Sanibel Island and Ft. Myers
Beach are very well known in the world of bird watchers and
photo-graphers. During the winter months professional and amateur
photographers alike will make the early morning trips through
Ding
Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel or Lovers Key State
Park on Ft. Myers Beach looking to burn into film a great moment
in time. I can offer a charter with privacy and,
hopefully, the chance at a few shots you wouldn't get from a
car, beach or pier.
Click on a photo to see a larger image, hit back button to return.
|
|
|
|
Sunrise
|
|
|
|
Bald Eagle
|
|
|
|
Reddish Egret
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immature Yellow Crowned Night Heron
|
|
|
|
Snowy Egret
|
|
|
|
Red-Shouldered Hawk
|
|
|
|
|
|
Osprey with Trout
|
|
|
|
Spider
|
|
|
|
Great Egret
|
|
|
|
|
|
White Ibis
|
|
|
|
Brown Pelican
|
|
|
|
Alligator
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frigate Bird
|
|
|
|
Snowy Egret
|
|
|
|
Great Blue Heron with Chicks
|
|
|
|
|
|
White Pelicans
|
|
|
|
Roseatte Spoonbill
|
|
|
|
Otter
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunrise with Anglers
|
|
|
|
Rainbow and Boat
|
|
|
|
The Best Times
Though most people come to Sanibel during January
through mid-March for birds, the prime time is actually much longer if you
can get out on the water.
In late October or early November...
...the Great Blue
Herons start to nest on small mangrove islands. They are easily
approachable as are all nesting birds in Pine Island Sound since they are
accustomed to seeing boats with people fishing every day.
 Many
Eagles' nests are on Pine Island
where they can't be seen easily, but they all hunt the Sound for food.
Mainly, they steal from the Ospreys. An Eagle will sit in a Mangrove tree or
on a piling and watch the Ospreys fishing. When one gets a fish, the Eagle
is quick to notice.
From late November till the
first part of March...
...large flocks of White Pelicans spend the winter in Pine
Island Sound. They are approachable by lying down in the boat and setting up
a drift to them. Shooting from a low angle just over the gunwale of the boat
makes the best shot eliminating most of the background.
In February...
...Ospreys begin nesting. Every platformed channel marker on the
water will have an Osprey nest on it. Obviously, they see boats every
day, all day, and continue on with life.
March...
...starts the nesting
season for the other birds in the Sound. Herons and Egrets first followed by
Cormorants and Brown Pelicans.
July through September...
...fly the most graceful birds (to me
anyway), the Frigate Birds. These
birds all nest in turn on a few rookery islands in Pine Island Sound. They
are very accustomed to boats with people fishing around these areas and are
not disturbed by our presence.
Not Just Birds
Other subjects that might present themselves on a morning out would include
Bottlenose Dolphin, Otter and Manatee not to mention the beauty of a sunrise
on Pine Island Sound and the beach of Cayo Costa.
Getting Great Shots
Light, hand-held 300mm F4 and 400mm F5.6 telephoto lenses work very well for
shots from the boat. I carry a tripod only when we might leave the boat and
take a walk on a beach.
All photos on this
page were taken by Capt. Steve Bailey. They are copyrighted. Any
reproduction, distribution or dissemination of the material presented
herein in any form whatsoever without the prior written consent of Capt.
Steve Bailey is strictly prohibited.
|
