Manatee County, Florida
Interesting places in Manatee County, Florida:
Location is derived from the great work of WikiMapia
Check this place on Socialmapia
Location is derived from the great work of WikiMapia
Check this place on Socialmapia
Top photos chosen by u all:
In the face of the owl
Made by Michael Skelton
A few of you may think that you have seen this shot before, but those were just others in this series of shots. This is a new post. I was able to get this image of a Barred Owl on March 30, 2009. I call these birds to me by using recorded owl sounds that I downloaded from www.owlpages.com. This was taken at Myakka River State Park and on that day I stopped the truck and played my recording and got out and waited. Most of the time, the owls will just sound off right away but on this day that was not to be. I started walking around in the woods there because I thought that I did hear something. I did! I heard a very faint whistling noise, very different from the typical hooting noises that the barred owls usually make. I kept wandering around and still couldn't find where the whistle was coming from. I knew it was an owl because I had heard it before. At that time I turned to my left and saw the owl staring straight at me at about my eye level. I stand about 5'10'' tall. It was on a tree limb there just watching me and whistling. I slowly positioned my tripod and started shooting away, trying to inch closer every few minutes. The owl was about 5 feet away from me on this shot and I had the tripod set at about 4-5 feet high and looking up at the owl. When I got home and was able to look at the images, I was fairly happy with the results. I did lighten it up a bit. Increased the contrast and cloned out some pine needles that were hanging down in the owls face. Some of you had asked how I did this before so now you know. I hope that answers your questions, if not send me a message. I hope ya'll like my owl! Mike
"Leave me alone and get the hell outta here."
Made by Michael Skelton
I was driving around yesterday and found a pair of Sandhill Cranes. The Sandhill Crane is one of the coolest birds around ans I love to photograph them. This one let me get pretty close and then decided that it had had enough of me. They kept moving away from me as I tried to get a couple more shots. This was one of the first images I was able to capture yesterday! Here is some more information about the history of the Sandhill Crane from Wikipedia... The Sandhill Crane has one of the longest fossil histories of any extant bird.[1] A 10-million-year-old crane fossil from Nebraska is often cited as being of this species,[2], but this is more likely from a prehistoric relative or the direct ancestor of the Sandhill Crane and may not belong in the genus Grus. The oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is just 2.5 million years old,[3] over one and a half times older than the earliest remains of most living species of birds, which are primarily found from after the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary some 1.8 million years ago. As these ancient Sandhill Cranes varied as much in size as the present-day birds, even those Pliocene fossils were sometimes described as new species.[4] Grus haydeni on the other hand may or may not have been a prehistoric relative of the living species, or it may actually comprise material of the Sandhill Crane and its ancestor.[5] I hope that ya'll like it! Mike
Great Horned Owl
Made by Michael Skelton
Here is an image of a Great Horned Owl. I found it on August 2nd or 3rd. The weather and sky weren't very cooperative on those days, it was overcast and rainy and the owl was way too high in the trees. I went back around six or so, this evening and looked for the owl again. I looked all around, walking all over, constantly looking up. The people that were launching their canoes and kayaks were looking at me as if I was some kind of freak. Welcome to my world, I am used to that. I was just about to give up and I saw the owl fly down from the top of the trees and land on a limb that was not too high, I knew that this was my best chance I will have to photograph this bird so I rushed to my truck to get the camera and tripod. I did watch it long enough to remember where it was and kept looking back to make sure it didn't fly away. I arrived back near to the owl and mocking birds and other small birds were dive bombing and attacking the owl trying to drive it away and I was afraid they would succeed. I quickly set up and fired offf a couple shots. I then decided that I should check my exposure settings and I had things set wrong so they came out dark. I tried to quickly change my cameras settings to make for a better image. I also tried to move a little closer but the bird flew away. I managed to get only four images and this is the best one. I hope ya'll like it! Mike
"I got my fish, where is yours?"
Made by Michael Skelton
Here is another image of a snowy egret with a pinfish I caught and fed it. I have learned how to throw my cast net and catch my own fish to give to the birds. I will stand on the dock ( I am not supposed to do this ) and net about 20-50 little fish, what ever I can get. When I feel like I have enough, I will climb down off the dock and go to the car and get my camera and tripod. I set my camera up pointing down slightly and use a little dip net that I bought to catch the baitfish from my 5 gallon bucket. I bought it to keep from getting my hands wet with saltwater and then touching my camera. Saltwater mixes well with nothing. I will catch a fish and then take it to the dock and set the fish down there and then hurry back to my camera and wait for the action to begin. It begins and ends very quickly and I miss more shots than I get. I need a partner, any volunteers? The birds eat the fish very quickly and chase each other around, squalk and honk at each other. It's funny watching these birds trying to intimidate each other. I hope that ya'll like my birds! Mike
Birthday Sunrise
Made by Michael Skelton
Whenever I go out to Ft DeSoto, I always wonder why photographers are not lined up at this location to photograph the rising sun. There are so many possibilities for different compositions. I arrived at about 7am, November 30, 2009, and had to wait about ten minutes before the sun peeked over the surface of Tampa Bay. I didn't know at the time that the kick would be good. This would not be so at another time of the year because the sun moves north and south as time goes by. I was able to catch about 30 images of the sunrise that morning. I knew then that this was going to be a great 50th birthday. It started out so well, there was no way that it could do anything but get better, and it did. Later on that day, I was able to get many images of different kinds of birds, two of which, I had never seen before. I hope that ya'll like it! Mike potd.apertureacademy.com/POTD-20100225-Sunrise-at-the-Sky...
"It's just a fish, I eat fish!"
Made by Michael Skelton
This morning I went to Harts Landing bait shop for the first time in about 3 weeks. I saw a great blue heron eating a dead fish and I remarked that I must be a little late. The attendant then started throwing the birds a few of the dead fish that were at the bottom of the tank. He evidently wasn't a photographer because he kept throwing the birds fish before I could get set. This bird is a black crowned night heron, it had no problem devouring this fish which was about 5 or 6 inches long. The bird partially swallowed the fish and left the tail hanging out. I will post that image on a later date. It is amazing how quick and agile these birds can become when they are offered a free meal. They will eat very quickly and defend their catch from the other freeloaders, I mean birds. It was nice to get back out there and get a few images which I could enjoy. I hope you like it too! Mike www.hartslanding.com/
The Fisher King
Made by jackaloha2 (Very slowly Back)
A Heron tries to find meal of fish at the mouth of Tampa Bay, as it enters the Gulf of Mexico. Title is inspired by the 1991 movie with Jeff Bridges and Robin Wlliams, which was based upon Arthurian Legend. The legend varies, but all variations possess three elements: the Fisher King was charged by God with guarding the Holy Grail, but later incurred some form of incapacitating physical punishment for his sin of pride, and had to wait for someone to deliver him from his suffering. A simpleminded knight named Percival, referred to in the movie as The Fool, healed the wounds with kindness to the king, asking him why he suffers and giving him a cup of water to drink. The king realizes the cup is the grail and is baffled that the boy found it, as demonstrated in the closing exchange: I've sent my brightest and bravest men to search for this. How did you find it? The Fool laughed and said I don't know. I only knew that you were thirsty!”
420 Hawk
Made by Michael Skelton
I didn't have to work today so I planned to shoot this morning and this afternoon. I didn't find much this morning so, I went back out this afternoon and it was so bright that I decided to wait until late afternoon when the light would be better. On the way home, I stopped in this new little park that the city built near where I live. I haven't been there yet so I thought I would walk around and check out the place. It was so bright, I almost left the camera in the truck, but I didn't. As I walked towards the trail, this red shouldered hawk flew in with a lizard and landed on this pole to eat. I used a tree and a big bush as cover so I could sneak up close and I just started inching closer and closer and this was about as close as it would let me approach. This is handheld, aperture priority, which is a change for me, but I wanted to get as many shots as I could of this beautiful raptor
"It's my turn now, away with you snowy egrets!"
Made by Michael Skelton
The morning started off slowly. The shrimp had not arrived by the time that I did. The shrimp have moved further offshore to spawn and are becoming more difficult for the shrimpers to catch. The bait shop attendant had become quite annoyed by this time and didn't want to feed the birds any of his precious, and late arriving shrimp. I did coax him into letting go of one or two of them though and they didn't last for long. This Great blue heron was in it's corner and came out and took the shrimp before the smaller and faster Snowy egrets could get to it. It helps that the GBH is about 3 times the size of the snowy egrets. I was fortunate enough to be able to get the GBH in focus and capture this feeding. They are always fun to watch if nothing else. I hope ya'll like it! Mike www.hartslanding.com/
"Now I've gotcha!"
Made by Michael Skelton
Here is another image I was able to capture last Sunday evening. ( Aug. 9, 2009 ) This is a great egret eating a pinfish that I caught and fed to this bird. It was trying its best and was dominating the other birds in order to get the fish first. I would net some fish, put them in a bucket and fed the fish to them, one by one! I used a little dip net to scoop the little bait fish out of the bucket, as not to get my hand wet, and then I would lay the fish down on the dock, run back to my camera and try to catch the bird eating the fish. I need an assistant! Girls? The birds were really aggressive that evening and the fish that I gave to them . were often swallowed and gone by the time I got back to my camera. This egret was usually the quickest. It must have been hungry! I hope ya'll like it! Mike
Myakka Hunter
Made by Michael Skelton
This is an image of a Barred Owl. I was able to find this bird at Myakka River State Park, early in November. It is a wild owl and can fly away at any time. It flew right next to my truck when I played a recording of owl sounds although I know that some of you do not approve of this practice. The bird was not harmed and all that was taken were these photographs. I was very lucky that the bird landed on a limb without any branches next to the bird or right behind the bird, causing a distracting background. It was about five o'clock in the afternoon and the lighting conditions were wonderful! I love hunting and stalking and calling these owls. I truly love these beautiful birds and I wish that there were more I could do to help with their welfare. I hope ya'll love them too! Mike
"I'm just waiting on a friend."
Made by Michael Skelton
This is a juvenile red shouldered hawk, yes I have many shots of this particular bird but I haven't posted this one. I think that these are neat birds. I saw it sitting on the back of a bench at this park near my house. I started out from a distance of about 20 feet. I tried moving closer and it just sat there so I kept on creeping up on the little bird and it showed no fear. I was able to get within about 7 feet or so and this shot is from about 10 feet away. I took about 100 shots of this bird and then drove to the gulf to photograph herons and egrets getting fed at the baitshop. I came back about an hour later and it was still in the same place, this time though it flew away as soon as I got out of my truck and started walking towards it. You never know!
green flash
Made by Genista
Sometimes, when the sun sets over water, the last part of the spectrum that reaches the observer is the green band of wavelengths. The theory behind it is that shorter wavelengths get deflected more while they travel through the atmosphere, so they are the last part of the sun's image to reach the observer at sunset (or the first at sunrise). But light is not only deflected, but also scattered, and scatter increases with shorter wavelengths (the reason for a blue sky and red sunset in the first place). Under the right conditions, these two effects combine to scatter out the blue and leave only the green bent above the horizon. Whatever the theory, this night in Sarasota it was quite impressive. We did a little dance of excitement on the beach.
"It's still my fish"
Made by Michael Skelton
Here is another image of my friend, the black crowned night heron. The bait shop attendant was interested in feeding the birds for me and this bird was happy to comply. I had to work fast as this particular bird doesn't waste any time. The other snowy egrets and herons chomp and chew and toss the fish or shrimp around and play with it before they swallow it. This bird gets the fish in position to swallow and it's gone. This fish barely lasted 15 seconds or more. The birds are so tame here that they will almost eat right out of your hand. I can always be assured to get a pretty closeup shot of one eating if I am patient enough. I try! I hope ya'll like it! Mike www.hartslanding.com/
"Draw Pardner"
Made by Michael Skelton
Here's an image of one of my little friends that I saw at Ken Thompson park last night before I fed the birds. He was really hoping I had a peanut or some other little tidbit for him. The squirrels are so tame here and have been fed so much that they will take food right from your hand. I hope that this does not lead them to being hurt by someone who doesn't love them like I do. They too have different personalities and can almost communicate with you just by their expression. He comes up and gives me this look and I just can't resist so I give him a peanut and he just kinda smiles at me and scurries off to eat his peanut. I hope I have expressed the personalities of these little creatures and as always, I hope ya'll like it! Mike
Hudson Hornet
Made by tebographics
The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1951 and 1954. The Hornet was also built by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in Kenosha, Wisconsin and marketed under the Hudson brand between 1955 and 1957. The first generation Hudson Hornets featured a functional step-down design with dropped floorpan and a chassis with a lower center of gravity than contemporary vehicles that helped the car handle well – a bonus for racing. The Hornet's lower and sleeker look was accented by streamlined styling. The car's unique, low slung appearance and silky handling earned Hudson an image that – for many buyers – eclipsed luxury marques like Cadillac's. Explore #30
"Be still while I eat you."
Made by Michael Skelton
I took this back in May, yeah I know, I have been posting many older shots, I have something more recent very soon. That day was a pretty good day for photographing these birds. This particular one was quite hungry. This is a Great Egret. These birds here are quite tame and love it when you feed them. The people at the bird rescue center don't like us feeding the birds but I like to feed them. I don't think that I am harming these birds by feeding them at the bait shop. I don't feed them everywhere, just here. The people at the bait shop love these birds as much as I do, Hell, they have even named them all. I don't know what this one's name is though. Anyway, I hope that ya'll like my birds! Mike
Tampa Bay
Made by Michael Skelton
I love my birds but tonight I thought I would post another image of sunrise over Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway bridge. I loved that there was not much wind and the bay reflected all of those clouds and color. I didn't know that the sun would rise up between the two main bridge supports, but that just added more to the image. I couldn't have asked for anything more on that morning. I took this from the road at the eastern end of Ft Desoto park in St. Pete. I got there a little before sunrise, and as the sun arose, I just knew it would turn out special. I will return up there and take more photos but I will be surprised if I see it this nice again. I hope that ya'll like it! Mike
I washed my hair and I can't do a damn thing with it!
Made by Michael Skelton
This image of a snowy egret was taken in early June. I went to the bait shop that morning and after the birds were fed they started trying to intimidate each other. All of the snowy egrets are the same size so none of them were intimidated by each other. They all just raised their head feathers and chased each other around squalking and raising hell. It's so funny to watch these birds chase each other around on top of these bait tanks. They are very demonstrative and excited. They all try to be so bold and upstage each other but they are really a bunch of chickens, if you will. I hope ya'll like this one! Mike www.hartslanding.com/
"Do you like my hair?"
Made by Michael Skelton
I went back to the bait shop this evening for the first time in a couple weeks. The guy that works there was bored, so he was happy to see me. When I arrived he went back into the shop and I was extending the legs on tripod and setting it upright. The next thing I knew he had come out with a basket of dead shrimp. He put the shrimp on the tank right in front of me and the feeding frenzy was on. He did all of this so fast that I had no time to set my cameras controls to what I wanted them set, so I did the best I could. I was lucky that these came out as well as they did. A little more contrasting light than I like, but it will have to do! I hope that ya'll like it! Mike
Nearest places of interest:
| Nate Benderson Park Site of FSRA States Reds practice fields Myakka River State Park Sarasota County | Bradenton Motorsports Park Lithia Springs Hotel Hampton Inn Ellenton/Bradenton Holiday Heights |
