Long-billed Curlews have to be one of the most fascinating birds around. I mean, just look at these guys–the large size (for a shorebird), the enormously long bill, and the curve of it. It’s shaped just right to get down into sand and mud to grab burrowing shrimp and crabs. Watching them hunt for food […]
Author: Scott Simmons
Scott Simmons, based in Florida, is a lover of nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Scott became interested in photography in 2001 when he was given his first SLR camera. When he acquired a telephoto lens, he became progressively more interested in birds and other wildlife. Scott enjoys learning about bird habitats and behavior, striving always to take images that are both beautiful and interpretive. Scott believes photography is a great vehicle to help others to appreciate the wonder for the stuff of earth.
Bobolinks at Marl Bed Flats
This morning I drove out to Marl Bed Flats this morning. I was hoping to see a Long-billed Dowitcher that was reported here a few days ago. I didn’t find him, but I did find a lot of other birds. I was surprised to see about 100 Bobolinks. These are the first I’ve ever seen, […]
Swallow-tailed Kite at Central Winds Park
A couple days ago, I went to Central Winds. It was a pretty slow morning, but I did have fun photographing a Swallow-tailed Kite that was flying over the trees near the lake and pond. Swallow-tailed Kites can be a little bit of a challenge to photograph in flight–not only are they all black and […]
Canon’s Best Macro Lens for Nature Photography: Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L
It may surprise you that I believe Canon’s 180mm macro lens to be the best macro lens for nature photography. After all, a few years ago, Canon released a new macro lens, the EF 100mm f/2.8L. It’s smaller, lighter, cheaper, auto-focuses faster, has a wider maximum aperture, and it even sports a new hybrid form […]
White Ibis with an Eyebrow
This past Saturday on Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, we also had the chance to see an immature White Ibis fly by. This particular individual interests me because it appears he has a eye brow. I suspect this has to do with the bird’s molt into adult plumage. Immature White Ibises have feathers in the area around […]
Florida Scrub Jay
After we finished Blackpoint Drive this past Saturday, we drove out to Scrub Ridge Trail to look for Scrub Jays. I first visited this area in 2010, and during my first view visits, I would usually find them, but they seemed to take no interest in me. A couple years ago, though, all that began […]
Willets in Flight
We had yet one more fun moment at Blackpoint Wildlife Drive this past Saturday. Three Willets flew by, making a half-circle around us before landing in the water. When they were far away, I was able to get all three in the frame. When they were closer, I was only able to get one. When […]
Black-necked Stilt Walking
On Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, at the same pool where we had seen the Tricolored Herons, Reddish Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and Willets in my previous posts, we also found several Black-necked Stilts. Several walked pretty close by while we were parked. These birds can be a little bit of a challenge to photograph–the problem is they […]