Sanibel & Ding Darling

Monday Jan 18 - A two and a half hour drive to Little Estero lagoon in Fort Myers Beach yielded nothing. I was hoping to get an image of the white morph - Reddish Egret. On to Sanibel Ding Darling WLR - a few roseate spoonbills in the distance and the usual compliment of shore birds.

The second pond was slightly better and this Reddish was preening presenting a decent photo opportunity.

Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens Preening

EOS 7D, 500 mm, 1.4x, 1/1000 at f 7.1, ISO 320

The remainder of the loop was unfruitful so I headed on to the fishing pier in search of the nesting Osprey pair. I wanted to capture images of them bringing in nesting material but was treated to one of the adults flying in with its catch and watch it devour it.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus feeding

EOS 7D, 500mm, 1.4x, 1/800 at f 8.0, ISO 320

Returned to Ding Darling before driving back to the East Coast. The light had improved and this roseate was strutting, bathing and preening.

Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja display

EOS 7D, 500mm, 1.4x, 1/640 at f 7.1, EV -1/3 ISO 320