Just in case you don't realize it the Everglades is probably a million acres with lots of nesting islands and I'm sure you couldn't find it even if you had an airboat!.
Location, Location, Location for Diverse and Abundant Wildlife
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No Sir, and you don't have a clue, Happy New Year!
That means I can go where no other form of transportation can go. I thought you got the impression I drove right through the nesting sight. For example, I launch my boat and travel through the marsh until I spot birds then I set up my tripod on the deck and have fun.
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I think you should, try December/January. This is a link to a Sandhill Crane presentation with story that I just put together. It will show you the possibility for Sandhill Crane shots. Hope the link works, you know how that goes sometimes....FYI to all...this has become a great link to some wonderful places for wildlife!
Thanks, eaj. I found her Facebook page and website. Her tour destinations look like a lot of fun.I went with Barbara Eddy, who was a great trip leader. It's not so much that the shoot itself is difficult, but the logistics are a bit daunting (off season, few places open, plane, ferry, shuttles...) and Barbara did a great job putting it together and shepherding us through it
I'm not sure either about posting that info on this site. You could always PM me. Take care....
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I can't find a venue for private messaging and can't find a rule against passing information. If I'm wrong he can take it down.
Another recommendation for Barb! She is very skilled in her photography, PS skills, teachings and as a group leader. If not for her when I began in 2015, I would not be where I am today.
I was just there in October and got some great stuff on 17 mile drive (tons of birds, sea lions and harbor seals) and at Moss Landing took a boat trip on elkhorn slough and got tons of sea otter, sea lions, and various birds.
I’ll be heading up to Merced for the first time later this week. Any particular spot(s) in the refuge you recommend?
I don’t know Merced, but consider Cosumnes
eaj101
Well-known member
There's not a lot of choice on spots. The auto route is a big loop and generally you stay in your car. I keep the camera and long lens on the passenger seat with a beanbag. There is a stop with viewing platforms at the start and again about halfway through. Generally the waterfowl and cranes are most active dawn and dusk, and at nightfall I'd hang around until you can barely see because the cranes often fly in at the last possible minute. Lots of ducks and geese (thousands), especially Ross and snow geese. During the day you probably see a lot of raptors, I've gotten merlins, kestrels, red tail and red shouldered hawks and bald eagles. Meadowlarks, white faced ibis, the occasional bittern, loggerhead shrikes, and egrets and herons. You'll probably see a few roosting great horned owls in the oaks, but they're hard to photograph with a lot of branches in the way. Oh, yeah, there are ring necked pheasants
Coyotes, jackrabbits and cottontails. Enjoy. I wish I was there
Thanks. I have always gone TG week or later. I like to avoid crowds so I avoid the festival. I'll try earlier week.
There's not a lot of choice on spots. The auto route is a big loop and generally you stay in your car. I keep the camera and long lens on the passenger seat with a beanbag. There is a stop with viewing platforms at the start and again about halfway through. Generally the waterfowl and cranes are most active dawn and dusk, and at nightfall I'd hang around until you can barely see because the cranes often fly in at the last possible minute. Lots of ducks and geese (thousands), especially Ross and snow geese. During the day you probably see a lot of raptors, I've gotten merlins, kestrels, red tail and red shouldered hawks and bald eagles. Meadowlarks, white faced ibis, the occasional bittern, loggerhead shrikes, and egrets and herons. You'll probably see a few roosting great horned owls in the oaks, but they're hard to photograph with a lot of branches in the way. Oh, yeah, there are ring necked pheasants
Enjoy. I wish I was there
Great to know. Thank you!
aolander
Well-known member
" is that Churchill, Alaska? "
Manitoba
Manitoba
Calson
Well-known member
eBird can be a good resource. I have used it to find top birding locations and to determine which time of year was best for a location and odds for success based on sightings over a period of years. One sighting of a species at a location 6 years ago is quite different then 90 sightings in a single month the prior year.
With park visitor counts up 100% in 2020 and up 100% again in 2021 it will pay to be on the edges of the parks and wildlife refuges. Lodging will be more difficult to find and much longer wait times at restaurants.
With park visitor counts up 100% in 2020 and up 100% again in 2021 it will pay to be on the edges of the parks and wildlife refuges. Lodging will be more difficult to find and much longer wait times at restaurants.
Good point, Calson! Thank you.
There's not a lot of choice on spots. The auto route is a big loop and generally you stay in your car. I keep the camera and long lens on the passenger seat with a beanbag. There is a stop with viewing platforms at the start and again about halfway through. Generally the waterfowl and cranes are most active dawn and dusk, and at nightfall I'd hang around until you can barely see because the cranes often fly in at the last possible minute. Lots of ducks and geese (thousands), especially Ross and snow geese. During the day you probably see a lot of raptors, I've gotten merlins, kestrels, red tail and red shouldered hawks and bald eagles. Meadowlarks, white faced ibis, the occasional bittern, loggerhead shrikes, and egrets and herons. You'll probably see a few roosting great horned owls in the oaks, but they're hard to photograph with a lot of branches in the way. Oh, yeah, there are ring necked pheasants
Enjoy. I wish I was there
Was just in Merced... one of the best wildlife photography trips of my life. Besides the cranes and geese I got to see and photograph so many raptors (including a white Kite flying right at me... a long time elusive goal), a heron eating a vole, coyotes mating and then getting 'tied' together, a bald eagle eating a duck (and then hawks swooping in to try and grab it) and finally a seagull grabbing a bite after the eagle flew off. All of that was to say thanks for the recommendation/info!
Merced, Calif? If so, where? Thanks!
Merced National Wildlife refuge.
Great! Thanks. Also, if you know of anything further south, let me know.