Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area

This area offers a wonderful walk along the beach and the lagoon.  Springtime of course is the time for nesting and this place has many opportunities to view wildlife, young and old.  In this area the wildlife can be moving fast, it will challenge your skills to get a good shot.  There is a mile and a half area at the bottom of the island that is set aside for wildlife protection, but during the time these areas are roped off (really string) there is room to walk in and around the area.

Map

Dive Bombing Terns are everywhere trying to protect their nests.  They never really touch you, but they come close, very close.  This is a tern coming straight down into my camera.  With manual fixed focus I was able to burst off many shots as the bird came into range, I was trying to get at least one or two that were good.

Wilson Plovers

Sanibel Island - Ding Darling

Ding is a beautiful place with a great offering of Rosetta Spoonbills and Night Herons.  In the early morning by the tower is a good place to walk around and view the flocks of Spoons.  By 9:00 am they will start to fly overhead.  A great location to get "Birds in Flight" shots.  Set your exposure manually, and start with the exposure of the bird in the water and adjust from there.

Many photographers will be using a tripod with their long telephotos for steady shots of the bird's feeding.  But will have a quick release to pull the camera off when they start flying off and overhead.

Burrowing Owls of SW Florida

Some of the locations now are more difficult to shoot because the grasses are very high around some burrows.  The spring colors though, make for good backgrounds.

It's pleasant that these birds are somewhat tolerant of people, making them great birds to observe at a reasonable distance.  This also makes them good subjects to start learning bird photography and testing your skills, without having too many disappointing shots.  These birds have helped me get to know my equipment and limitations.  You also learn to wait a lot.  I use a monopod but a tripod is better since you are waiting for the right moment.  The monopod does make it easier to move around and change views quickly.

Many shots can be taken from the car.  The birds are more tolerant of a car it seems, a good window mount helps.  I use my monopod, shortened of course, and press it between the door and seat.

I'm not fat just shaking the dust off

Family moment