to return to the seawater to wet the gills. They also release thier eggs into the salt water which then develop into marine larvae.

The size of crabs is measured across the carapace and the measurement does not include the legs, ghost crabs are about 1 1/2 inches across the carapace.

I found that if I could locate a ghost crab burrow and sit very quietly close to it that they would slowly creep out far enough for me to get some photos.

Mia